Laboratory Manager

Lehigh University; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 67,270 - 81,830; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Comprehensive health benefits

Generous tuition assistance program

Job summary

Lehigh University is seeking a full-time Laboratory Manager in Bethlehem, PA to oversee the operations of shared laboratory facilities within the Department of Materials Science & Engineering. The role demands excellence in managing lab maintenance, safety compliance, and equipment procurement to support the research mission effectively.

The ideal candidate will have a degree in Engineering and relevant experience, contributing significantly to a dynamic academic environment. Lehigh offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, ensuring a rewarding workplace for dedicated professionals.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of related work experience in managing research labs.
• Experience with hazardous materials and institutional compliance.
• Ability to manage multiple equipment systems simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Develop schedules for maintenance and repairs of lab instruments.
• Procure high-quality equipment and maintain inventory controls.
• Lead comprehensive safety programs and conduct training sessions.
• Manage laboratory operating budgets and prepare financial reports.

Skills

Laboratory safety regulations

Budget management

Meticulous record-keeping

Technical expertise in instrumentation

Education

Associate's or Vocational/Technical Degree in Engineering

Job description

Lehigh University's Department of Materials Science & Engineering is home to research that advances everything from structural alloys to next-generation functional materials. Underpinning that work are shared laboratory facilities across the Whitaker and HST buildings—this full‑time Laboratory Manager role exists to ensure those spaces run safely, efficiently, and in service of the researchers who depend on them every day.

Position Number: S80080
Grade: 10 – 40 with an approximate salary range of $67,270–$81,830 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and execute schedules for preventative and corrective maintenance, calibration, and vendor‑coordinated repairs to ensure all laboratory instruments align with teaching and research needs.
• Evaluate, source, and procure high‑quality, cost‑effective equipment and consumables while maintaining precise inventory controls and detailed records of purchases and usage.
• Oversee the long‑term performance of laboratory assets and actively identify and pursue funding opportunities to acquire new instrumentation and modernize the facility.
• Supervise and manage shared MSE department laboratory spaces across multiple locations (Whitaker and HST), developing and enforcing facility policies and operational procedures.
• Lead comprehensive safety programs, including conducting annual inspections and audits, maintaining precise training compliance records for all users, and ensuring strict adherence to safety standards.
• Conduct safety and operational training for students, staff, and researchers, while serving as the facility liaison to provide tours for visitors, vendors, alumni, and external partners.
• Provide hands‑on technical expertise and operational coordination for undergraduate teaching labs and graduate research activities to advance the department's educational mission.
• Train and mentor students, staff, and researchers on proper equipment operation, safety protocols, and advanced experimental techniques.
• Diagnose and resolve complex instrumentation and experimental issues to minimize downtime and ensure the continuity of research and instruction.
• Manage laboratory operating budgets, oversee equipment usage billing, track expenses, and prepare financial reports and forecasts to support new lab initiatives.

Qualifications

• Associate's or Vocational/Technical Degree in Engineering or related field.
• One to three years of related work experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing shared or multi‑user research laboratory facilities in an academic, engineering, or industrial setting.
• Sound knowledge of laboratory safety regulations, hazardous material handling, and institutional compliance frameworks.
• Experience with budget management, billing systems, or cost‑recovery models in a research environment.
• Meticulous record‑keeping practices and the organizational discipline to manage multiple equipment systems simultaneously.

Why Lehigh?

At Lehigh, staff who support the research enterprise are valued contributors to the University's academic mission, not simply operational support. The College of Engineering & Applied Science brings together faculty and staff who collaborate closely across disciplines, and this role offers genuine visibility and influence within that community. Lehigh provides competitive salaries, comprehensive health and retirement benefits, and one of the most generous tuition assistance programs in higher education—covering employees and eligible dependents. The dual‑building scope of this position means no two weeks look exactly alike, and your work will have a direct, measurable impact on the quality of research conducted across the MSE department.

Special Considerations

• This position has fiscal or financial responsibilities other than employee expense activity, such as processing or approving transactions; monitoring or preparing budgets; or generating income for University; therefore, a credit check is required.
• This position has direct contact with minors, therefore a background check is required.

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.

Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university's mission.