Manager, Engineering Education Laboratories

Women In Science; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA seeks a Manager, Engineering Education Laboratories to provide leadership for undergraduate labs and project-based learning spaces, including maker spaces and design studios.

The role ensures facilities, equipment, personnel, resources, and safety protocols support student engagement and faculty-led educational activities. It requires managing staff, coordinating with campus partners, and driving program improvements.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in engineering, technology, science, or related discipline (or a Bachelor’s with equivalent experience).
• Significant experience managing or coordinating complex laboratory, maker-space, instructional, or hands-on educational operations.
• Experience supervising, training, scheduling, or developing staff or students.
• Experience managing equipment, inventory, purchasing, or operational records.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational, administrative, instructional, and programmatic activities for undergraduate laboratories and project-based learning environments.
• Manage facilities, equipment, personnel, resources, safety protocols, and processes to support education and student engagement.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate laboratory staff and students; prioritize work and ensure continuity of services.
• Liaise with EH&S, facilities, suppliers, and university partners to ensure compliant laboratory operations.

Skills

Laboratory management

Project leadership

Safety and compliance

Facilities coordination

Vendor coordination

Education

Master's degree in engineering or related field

Bachelor's degree with equivalent experience

Tools

3D printing

CAD

Job description

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

The Manager, Engineering Education Laboratories provides comprehensive operational, administrative, instructional, and programmatic leadership for the Department of Engineering Education's undergraduate laboratories and project-based learning environments. The Labs Manager leads the strategic and day-to-day management of the department's instructional and experiential learning spaces, including the Frith First-Year Maker Space, Interdisciplinary Education Lab, inVenTs Design Studio, and related laboratory resources.

The Manager is responsible for ensuring that facilities, equipment, personnel, instructional resources, technology, safety protocols, and operational processes effectively support undergraduate engineering education, interdisciplinary project-based learning, student engagement, and faculty-led educational activities. They contribute to initiatives involving student success, program improvement and assessment and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Manager recruits, selects, trains, supervises, schedules, coaches, and evaluates laboratory assistants, graduate students, and other laboratory personnel. The Manager establishes operational priorities, assigns work based on employee capabilities and program needs, and implements processes to ensure continuity of laboratory services. The position develops, monitors, and delivers relevant equipment and laboratory training for all personnel. The Manager serves as the primary departmental liaison with Environmental Health and Safety, facilities personnel, equipment suppliers, and other University partners to ensure that laboratory operations meet department needs and comply with applicable University policies and procedures.

The Manager handles purchasing, inventory, equipment maintenance, asset tracking, service agreements, and resource planning in coordination with the department business office. The Manager evaluates current laboratory needs and develops recommendations concerning equipment, technology, space, staffing, and resource allocation. To do this, they will stay up to date on the latest equipment and technologies available for lab applications.

The Manager must have exceptional organizational skills and adapt quickly to new priorities. They will represent the Department of Engineering Education in interactions with College and University stakeholders, relevant committees, industry representatives, donors, and students.

Required Qualifications

• Masters degree in engineering, technology, science, or a related discipline; or a Bachelors degree with experience equivalent to a masters degree.


• Significant experience managing or coordinating complex laboratory, maker-space, instructional, technical, or other hands-on educational operations.


• Demonstrated experience supervising, training, scheduling, and/or developing student or professional employees.


• Demonstrated experience managing equipment, materials, inventory, purchasing, or operational record keeping.


• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement operational procedures, training protocols, and safety practices.


• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and priorities simultaneously.


• Demonstrated success applying a high level of organizational skills in a large technical environment.


• Demonstrated ability to exercise establish priorities, solve problems, and make operational recommendations.


• Experience with 3D printing, CAD, prototyping, or related engineering technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating equipment for machining, fabrication, electronics, or other similar systems


• Experience with laboratory information systems, learning management systems, hardware/data networks, or related technology.


• Experience with vendor negotiation and resource planning.


• Experience developing, documenting, or supporting educational programs, laboratory exercises, training materials, or experiential learning opportunities.


• Experience building partnerships across departments, colleges, industry, or external organizations.


• Working knowledge of VT or other higher education administrative systems/polices is a plus