Manager, Engineering Education Laboratories

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech seeks a Manager for Engineering Education Laboratories to lead undergraduate labs and project-based spaces, including maker spaces and design studios. You will supervise staff, manage equipment and safety protocols, and coordinate with EH&S and facilities.

The role requires strong organizational skills, the ability to juggle multiple projects, and a track record in educational operations. Regular, on-site work with a focus on student engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for undergraduate laboratories and project-based learning environments.
• Lead strategic and day-to-day management of instructional and experiential learning spaces (Frith First-Year Maker Space, Interdisciplinary Education Lab, inVenTs Design Studio).
• Recruit, train, supervise, schedule, coach, and evaluate laboratory personnel and students.
• Establish operational priorities and implement processes to ensure continuity of laboratory services.
• Liaise with Environmental Health and Safety, facilities, equipment suppliers, and university partners to ensure compliance and alignment with policies.
• Oversee purchasing, inventory, maintenance, asset tracking, service agreements, and resource planning.
• Evaluate laboratory needs and develop recommendations on equipment, space, staffing, and budgeting; stay updated on new lab technologies.

Skills

Project management

Supervision

Training

Scheduling

Safety protocols

Problem solving

Stakeholder communication

Organizational skills

3D printing / CAD familiarity

Education

Masters degree in engineering/technology/science or related discipline

Bachelors with experience equivalent to a masters

Tools

Lab equipment management

Job description

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

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$90,000 - $105,000 commensurate with experience

Hours per week

40

Review Date

November 9, 2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands‑on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem‑solvers. A comprehensive land‑grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Tiffany Cunningham at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.