Research Instrumentation Team and Safety Manager

University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 115,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation available

Comprehensive benefits package

Tuition assistance

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder’s JILA seeks a Research Instrumentation Team and Safety Manager to oversee Electronics Shop, Instrument Shop, and Keck Metrology Lab. You will lead safety programs, coordinate technical staff, and ensure safe, efficient operations aligned with our scientific mission.

You will supervise a team of 9 FTE, manage budgets, and partner with PI labs and CU EH&S. This on-site role offers relocation assistance and a comprehensive benefits package within a leading research

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, applied physics, or a related technical field and 4+ years of experience in technical operations, engineering management, or research support environments.
• Experience supervising professional staff and coordinating projects.
• Experience in budgeting, compliance, and safety in a research/academic environment.
• Familiarity with research instrumentation, electronics, and fabrication workflows.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, guidance, and coordination across Electronics Shop, Instrument Shop, and Keck Lab; perform performance evaluations and support staff development.
• Oversee project management, work distribution, prioritization to balance workload and meet PI/research needs.
• Maintain communication with PIs, protect shop staff from conflicting demands; report to leadership.
• Chair safety committees; develop and maintain JILA Safety Plan; ensure compliance with safety requirements.

Skills

People management

Communication

Project coordination

Budgeting

Safety and compliance

Multidisciplinary leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, applied physics, or a related technical field

Tools

CAD/CAM processes

Excel

Outlook

Word

Job description

Job Summary

JILA seeks an experienced and collaborative Research Instrumentation Team and Safety Manager to oversee and support its research production shops, which include the Electronics Shop, Instrument Shop, and the Keck Metrology Lab and Clean Room. This position plays a critical role in supporting world‑class experimental research by ensuring these shops operate efficiently, safely, and in alignment with JILA’s scientific mission. As JILA’s safety manager, this role guides program development, monitors safety practices, and supports implementation of safety initiatives.

The position will provide leadership, coordination, and strategic oversight for the technical staff who support JILA’s instrumentation, fabrication, and research infrastructure needs. A key strategic role will be to connect the shops to the broader Boulder scientific communities to enhance efficiency and make improvements that maintain our leading edge.

The position further serves as JILA’s Safety Manager, providing leadership and resources for the institute’s safety program, and guiding the development and implementation of JILA’s Safety Plan. The role will include chairing the Safety Committee (a committee of mainly JILA fellows that oversee the JILA culture of safety) and aiding compliance with university and federal safety requirements through collaboration with CU EH&S and NIST safety partners. In shared resource spaces of the Scientific Shops, the JILA Safety Manager will oversee all aspects of safety. In the context of individual PI laboratories, the JILA Safety Manager will assist and coordinate to provide knowledge and support for PIs and studentsafety proctors.

The position will partner with the JILA finance team and shop fellow advisors to ensure accountable and sustainable shop operations, including budget monitoring, equipment repair and acquisition cost options, and staffing coverage and costs.

This is not a hands‑on design or fabrication role; rather, it focuses on management, communication, prioritization, and support for highly skilled technical personnel and the researchers they support.

Supervision: This position supervises the Instrument Shop (5 employees), the Electronics Shop (3 employees), and the Keck lab (1 employee), responsible directly and indirectly for 9 FTE total.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

JILA is a joint institute of the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) located on the beautiful CU Boulder main campus at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Led by the roughly 30 research Fellows, JILA supports eclectic and innovative research programs that foster creative collaborations. The wide‑range interests of our scientists have made JILA one of the nation's leading physical sciences research institutes. JILA has a total annual budget of $50 million, with 297 members (including faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral researchers).

JILA offers a uniquely collaborative and mission‑driven environment. The institute has a strong culture of intellectual curiosity, community, and inclusiveness, which provides a meaningful and engaging workplace.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Operational Management and Outreach

• Provide leadership, guidance, and coordination across the Electronics Shop, Instrument Shop, and Keck Lab/Clean Room; undertake performance evaluations; and facilitate professional development for shop staff.
• Be responsible for project management, work distribution, and prioritization for shop activities to balance workload and meet Principal Investigator (PI) and research needs.
• Maintain effective communication and alignment with Principal Investigators (PIs), acting as a buffer to protect shop staff from conflicting demands and unbalanced workloads.
• Represent shop operations in meetings with JILA Fellows and leadership, providing technical, fiscal, and operational updates as needed.

JILA Safety Manager

• Serve as the JILA Safety Manager, helping observe compliance with all safety policies in partnership with CU EH&S, PIs and lab safety proctors.
• Chair the JILA Safety Committee, and guide the development, implementation, and upkeep of the JILA Safety Plan.
• Coordinate functions, roles, and responsibilities for lab safety in conjunction with PIs and lab safety proctors.
• Work with the NIST Safety Embed to observe Federal NIST safety requirements and best practices.

Administrative, Strategic and Institutional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Facilities and Administrative staff and CU Facilities Management, with input around shared infrastructure needs (e.g., utilities, shop infrastructure, maintenance issues).
• Work collaboratively with internal and external partners, guide and advise JILA Fellows in areas of expertise, with openness and goals of the institution in mind.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance shop efficiency, scheduling, and responsiveness. Assess equipment, practices, and maintenance needs for improvement and cost savings.
• Explore business development opportunities, networking within CU and with external research and industry partners, following upon potential collaborations or service leads.
• Support long‑term planning and budgeting for shop equipment, maintenance, and capital improvements.
• Budget coordination and oversight with Fellow guidance and approval.
• Personnel actions, performance management, leave management, and professional development.
• Compliance, finance, and budgeting in coordination with JILA and CU offices.

What You Should Know

• This is a fully on‑site position.

What We Can Offer

The annual hiring range for this position is $115,000-$142,000. Relocation is available for eligible candidates.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well‑being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world‑class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, applied physics, or a related technical field and 4+ years of experience in technical operations, engineering management, or research support environments.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
• Experience supervising professional staff.
• Experience in project coordination, budgeting, and compliance in a research or academic environment.

What You Will Need

• Strong people management, communication, and interpersonal skills; approachable and effective working across administrative and technical boundaries.
• Familiarity with research instrumentation, electronics, and fabrication workflows, with enough technical understanding to engage with staff and PIs.
• Proven ability to manage multidisciplinary technical teams and balance complex project priorities.
• Exemplary interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and cooperative working relationships.
• Ability to organize and successfully manage multiple projects occurring at the same time and to keep detailed and accurate records.
• Ability to work effectively in a working environment with multiple interruptions.
• Willingness to mentor and aid research students, postdoctoral scholars, staff, and faculty.
• Familiar with various fiscal business applications for productivity, reporting, and data record keeping and integrity.
• Dedication to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful workplace.
• Internal motivation with the ability to work independently as well as in partnership with an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to anticipate the needs of the broader team and develop/recommend policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of safety practices and regulatory compliance in technical shops or lab environments.
• Skilled using Microsoft business suite applications, including Outlook, Excel, and Word.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Advanced degree in engineering, applied physics, or a related technical field.
• Experience working in a university research environment, research institute, or national laboratory setting.
• Familiarity with vacuum systems, cleanroom operations, CAD/CAM processes, or electronics fabrication.