Senior Advanced Technician/Supervisor - Chemistry Department

Williams College, London; Williamstown (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Williams College in Williamstown seeks a Senior Advanced Technician/Supervisor to support chemistry instruction, demonstrations, and outreach. The role reports to the Associate Chair of Chemistry and supervises a small technical staff and student assistants, ensuring safe, effective instructional laboratories throughout the year.

The position emphasizes collaboration with faculty, procurement, and safety leadership, with an expected in-person, full-time schedule.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Chemistry or closely related discipline.
• Minimum five years of relevant laboratory experience.
• Ability to coordinate laboratory operations and logistics.
• Proficiency with standard computer applications (word processing, spreadsheets).
• Strong written and verbal communication; attend to safety and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with faculty to develop and troubleshoot lab experiments and demonstrations.
• Manage procurement of reagents, supplies, and equipment; coordinate repairs and budget planning.
• Supervise daily operations of a small technical staff and student teaching assistants.
• Train and mentor staff; conduct annual performance reviews; assist with hiring.
• Promote safety and ensure regulatory compliance across instructional labs.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Time management

Communication skills

Laboratory operations coordination

Education

Master's degree in Chemistry

Tools

UV-Vis spectroscopy

Job description

Williams College is seeking a collaborative and proactive professional to serve in a full-time position as the Senior Advanced Technician/Supervisor i n the Chemistry Department. This vital role supports chemistry laboratory instruction, lecture demonstrations, and outreach/instructional activities throughout the academic year and summer. Reporting to the Associate Chair of Chemistry within the Dean of the Faculty division, the successful candidate will play a key role in supporting faculty, supervising and mentoring a small technical staff team as well as student teaching assistants, and maintaining instructional laboratory operations that promote excellence in teaching, learning, and laboratory safety.

Key Responsibilities:

Laboratory Operations & Instructional Support

• Collaborate with faculty to develop, troubleshoot, and implement laboratory experiments and lecture demonstrations across multiple chemistry courses each semester.
• Manage the procurement of laboratory reagents, supplies, and equipment, including coordinating repairs and collaborating on budget planning.

Supervision & Coordination

• Supervise and coordinate the daily operations of a small technical staff team, as well as student teaching assistants.
• Train and mentor technical staff and student employees, fostering a collaborative and safe learning environment.
• Conduct and issue annual performance reviews of supervisees
• Coordinate hiring of technical staff team members as needed

Laboratory Safety & Compliance

• Partner with the Chemical Hygiene Officer to ensure the safe storage, handling, and disposal of hazardous chemicals, and to maintain compliance with laboratory regulations and best practices.
• Promote a culture of safety across all instructional laboratory spaces.

Requirements:

A master’s degree in Chemistry or a closely related scientific discipline, and a minimum of five years of relevant laboratory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is required.

Other qualifications include:

• Strong expertise in experimental chemistry techniques, including chemical solution preparation and storage, laboratory protocols, routine chemical synthesis, and spectroscopic methods such as UV-Vis analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate laboratory operations.
• Proficiency with standard computer applications, including word processing and spreadsheet software.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and time management skills, with the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and juggle multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships.
• Experience supervising or coordinating technical staff and/or student employees is preferred.
• Experience conducting scientific research, particularly in a chemistry laboratory setting is preferred.

The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $43.00 per hour. This position requires fully in-person work. Remote work arrangements will not be available at this time. The position also requires the mobility to sit, stand or walk for extended periods of time and occasional heavy lifting up to 50 lbs.

Application review will begin on October 8, 2026. A cover letter is required for consideration. Please upload your cover letter as a separate document with your application.

Please visit careers.williams.edu to apply.

Employment at Williams is contingent on the verification of background information submitted by the applicant, including the completion of a criminal record check, and education when applicable. Decisions regarding appointments, promotions, and conditions of employment comply with applicable federal or state law prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, or military service.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Beyond meeting fully its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Williams College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn and thrive. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please feel free to contact us via phone at [phone] or email at [e-mail].