Lab & Safety Supervisor

POSITION SUMMARY:
Working under minimal day-to-day supervision, the Lab & Safety Supervisor works closely with the faculty and students in the Chemistry Department, as well as other members of the Science Division, performing work that supports the lab program in Chemistry. The individual is responsible for coordinating and setting up lab experiments for all the Chemistry courses and providing support as needed for courses in other areas. Routine work also includes ordering chemicals, equipment, and other relevant material for use in the labs, maintenance of equipment, setting up service contracts, and providing a clean, safe lab environment.

Knowledge of lab safety issues and the implementation of safety protocols is a major part of this job.
As Chemical Hygiene Officer, the employee ensures that the requirements of the Chemical Hygiene Plan for the entire Science Division are carried out.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Prepare and set up lab experiments for all Chemistry courses, including Chem. 300 & 250 and AP courses 550 & 580.  This requires organizing and coordinating lab schedules to ensure that ~25 sections of classes participate in the lab program every week with minimal conflict.
• Daily, and throughout the school year, supply chemicals, equipment, and other materials required for each lab course.  This involves, assessing the needs of the lab program, ordering chemicals and equipment, and effectively communicating with vendors and suppliers.
• Assign tasks and supervise work duty students on a regular day-to-day basis (Approx. 8-10 per year in Chemistry) to work in the labs and the stockroom

General Lab Upkeep includes:

• Maintaining clean lab workspaces and chemical hoods
• Restocking and replenishing glassware in labs and student drawers (sixty-four)
• Maintaining balances and equipment used in lab classes.
• Sanitizing & upkeep of lab protective eyewear (Safety Eye Goggles). Providing aprons or protective safety clothing & equipment when necessary.
• Setting up service contracts for servicing of balances, spectrophotometers, water still, and disposal of waste chemicals.
• Routine maintenance and knowledge of equipment used in labs: conductivity meters, pH meters, spectrophotometers, balances (analytical and top loaders), power supplies, multimeters, ammeters, voltmeters.
• Maintaining an up-to-date record of all items purchased / service contracts and other expenses during the school year for the Chemistry Department (assigning purchase orders and keeping records of invoices, etc.).
• Securing labs and stockroom at the end of each day.

As the Designated Chemical Hygiene Officer, responsibilities related to Safety and Chemical Hygiene include:

• Ensuring that the requirements of the Chemical Hygiene Plan* are carried out.
• Maintaining an inventory of chemicals and equipment used in Chemistry.
• Implementing external standards of compliance for chemical identification and safe storage.
• Implementing safety protocols in Chemistry and the Science Division
• Interacting with personnel in the Occupational Safety office at P.A., for setting up relevant safety protocols and review the Chemical Hygiene Plan
• Ensuring proper Hazardous Waste Disposal – maintaining satellite storage areas, identifying and categorizing the chemical waste for disposal, setting up timely removal of waste by a service provider, coordinating with the Science Division to assess their waste disposal needs.
• Maintaining a record of items for disposal, correspondence, and manifests from the waste management company.

*Chemical Hygiene Plan: A plan intended to meet the Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in the laboratory standard requirements and facilitate the control of laboratory exposures to hazardous chemicals by implementing work practices, procedures, and policies that provide a safe working environment for all science division employees and students,

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Education: A degree in college-level chemistry.  The employee must possess college-level knowledge of chemistry and instrument techniques.

Preferred Experience: Two to three years of lab work and some experience in coordinating and working with other personnel.

Other Skills and Abilities: 

• Must have strong organizational skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, students, and outside vendors.
• Must be able to remain composed during difficult/unexpected situations that arise over the course of the day.
• Ability to document relevant information accurately and consistently.
• Ability to function as a team member in the science department.
• Standard computer skills (Microsoft Word and Excel).
• Must be able to work independently, make decisions, and follow through with tasks.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The employee will supervise work duty students (approx. 8 – 10 per week during the school year in Chemistry) on a regular day-to-day basis to work in the labs and the stockroom.
As the Designated Chemical Hygiene Officer, the employee will supervise lab safety and waste disposal for the entire Chemistry Department and the Science Division.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The Lab & Safety supervisor has an office space attached to the chemistry storeroom/prep space.  They manage the four large laboratory classrooms located adjacent to the chemistry storeroom.

If interested, please complete an application as well as submit a resume.

As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, our top priority is safety. Accordingly, the Academy will require, subject to disability and religious accommodation exceptions under federal and state law, that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  This includes the Covid-19 Booster by February 1, 2022, or 5 months after completing the primary vaccination series with Pfizer or Moderna, or 2 months after receiving the J&J/Janssen vaccination. 

Phillips Academy is an equal opportunity employer. Phillips Academy is an intentionally diverse and inclusive residential community “committed to creating an equitable and inclusive school in which students from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences—including race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and ability—learn and grow together.” The ideal candidate supports the inclusive and diverse nature of the community. Any offers of employment will be contingent upon successful CORI/SORI and fingerprinting background checks as well as unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.