CLAS Lab Supervisor - Instrument Specialist - Chemistry
People & HR, Operations
Allendale Charter Twp, MI, USA
Posted on Jun 26, 2026
This is a full-time, 12-month lab support position at GVSU. The Chemistry Laboratory Supervisor - Instrumentation Specialist is responsible for the maintenance and operation of all instrumentation in the Department of Chemistry on the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University (GVSU). This suite of instruments includes mass spectrometers, one 400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, one Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES), gas and liquid chromatography instruments, and multiple FT-IR spectromers. Additional details about the instruments housed in the GVSU Chemistry department are here: https://www.gvsu.edu/chem/instrumentation-164.htm Other instrumentation will vary as needed by the department. Additional responsibilities include the scheduling of instrument time and training and support of faculty, staff, and student scientists on these instruments in research and classroom use. The Chemistry Laboratory Supervisor - Instrumentation Specialist contributes to the vibrant research, teaching and interdisciplinary collaboration atmosphere of the department.
Salary & Benefits:
Minimum starting salary of $58,312.00, commensurate with experience
Comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, dental, life insurance, generous employer retirement contributions, wellness resources and tuition waiver effective on date of hire.
Primary Duties:
Instrumentation
Ensure that departmental instrumentation is well maintained, calibrated and in working condition. This may require internal maintenance and repair of the instruments and/or working with outside companies to schedule preventative and other maintenance and repair.
Manage the scheduling of instruments in the department, and leading the training of faculty, staff, and students on the instrumentation to ensure proper instrument usage and safety. The training of students will be in both classroom and research settings.
Maintain cryogens and compressed gases for necessary instrumentation.
Serve on Chemistry department’s Facilities Committee and assist faculty and staff in the purchase of equipment and consumables related to in-house instrumentation.
Collaborate with faculty and students to aid in departmental research efforts, assisting in proper instrument use. Coordinate with faculty and other staff members for use of instrumentation in chemistry laboratory courses.
Maintain a central repository for all instrumentation software, manuals, and documentation both electronically and physically for communal departmental use. Work with the College IT staff on instrument computer system management.
Perform other duties as required/assigned by leadership.
Lab Support
Oversee the daily operations of multiple assigned laboratory spaces, ensuring they are well-maintained and ready for use.
Communicate area-specific facilities needs to the Lab Manager.
Collaborate with intradepartmental faculty members and instructional coordinators to develop up-to-date laboratory preparation protocols for teaching labs, including the most efficient use of lab space for the classrooms.
Develop detailed Laboratory Preparation Sheets for student employees to outline materials, methods, and protocols for specific experiments and courses.
Prepare, set out, maintain and break down required lab materials for lab courses:
Serve as an intradepartmental resource to faculty and students concerning teaching labs and shared laboratory equipment and spaces addressing questions and concerns as they arise.
Facilitate makeup lab exercises.
Troubleshoot lab exercises as needed.
Maintain cleanliness and organization of the teaching labs and stockrooms.
Restock general supplies and consumables for use in common areas and in research labs.
Instrument and other equipment training for intradepartmental faculty and students. Develop SOPs to be posted by equipment for common use.
Work with faculty and the Student Accessibility Resources office (SAR) to coordinate student accommodation requests.
Coordinate logistics of off-campus trips associated with lab courses: transportation, equipment, scheduling, and ensuring all details are handled efficiently.
Oversee the day-to-day operations of core/shared facilities, ensuring they are clean, organized, and fully operational.
Develop and implement policies and procedures for area-specific facility usage, safety, and maintenance.
Coordinate the scheduling, access and allocating shared facility resources to maximize utilization and support departmental needs.
Coordinate the checkout of equipment for usage outside of labs (field, research uses, lectures, office hours, tutoring, etc.). Verify the return of materials.
Coordinate with Science IT Specialist to determine computer usage needs in the area-specific teaching labs.
Inventory Management
Maintain up-to-date inventories of collections, equipment, supplies, and chemicals using the Resource Management System (RMS).
Maintain accurate records of area-specific laboratory equipment cleaning schedules, and maintenance activities.
Monitor inventory levels and report any ordering needs to the Lab Manager.
Organize and maintain storage areas for easy access to supplies and equipment.
Maintaining the department media/displays on campus.
Purchasing
Make purchases of area-specific supplies (grocery, amazon, hardware store, etc.) and small equipment for instructional labs. Reconcile purchasing card expenses in Workday.
Receiving and distribution of ordered resources for courses and faculty research.
Coordinate contracts with outside vendors (Chemdraw+ Mnova, cadavers, etc.) for area-specific needs.
Laboratory Safety
Implement and follow EH&S procedures for the safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste.
Manage, conduct, and maintain records of regular inspections of teaching lab spaces as well as hazardous waste storage areas according to EH&S policies and procedures.
Make sure proper PPE and safety equipment is available and is in working order.
Identify safety concerns associated with proposed laboratory procedures and communicate with the Laboratory Manager to ensure that activities align with EH&S guidelines.
Support faculty, staff, and students on hazardous chemical and waste management, safety protocols, proper labeling, and emergency procedures.
Provide training to staff and students on safe laboratory practices to promote a culture of safety.
Outreach
Assist with outreach events such as the Science Olympiad, department activities, club events and/or other community outreach programs. May affiliate with professional associations.
Student Employee Supervision
Work with Manager to hire, train, schedule, and supervise student employees
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Bachelor of Science/Arts in a science-based field required.
Three or more years professional experience in the field of instrumental analysis, with experience operating and maintaining instruments of the types listed in the position overview.
Experience working in a chemistry laboratory, safely using chemical reagents, equipment, and glassware.
Experience with instrumentation software and computing systems.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Experience working and problem solving with a minimum of supervision.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Ability to prepare information for reports (Word, Excel, Power Point, File Maker).
Experience in analytical chemistry method development.
Experience with diagnosing electrical problems.
Ability to lift and move equipment, as well as transport gas cylinders and Dewars using appropriate dollies.
Experience maintaining NMR and/or MS spectrometers.
Working Conditions:
Normal office and lab environments. Some travel and occasional evening and weekend work may be required.
The GVSU Department of Chemistry is committed to high quality undergraduate education, offering Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry as well as a concentration in Chemistry Education and a Green Chemistry Certificate. We currently have more than 50 full time faculty and staff and serve over 200 chemistry and biochemistry majors along with students from a number of other science majors. We strive to contribute to a chemically literate society through teaching (with classrooms, labs, and research), scholarship, and service.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the largest college at Grand Valley, offering over 50 bachelor degrees and a growing number of advanced degrees in the natural and mathematical sciences, the fine arts and humanities, and the social sciences. CLAS is a student-centered and diverse learning community that engages in critical inquiry, extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and public life. Our faculty are active teacher-scholars committed to equitable, inclusive, career-connected, and community-engaged liberal arts and sciences education. There are many opportunities for collaboration within CLAS and across a broad group of partners on and off campus. We are interested in attracting a cohort of new faculty committed to these core values as we seek to foster a community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive together.
How to Apply:
A complete application must include: (1) a cover letter addressing the candidate’s qualifications, motivation to take this position, and how they would address inclusion in the context of this position, (2) résumé (no more than two pages), (3) and contact information for three professional references. The system will allow you to attach these documents electronically. If you have questions about the position or the posting, please contact John Bender (benderj@gvsu.edu) or Thomas Pentecost (pentecot@gvsu.edu). If you need technical assistance, please contact Human Resources at hro@gvsu.edu.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must not require sponsorship now or in the future.
Application Deadline: The review process will begin July 14, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. See www.gvsu.edu/equalopportunity/. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State).
Grand Valley State University is an Antidiscrimination/Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. University policy extends protections to additional identities.
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