Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Lab Coordinator - Engineering

The Lab Coordinator - Engineering is responsible for coordinating operational activities in research and instructional laboratories. The Lab Coordinator ensures laboratory security, efficiency, and quality control; serves as safety officer; assists with planning labs and experiments; provides instruction and support to students; ensures equipment and material availability; maintains relationships with agencies, contractors, vendors; complies and reports project funding/sourcing information and research progress data.

• Coordinate operational activities in engineering research and instructional laboratories; provide support services to researchers, faculty, students, and technicians
• Oversee laboratory security, efficiency, and quality control; develop and implement policies, procedures, and protocols
• Serve as laboratory safety officer; ensure laboratories and equipment are maintained and operated in compliance with safety regulations; coordinate activities with University compliance officers; maintain records
• Assist faculty and researchers plan labs and experiments; recommend supplies and equipment; develop equipment specifications; set up, demonstrate, and explain equipment technology, capabilities, operations, limitations, and outcomes; pilot test experiments
• Provide academic activity support; guide students during lab activities including field opportunities and research projects; review, analyze, and advise on project feasibility; schedule laboratories and facilitate set up/tear down; provide class coverage; proctor exams
• Contribute to research project advancement; collect, compile, and process data
• Coordinate equipment, supply, and labware purchases, ordering, inventory, maintenance, repair, and storage; secure competitive pricing; reconcile invoices and maintain records; establish and maintain vendor and sales representative relationships
• Research project funding and sourcing information; develop and maintain source relationships; assist with research and grant proposals
• Coordinate use and reporting of research budget and funds; compile and report research progress data including testing activities and technical issues
• Coordinate data and documentation including reports, logbooks, test procedures, and policy information

Level:

– Supervisor

Base Description:

– Supervises direct reports, but primarily completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates appropriate knowledge to perform own work; spends majority of time on tasks related to own job responsibilities. Demonstrates baseline planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills. Reviews completed work of others to verify accuracy and quality. Follows recommended approaches to assigned work. Supervises assigned staff and coordinates routine work activities. Monitors employee interactions and facilitates a productive working environment. Communicates instructions and policies in a consistent, effective and timely manner. Identifies and addresses concerns appropriately. Makes recommendations for possible solutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Typically oversees at least 2 full–time direct reports or equivalent team of part–time and/or student workers (for Support track, performs work at Senior Support level or higher; for Professional track, performs work at the Advanced Professional level or higher)

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– May monitor/track budgets for specific area and/or grant(s)

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems with progressively more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows standard operating procedures to resolve problems
– May apply specialized knowledge and skills to resolve complex and/or varied problems
– Applies proven and tries new approaches when solving problems

Independence of Action:

– Works with minimal supervision on difficult work assignments, conferring with manager on unusual matters
– Follows precedents and procedures
– Organizes work of direct reports and may set priorities within general guidelines established by manager
– Reviews the work of others to verify accuracy, quality, and conformance to required procedures and special instructions

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Collaborates closely with team members; may interact with other staff outside of area
– Utilizes a communication style that is appropriate for a given situation
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly and accurately both verbally and in written materials

• Comp Grade – 9
• Minimum – $56,200.00
• MidPoint – $68,800.00
• Maximum – $81,500.00