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 - Physical Sciences

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

• Coordinate operational activities in physical sciences research or 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 are maintained and operated in compliance with safety regulations; coordinate activities with IACUC, environmental health, and other safety compliance officers; maintain records
• Assist faculty and researchers plan labs and experiments; make equipment, material, and supply recommendations; design/develop equipment specifications; set up and demonstrate equipment technology; calculate and prepare chemical solutions; 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
• Compile project funding and sourcing information; develop and maintain source relationships; assist with research and grant proposals
• 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
• Coordinate use and reporting of research budget and funds
• Report laboratory use and research progress data, including testing activities and technical issues; write reports and maintain logs

Level:

– Senior Supervisor

Base Description:

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

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge to perform own work; spends majority of time on tasks related to own job responsibilities. May demonstrate subject matter expertise. Demonstrates intermediate to advanced planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills. Demonstrates the ability to coach assigned employees. Assigns and reviews completed work to verify accuracy, quality, and adherence to professional standards. Trains, coaches, mentors, and motivates staff. Anticipates potential problems, issues, and opportunities; researches and recommends solutions within defined policies. May develop creative recommendations for solving problems.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

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

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets for specific area and/or grant(s)
– May assist in planning and forecasting budgets

Problem Solving:

– Encounters moderately complex problems
– Applies general precedents and practices and specialized knowledge and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on moderately complex work assignments, reviews progress, and evaluates results
– Organizes work of direct reports and sets team priorities
– Reviews the work of others to verify accuracy, quality, and adherence to professional standards

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, accurately and persuasively both verbally and in written materials intended for distribution

• Comp Grade – 8
• Minimum – $51,000.00
• MidPoint – $62,500.00
• Maximum – $74,000.00