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Working Title:

College Lab Srvc Spec - Chem Stockroom Lab Coord

Institution:

Bemidji State University

Classification Title:

College Laboratory Srvc Spec

Bargaining Unit / Union:

214: Minnesota Association of Professional Employees

City:

Bemidji

FLSA:

Non Job Exempt

Full Time / Part Time:

Full time

Employment Condition:

Classified - Unlimited

Salary Range:

Job Description

Bemidji State University (BSU) invites qualified applicants to join our team as the Chemistry Stockroom / Laboratory Coordinator.

The Chemistry Stockroom / Lab Coordinator performs specialized work in the chemistry stockroom and laboratories at Bemidji State University (BSU). The position will manage and optimize the Chemistry Department laboratory operations at BSU through the strategic organization, planning, operations, improved efficiency, program planning, compliance inspections, and purchasing. This position will oversee and maintain the Chemistry Stockroom and Hazardous Waste Silo and is responsible for hazardous chemical disposal and OSHA related compliance with chemicals on campus. Developing policies and procedures for Hazardous Waste Management with the collection and oversight of satellite storage areas and bi-annual pickups / disposal.

Responsibilities of the Chemistry Stockroom / Lab Coordinator include:

Managing all chemistry stockroom and laboratory spaces. (Percent of Time: 35%)
- Maintaining and managing the Chemistry Stockroom. This position will supervise the operations of the chemistry stockroom (Sattgast 352 and 349), its adjoining chemical storage rooms (Sattgast 353 and 354) as well as the laboratory spaces (Sattgast 358, 360. 361, 362, 364, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370).
- Supervising preparations for all teaching labs.
- Assisting faculty with weekly meetings and supervision of Teaching Assistants in lab teaching, techniques, and safety.
- Providing in-classroom support to undergraduate students and Teaching Assistants as needed.
- Developing and maintaining preparation instructions and guidelines for laboratory courses.
- Assisting faculty in the development or modification of laboratory exercises to improve laboratory learning and outcomes.
- Overseeing laboratory safety and maintaining safe operations, ensuring first aid kits are available and stocked, glass waste containers and chemical spill kits are available in appropriate spaces.
- Being available to assist as needed in independent student research projects for classes or advanced projects.
- Managing hazardous chemical disposal on campus and ensuring OSHA compliance with chemicals.

Student worker supervision/coordination. (Percent of Time: 15%)
- Hiring, coordinating, supervising, and providing technical training to student workers.
- Providing safety training for student workers.
- Assigning working areas and tasks to student workers.
Managing physical spaces and major assets within the Chemistry Program. (Percent of Time: 15%)
- Acting as the main point of contact for the Chemistry Program with Facilities, Physical Plant, and Central Maintenance and coordinating repairs and updates to department spaces in coordination with faculty.
- Supporting faculty and school chair in identifying facilities, resources, and major equipment use and needs.
- Overseeing operation and maintenance of major chemical instrumentation. Servicing instrumentation as is feasible.
- Assisting the chair in managing the operations of the Departmental physical spaces; reviewing and providing input on the operational and maintenance plan.
Inventory and purchasing management for the Chemistry Program. (Percent of Time: 15%)
- Managing equipment materials and supplies within the Chemistry Program. Ensuring proper inventory, management, and the safe storage of chemicals.
- Providing oversight and coordination for purchasing for labs, student needs, and faculty related to Chemistry accounts. Ensuring timely receipt of goods and avoiding unnecessary orders for items currently in stock. The main point of contact for the Department to Central Receiving.
- Maintaining the reputation of the Department and organization as a viable business partner with outside vendors and partners. Vendor contacts for service, mainly for instrumentation and equipment.
- Working with University Business Office and purchasing agents to prepare requisitions for contracts and Marketplace orders.
Environmental, Health & Safety Training. (Percent of Time: 10%)
- Developing and deploying safety signage/posters, documentation, and procedures.
- Providing compliance for safety training for student workers, graduate students, and undergraduate student researchers. Communicating safety updates to the Chemistry Department.
- Overseeing and managing the disposal of hazardous waste for Sattgast Hall, Northwest Technical College, Student Health Services, Nursing and Facilities. Overseeing the Waste Silo.
- Coordinating and serving as a department resource for federal and institutional compliance requirements for faculty and staff, including IRB, IAUC and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) conformity.
- Coordinating annual inspections of laboratory spaces to meet Federal and institutional requirements.
- Participating in the Minnesota State College Lab Assistant (CLA) Safety Team. Group meetings monthly to share ideas, problem solve, and discuss laboratory safety concerns.
Department laboratory and research coordination. (Percent of Time: 7%)
- Providing operational optimization and continuity throughout the Department and the many focuses in the Program. Implementing innovative practices for the Program.
- Collaborating and coordinating with other departments across campus, to develop collaborative initiatives, shared workflows, and improved student experiences.
- Assisting and supporting faculty and providing input for the development and updates to research etiquette guidelines and expectations for graduate students and independent student research projects.
- Working with faculty in developing and updating student (undergraduate research, orientation, training, and handbook). Relay "Need to Know" information and expectations to graduate students.
- Consulting with the Chemistry Club to facilitate safe and effective conduct of events and activities.
Serving as facilitator and consultant for NTC science and other programs related to hazardous waste stream and identification. This does not include handling hazardous waste from the NTC campus. (Percent of Time: 3%)

Salary Range:

Depends on Qualifications; current pay range is $23.63 - $34.18 per hour

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related four-year baccalaureate degree with experience with laboratory management and considerable knowledge of professional laboratory principles, techniques, and operation of sophisticated laboratory equipment in the area of assignment.
Knowledge and training in first-aid protocols.
Skill and manual dexterity in the assembling, handling, and repair of delicate laboratory equipment, and troubleshooting skills for instrumentation and chemical laboratory.
Manipulative techniques in following standard scientific laboratory methods.
Competence with the Microsoft Office Program Suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and Teams.
Ability to plan, keep inventory, and maintain laboratory review and supply systems.
Ability to plan, assign, and provide work direction to others and instruct them in principles, methods, and procedures.

Preferred Qualification

Master's degree. Years of experience will be considered for advanced degrees and education.
Formal safety training relating to laboratory safety and handling of hazardous waste.
Professional skills to develop procedures to ensure the safe storage of chemicals, recommend safety procedures for the laboratory and stockroom areas, and work effectively with laboratory users and regulatory agencies.
Work experience in management relating to inventory control and purchasing.
Ability to develop and maintain databases. Knowledge and experiences using Microsoft Office products (Excel and Access).
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, faculty, and purchasing vendors.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written directions, formulae, and charts.
Ability to work independently, assume responsibility, and exercise initiative in the area of assignment.
Exceptional written and verbal communications skills.
A demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

Other Requirements

Environmental Conditions:

More than 20% of the time: Noise, smell, toxic or caustic chemicals; standing/walking on hard flooring.

Less than 20% of the time: Temperatures greater than 95o Fahrenheit for up to 2 hours at a time.

Physical Factors:

Constant: Ability to move about the building and lab spaces. Obtain and transport equipment and supplies from cabinets, shelves, and storage spaces. Communicate instructions.

Frequent: Grasping, carrying, maintaining a stationary position for long periods of time, lifting waist to shoulders, kneeling, squatting. Using lab carts as needed to move supplies and equipment.

Occasional: Lifting above shoulders, lifting materials greater than 50 pounds. Coordinate the movement of heavy items and lab equipment with student workers or maintenance workers.

Other considerations:

All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of an offer of employment.
Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE), which can be found at https://mn.gov/mmb/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor/mape.jsp.
In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MinnState) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, faculty and staff driving on college/university business, who use a rental or state vehicle, shall be required to complete a vehicle Use Agreement form and conform to MinnState’s vehicle use criteria and consent to motor vehicle records check annually.
BSU is a tobacco free workplace (see policy).

Work Shift (Hours / Days of work)

Unlimited Full-time (1.0 FTE); Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. with some nights, evenings, and weekends required.

Telework (Yes/No)

Telework currently not available for this position.

Note: Internal bid applications will be considered prior to filling the position via the public application process and, therefore, this posting may be closed due to contractual obligations.

Inquiries about the position:

Jeffrey Bell, Dean of the College of Sciences and Health

Phone: 218-755-3732

Email: jeffrey.bell@bemidjistate.edu

If you have general questions about this posting or submitting an application or bid, contact Mary Miller at mary.miller@bemidjistate.edu.

About

UNIVERSITY / COMMUNITY

WHY BEMIDJI:

It’s more than a job. It’s an opportunity for the extraordinary.

On the idyllic shores of Lake Bemidji, cradled among the limitless natural beauty of the North Woods and neighbored by Minnesota’s three largest Indigenous nations, Bemidji State University offers opportunities for the extraordinary.

Bemidji State University has been ranked as one of the top 30 public institutions in the Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report each year since 2019. BSU offers its diverse student body a comprehensive spectrum of opportunities with nearly 120 undergraduate degrees and emphasis areas in more than 50 areas of study, 14 pre-professional programs, and 14 graduate programs and certificates.

As Bemidji State continues its second century of service, our vision is simple: we educate people to lead inspired lives. To achieve this, BSU centers diversity, equity and inclusion as a core value and strives to create a campus culture in which all members are free to be their authentic selves. BSU also proactively engages with Indigenous communities in northern Minnesota and nationwide toward its goal of becoming a destination university.

BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, the third-largest system of higher education institutions in the United States. It shares a unique alignment with Northwest Technical College, with administration and student services generally having dual responsibilities to serve both campuses. Through this alignment, NTC students can take advantage of services, support, activities, and opportunities at BSU that expand and enhance their college experience — such as full access to BSU’s library and the ability to live in BSU’s on-campus resident housing.

For the first time, a joint strategic planning process will guide the future directions for both institutions. The schools are pursuing four shared strategic priorities: student success, the Nisidotaading initiative, northern distinction, and telling our story. These priorities will serve as the foundations for master planning processes for facilities, academic programs, fundraising, information technology, intercollegiate athletics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, among others.

The Nisidotaading initiative — named for an Ojibwe phrase meaning “building mutual understanding” — is creating a statewide center of excellence. It will develop communities of practice meant to help Minnesota State colleges and universities better educate their campus communities on historical trauma and lived experiences of their Indigenous populations, and how to most effectively guide Indigenous students toward their educational goals. In addition, BSU is the first university in the United States to expose all of its students to a course on Indigenous people before graduation.

Bemidji State University acknowledges that it is located on land and water that is the current and ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe and Dakota. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide, forced assimilation, and efforts to alienate the Indigenous inhabitants from their territory here. We honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land, retained tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and cultural resilience. Indigenous people are spiritual and physical caretakers of this land to which we all belong. Bemidji State University respects these sacred lands, stands with the community members from these Nations, and will fight injustice in all its forms.

At Minnesota State, the work we do is more than just a job. In their pursuit of purpose, connection, and growth, our employees play a critical role on our campuses. They develop policies, provide essential services, and work to improve the well-being and quality of life for our students and for all Minnesotans. Minnesota State is committed to equity and inclusion, and we invest in our employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities. Unlock your potential through possibility.

The City of Bemidji

Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College lie amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota. Bemidji State occupies a wooded campus along the western shore of Lake Bemidji while Northwest Technical College lies just three miles east, near Bemidji’s robust industrial district. 

The city sits between Minnesota’s three largest American Indian tribal nations: the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Red Lake Nation and the White Earth Nation. When settling the Bemidji area in 1750, the Ojibwe people named the lake Bemidjigamaag, which means “a lake with crossing waters” as the Mississippi River flows in from the south and exits on the east. Today, a city proper with a population of around 15,000 serves as a regional economic and cultural hub for about 100,000 Minnesotans.

Located just minutes away from a thriving downtown Bemidji, both the BSU and NTC campus communities have convenient access to affordable restaurants, fine-dining experiences, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores — including a natural foods co-op — city parks, and nearly unlimited outdoor recreational opportunities. Small, locally-owned shops and art sculptures line Bemidji's downtown streets, while national chains are also found in and around the area. The historic Paul Bunyan Playhouse has a calendar of classic shows, restaurants offer weekly live music performances, the First Friday Art Walk provides a tour of new monthly art exhibits, and annual festivals bring the community together throughout the year. 

Additionally, the North Woods setting means students, staff, and faculty have a variety of activities available at their fingertips year-round. With more than 400 lakes — and a 240-acre research forest owned by BSU — within 25 miles of the city, there is easy access to kayaking, canoeing, swimming, boating, paddle boarding, hunting, hiking, biking, foraging, fishing, and more. An expansive network of multi-use trail systems is available for running, cross-country skiing, single-track or fat-tire biking, and skijoring. Further, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing lie just north of Bemidji at the Buena Vista Ski Area.

Bemidji is also near two of Minnesota’s 66 state parks: Lake Bemidji State Park, which sits along Lake Bemidji’s northern shore, and Itasca State Park, home to the majestic Mississippi River Headwaters. Both parks are popular recreational and camping destinations where locals and tourists gather for sailing, swimming, and fishing during the summer months, and skating, hockey, curling, and—yes—more fishing in the winter. 

Of course, no tour of Bemidji is complete without a visit to — and a selfie with — its two most famous residents: the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and his trusty companion, Babe the Blue Ox. The famed duo, which has greeted visitors to Bemidji since 1937, is on the National Register of Historic Places and was once ranked by Kodak as the second most-photographed statue in America.

For further information About BSU visit our website at: http://www.bemidjistate.edu

Review a "special report on how this former lumber town has rebuilt itself as a high-speed, regional center of enterprise" at Bemidji 2.0

Other Resources:

Visit Bemidji – https://www.visitbemidji.com/
218 Relocate / Greater Bemidji – https://www.218relocate.com/
Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce – https://www.bemidji.org/
Explore Minnesota – https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/top-things-to-do-bemidji

Statement of Notice:

Bemidji State University prohibits discrimination and sexual violence of any kind. Contact the Title IX Coordinator if you have concerns regarding discrimination and/or sexual violence.Per Minnesota State System Procedure 1B.3.1, all universities and colleges must provide contact information of their Title IX Coordinator.

Megan Zothman, Campus Human Resources Officer & Title IX Coordinator

Email: TitleIX@bemidjistate.edu or Megan.Zothman@BemidjiState.edu

Phone: (218) 755-2502

1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Deputy Hall, Room 335, Bemidji, MN 56601

Bemidji State University is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.

Benefits Information:

At Minnesota State, we have a GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Our generous benefits include 11 paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Time, six weeks of Paid Parental Leave, low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500), a Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options, pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, as well as professional development and a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents, etc. We promote the health and well-being of our employees and take work/life balance seriously.

Desired Start Date:

10-06-2025

Position End Date:

Open Date:

08-13-2025

Close Date:

09-10-2025

Posting Contact Name:

Teresa Kay Vincent Hanson

Posting Contact Email:

teresa.hanson@bemidjistate.edu