12883 - Core Facility Manager

Department
School of Pharmacy
Employment Type
Permanent
Time Type
Full-Time
Hiring Range
$63,680 - $79,601
Job Category
Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Job Location : Location
CA-ON-Kitchener

The Core Facility Manager is responsible for ensuring an efficient and safe working environment for all those who work or learn in School of Pharmacy research laboratories. The Manager is responsible for the effective management and operation of the School’s Core facility (encompasses research equipment, instrumentation and services that are funded by the School for use by all researchers in the School), including the Health Services & Applied Research Laboratory (HSARL). The Manager also serves as the independent oversight of the School’s animal care facility. The Core Facility Manager is not responsible for supporting the equipment and services of individual researchers outside the Core, but there is recognition of significant overlap in these areas and, when possible and where it makes sense to do so, the Manager will consider individual researcher needs, including coordinating certain activities; this applies also to our teaching laboratories.

To provide a sense of scope, the Core facility has a variety of upwards of 70 pieces of specialized equipment worth more than $3M. The Manager will have various levels of familiarity with each piece of equipment but is expected to be able to provide hands-on troubleshooting and maintenance. The Core Facility Manager is expected to minimize equipment downtime (extended downtime can disrupt research and teaching), ensure equipment is regularly maintained (emergency repairs, premature equipment replacements can have significant financial and timing implications) and ensure that users are appropriately trained.

Specifically, the Manager is responsible for:

· the day-to-day management of the School’s Core equipment to ensure that they remain safe, operational and available for use at all time

· ensuring compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and associated legislation, UW policies, particularly Policy #34, the Health & Safety Management System and other laboratory-related requirements as determined by the UW Safety Office; creating and delivering a robust training program suitable for all users of all Core equipment, and specifically to create and deliver a graduate student orientation program related to use of the Core facility

· management of Core equipment inventory, consumables, training and usage logs; warranty, preventative maintenance and service agreements, and annual certifications

The Core Facility Manager receives academic and technical direction from the School’s Associate Director, Graduate Studies & Research; administrative and management oversight by the Administrative Officer; and animal care training and direction by the Senior Manager in the Central Animal Facility. The Core Facility Manager is assisted in day-to-day tasks by two .5 unit Teaching Assistants.

Day-to-day management of the School’s Core equipment

• monitor the appropriate and safe use of all Core equipment and instrumentation
• monitor the maintenance and operation of all Core equipment, instrumentation and services, this includes the School’s reverse osmosis (RO) system (e.g., checking, measuring chemical parameters, refilling softeners)
• perform minor repairs, mechanical troubleshooting and diagnosis; arrange for technical support when equipment is beyond the incumbent’s ability to repair; coordinate maintenance through Science Technical Services, Plant Operations, Central Stores, outside vendors and manufacturers
• liaise with faculty members, research personnel, graduate and undergraduate students and staff to resolve specific operational problems and improve the technical activities of the Core facility; the incumbent will be aware of the status of all equipment
• create, update and make available instruction manuals, log sheets, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) and SDS to ensure proper use and compliance with manufacturer guidelines and UW safety policies and practices
• develop and maintain an on-line equipment booking system for heavily used equipment
• coordinate certification and calibration services for Core equipment and research equipment, e.g., microscopes, autoclaves, pipettes, biological safety cabinets, balances, and submit proof of certification as required
• in conjunction with the IT Manager, provide support and advice for the maintenance and upgrade of research computers for Core equipment
• order parts, supplies and consumables for lab equipment, including sourcing multiple suppliers within the parameters of Policy #17, Quotations and Tenders through Watprocure system
• coordinate and liaise with faculty and research personnel on laboratory activities, maintenance needs and repair of lab equipment
• Other duties and special projects as assigned

Appropriate and safe use, training, of all Core equipment and instrumentation

• promote a culture of safety through education and activities
• ensure compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and associated legislation, UW Policy #34 and the Health & Safety Management System; all other laboratory-related practices as determined by the UW Safety Office
• develop and deliver training for all laboratory users, including visitors, volunteers, graduate and u/g students, assisting and instructing in the use of specialized equipment; for all incoming graduate students, create and deliver a Lab Orientation session at the beginning of each term, before they are admitted to the lab; manage training records; arrange manufacturer training, as needed
• address health and safety concerns by taking action or making recommendations to management, working with the School’s Health & Safety Coordinator and the Health Sciences Campus, Joint Health and Safety Committee

Administration

• administer and track financial commitments related to Core instrumentation, equipment and services with a view to ensuring best value and equitable distribution between the School and its researchers
• provide technical guidance on the purchase of new laboratory equipment and software, preventative maintenance and service agreements, and make recommendations for the replacement of laboratory equipment
• maintain the School’s equipment inventory, chemical inventory, certification requirements and service contracts and agreements
• develop, maintain and manage content for a Core facility website or Sharepoint site
• supervise the two Core Teaching Assistants, including development of responsibilities and task lists
• manage, develop content and maintain the Core Facility website
• Manage holiday shutdowns
• Serve as Resource to the Core Users’ Group, arranging meetings, setting agenda, taking notes and advising the Chair
• Manage, maintain and moderate the phrlab@lists.uwaterloo.ca listserv used to communicate with wet lab research personnel
• Other duties as assigned by the Administrative Officer or the Associate Director, Graduate Studies & Research

• Master’s degree (thesis based) in a relevant Science discipline
• First aid certification or willingness to obtain
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience required in the use and maintenance of scientific equipment in a laboratory setting
• Minimum of 5 years’ managing lab operations and supervisory/managerial experience
• Project management experience
• Independent judgement in areas of time management, task prioritization and decision making, under minimal supervision
• Tact, judgement and diplomacy
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated experience in training personnel in the use of scientific instrumentation and creating relevant training documentation and safety information
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office suite
• Advanced computer skills are required, as is an aptitude for learning new programs quickly
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of Policy 34 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and associated legislation

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.