Experience Inc. Jobs

Req #: 244015

Department: BIOENGINEERING

Posting Date: 02/28/2025

Closing Info: Open Until Filled

Salary: $6,498 - $7,700 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-contract-covered-exempt-20250130-a11y.pdf)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

The Department of Bioengineering has an outstanding opportunity for a Program Operations Specialist to join their team. OVERVIEW:

UW Bioengineering is a vibrant community driving advances in health care. As a joint department in the College of Engineering and School of Medicine, we bring together students, scientists, engineers, and clinicians to develop innovative and cost-effective health care solutions that improve lives. Our inclusive and collaborative culture empowers our students, faculty, and staff to make an impact through new fields of research and clinical products. Our award-winning faculty are national leaders in biomedical education, research, and technology transfer.

In UW Bioengineering, we are bound by a belief that public health and human dignity are inseparable. One is impossible without the other. Equity and inclusivity are fundamental to our mission of inventing the future of medicine.

This position, Facilities Manager, offers a unique opportunity to support Bioengineering's academic and research mission by managing facilities lab spaces, ensuring they operate smoothly, safely, and efficiently. This role involves overseeing the technical operations of both instructional and research labs, providing vital support for faculty, students, and staff in maintaining and utilizing lab resources. Responsibilities include equipment maintenance, safety oversight, inventory management, and technical training, as well as coordinating research lab setups and renovations. By fostering a safe and organized environment, this position plays a key role in advancing the department's academic goals and research initiatives.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide comprehensive technical and operational support for both instructional and research laboratories within the department. This includes managing the day-to-day operations of the Physiology, Instrumentation, and Molecular Biology labs, ensuring all equipment is in working order, safety standards are met, and resources are available. The role also involves collaborating with instructors and faculty to develop and implement procedures, provide training, and keep lab inventories.

The instructional labs include 4,138 square feet of specialized wet and dry labs that are used extensively by undergraduate / graduate students, faculty and staff. Safety is critical and includes ongoing activities to train users and support safe conditions and equipment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Management of Instructional Labs and Safety Programs (40%)

• Oversee and direct the technical operations of the Physiology, Instrumentation, and Molecular Biology labs as part of a comprehensive lab management program. This includes strategic planning to ensure equipment functionality, resource allocation to maintain adequate stock levels, and the continuous implementation of safety protocols to uphold compliance and operational excellence.

• Take the lead in developing, reviewing, and continuously updating comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all lab activities in collaboration with instructors. This involves conducting thorough assessments of lab processes, integrating safety and compliance requirements, and ensuring that all procedures align with best practices and evolving instructional needs.

• Develop, implement, and oversee a comprehensive maintenance schedule for lab instruments, ensuring they remain fully operational, compliant with safety standards, and aligned with academic and research needs.

• Lead technical support and training initiatives for instructors and students, ensuring the safe and effective use of lab instruments, materials, and specialized equipment. This includes overseeing the proper handling of electronic test equipment, prototyping tools, chemical fume hoods, biological safety cabinets, chemical reagents, and biohazardous materials.

• Manage the lab supply budget by maintaining an accurate inventory of supplies and parts, initiating reorders as needed, and ensuring cost-effective procurement. Oversee the disposal of used equipment and supplies in compliance with waste-handling procedures.

• Work collaboratively with instructors and students to assess lab needs and develop and maintain budgets for maintenance, upgrades, and equipment replacement, ensuring efficient allocation of financial resources.

• Serve as the Chemical Hygiene Officer for the teaching labs, overseeing chemical safety, training and inventory.Technical Support of Research Labs (40%)

• Serve as the department’s primary leader in planning, coordinating, and executing new PI lab setups, lab remodels, renovations, and space modifications. Take ownership of the full project lifecycle, from initial design to completion, by navigating construction logistics, managing permits and approval processes, and ensuring strict compliance with regulatory requirements. Lead cross-functional collaboration with faculty, facilities teams, contractors, and regulatory agencies to align projects with departmental needs, safety standards, and institutional goals, ensuring efficient execution and successful outcomes.

• Oversee shared autoclave resources, including managing usage calendars, training, and addressing service requests.

• Manage surplus disposal of research equipment and materials, coordinating with faculty and administrative staff for proper disposal.

• Serve as a point of communication for lab managers and faculty, providing updates on issues affecting lab resources, such as utility shutdowns or construction disruptions. Maintain a department intranet with resources for lab managers.

• Respond to technical support requests from faculty and lab managers, including troubleshooting equipment issues, arranging repairs, and assisting with the purchase of lab-specific items and supplies.Safety and Emergency Preparedness (10%)

• Act as the Evacuation Director for North Foege Hall, overseeing the implementation and clear communication of building evacuation procedures to faculty, staff, and students.

• Investigate incidents such as chemical spills, fires, or other emergencies, conduct post-incident analyses, and share lessons learned with faculty and lab managers.

• Coordinate with Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) for inspections and ensure timely follow-up on identified issues.

• Oversee hazardous waste disposal, autoclaving duties, and other safety-related tasks, ensuring compliance with all applicable safety regulations.Building Operations and Logistics Management (10%)

• Supervise multiple student assistants to perform routine lab and office maintenance, equipment handling, and other tasks as required.

• Manage the secure keycard access system for locked rooms in the Foege building, ensuring enforcement of access control.

• Coordinate surplus equipment pickups and arrange laundry services for research and instructional labs as requested by department personnel.

• Track space usage across the Foege building, identifying under-utilized or over-utilized spaces and assisting faculty with equipment removal through surplus requests or recycling.

• Ensure robust processes are in place to ensure the seamless delivery of mail and packages to the Foege building’s offices and faculty labs.

• Serve as venue operator for spaces within the Foege building, handling approvals for events and access requests. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in bioengineering, or a related technical field and three years of work related experience. Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Experience with laboratory safety protocols and policies.

• Experience working with diverse groups of graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and staff in an academic setting.

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with others.

• Effective communication and organizational skills, with a focus on maintaining a well-organized, safe, and functional lab environment.

• Previous experience in lab inventory management, equipment maintenance, instrumentation, and technical support within academic or research environments is highly preferred, though on-the-job training is available. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS The ideal candidate will have both categories of experience listed below. However, candidates with experience with one of the following, with the desire and foundation to learn the other, are welcome and may receive on-the-job training as needed.

• Experience acting as a Chemical Hygiene Officer or in a similar safety oversight role.

• Experience with linear electric circuit design, the technical capability to maintain and repair electronic test equipment, 3D printers, and other prototyping tools. Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.