Job Description

Department: Faculty of Science

Job Type: Limited Term

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (
=1249 hrs/year)

Campus: Waterloo

Reports to: Department Chair of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Senior Administrative Officer for the Faculty of Science

Employee Group: WLUSA

Application Deadline: September 28 2023

Requisition ID: 6859

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a and , Laurier\'s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 19,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Our locations are situated on the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. We recognize the unique heritages of Indigenous peoples and support their intentions to preserve and express their distinctive Indigenous cultures, histories, and knowledge through academic programming and co-curricular activities. Laurier\'s Centre for Indigegogy is one example of how Laurier honours Indigenous knowledge.

Position Summary

At Laurier, we are a community. Its\' what brings our students here and what keeps our people here.

As an educational institution, we inspire lives of leadership and purpose in our student community. As an employer, we seek, foster and value the same qualities of leadership and purpose in our employee community.

We currently have an opportunity for you to join the Laurier community as a Laboratory Coordinator within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Reporting to the Chair of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, the Lab Coordinator is responsible for the planning, implementation and oversight of assigned labs and/or tutorials for Chemistry (CH) courses offered through the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and for technical support of the Chemistry laboratories as required. The incumbent consults with course instructors to ensure that the lab exercises or tutorials support the learning objectives of the courses and the academic integrity policies of the University.

The Lab Coordinator works independently and is responsible for ensuring safe laboratory practices in the undergraduate courses for which they are responsible. The Lab Coordinator is responsible for tracking current advances in pedagogy and pedagogical technology as they relate to delivery of laboratory content. In consultation with the other Lab Coordinators and relevant faculty members, the incumbent will implement these identified advances in the design, development, evaluation and revision of lab exercises, experiments and tutorials for the assigned courses.

The Lab Coordinator will aim to ensure that such activities contribute to the educational goals of the Department\'s programs, and facilitate the Department\'s long-term goal of \xe2\x80\x9cgreening\xe2\x80\x9d the laboratory curriculum. They develop and/or revises laboratory manuals, study guides, assignments and lab tests to support lab and lecture content, trains and supervises graduate Teaching Assistants and/or undergraduate Instructional Assistants as assigned to instruct or provide support for labs and/or tutorials in these courses.

When needed, the incumbent will provide technical support for the preparing of appropriate instrumentation, and providing technical advice to graduate Teaching Assistants, undergraduate Instructional Assistants and undergraduate students.

Hours of Work: The normal hours of work are scheduled Monday to Friday, including evening labs. The manager will adjust the schedule when possible to ensure no more than 28 hours per week are worked. This position has an eight week summer lay-off period to be determined by the Department Chair. Flexibility of hours required to provide service for afternoon or evening labs.

Accountabilities

• Lab and Tutorial Development and Execution

• In consultation with relevant faculty members, and the other Lab Coordinators when necessary, prepares course materials for delivery in labs and/or in tutorials;
• develops and produces lab manuals, study guides, assignments, in-lab lectures, tutorial outlines, experiments, lab quizzes, or other relevant tasks, and tests to support lecture and lab/tutorial content;
• Delivers prelab presentations and regularly interacts with students during and outside of lab time to improve techniques, chemical knowledge and safety;
• routinely reviews and updates this material to reflect current laboratory practice

• Selection and Supervision of TA/IA

• In co-operation with the Department\'s other Lab Coordinators, and in consultation with the relevant faculty member(s), prepares and distributes application forms and hires graduate Teaching Assistants and undergraduate Instructional Assistants, prepares contracts and advises the Administrative Assistant on the number of TAs, IAs, and markers required for specific courses;
• Trains, supervises and counsels graduate student Teaching Assistants and undergraduate student Instructional Assistants in the designated courses,
• Holds regular meetings and weekly office hours to assist and tutor undergraduate students, Instructional Assistants and Teaching Assistants, as needed;
• Establishes marking criteria for lab exercises, lab reports, lab notebooks, tutorial assignments, as well as for lab or tutorial quizzes and tests; evaluates methods and results to ensure uniform and fair practices; oversees marking by TAs and IAs, as required;
• Supports TAs and IAs in the development of professional work habits and skills, and efficient use of resources; pedagogical objectives include improving student skill in tackling problems, relating to and working with peers, time management, choosing efficient teaching and learning techniques, and developing structured approaches.

• Administrative Duties:

• Oversees the management of Departmental equipment and facilities used in the assigned courses, including development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the safe use of the relevant equipment and facilities; ensures that equipment is functioning well for lab sessions; provides or arranges for maintenance/repair, storage, and inventory of laboratory equipment,
• May be required to assist with senior student projects,
• In consultation with faculty members and the other Lab Coordinators in the Department, advises the Chief Technician on chemicals, materials and equipment purchases required to create or update lab experiments,
• Conducts basic diagnostic procedures on teaching equipment in need of repair, for example, spectrophotometers, electrophoresis systems, HPLC, pH meters, incubators
• In cooperation with the SHERM Office, develops and maintains a web-based training program for TAs and IAs who are assigned to work in the courses for which the Lab Coordinator is responsible; enforces applicable safety regulations and procedures in lab;
• Investigates, mediates, and escalates incidents of academic misconduct according to the undergraduate student code of conduct;
• Provides recommended accommodations for students registered with the Accessible Learning Centre;
• Assists with the development of the course load build as it pertains to the scheduling of labs and assignment of waitlisted students;
• Participates in departmental and university functions and committees;

Qualifications

• Master of Science in Chemistry, Biochemistry or a cognate discipline;
• Three (3) years work related experience;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact effectively with faculty, staff, students and technical personnel on a wide range of issues; excellent verbal and written communication skills,
• Comfortable teaching and conveying detailed information to an audience;
• Pedagogical skills in optimizing the operation and educational value of formal chemistry labs and tutorials; proven skills in authoring and editing manuals for labs and tutorials, and in developing lab and tutorial exercises and evaluating methodology,
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment, with well-developed team management, organizational and leadership skills,
• Proven time management and organizational skills; ability to set priorities, work independently, and meet deadlines,
• Exceptional attention to detail,
• Supervisory experience, including the ability to train and manage graduate TAs and undergraduate IAs,
• In-depth knowledge of the current state of modern laboratory techniques in Chemistry,
• Experience with standard laboratory equipment used in undergraduate Chemistry teaching labs,
• Sound knowledge of all programs available through Microsoft Office and experience with learning management systems (e.g. Desire2Learn);
• Familiarity with relevant safety legislation and policies

This position has not been deemed eligible for educational equivalencies. Please refer to the attached for details.

Hours of Work: This is a limited term position with an expected end date of 05/30/2025. The normal hours of work are scheduled Monday to Friday, including evening labs. The manager will adjust the schedule when possible to ensure no more than 28 hours per week are worked. This position has an eight week summer lay-off period to be determined by the Department Chair. Flexibility of hours required to provide service for afternoon or evening labs.

Compensation

Position Level: G

Rate of Pay: $48.59 - $55.53

Job Evaluation Factor Scores

WLUSA/WLU Job Evaluation Factors

Score

Education

5

Experience

3

Interpersonal Skills

4

Applied Reasoning and Analytical Skills

4.5

Co-ordination and Planning

4

Accountability for Others

3

Impact of Decisions

3

Mental Effort

4

Level of Physical Effort

4

Working Environment

4

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier\'s Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier\'s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.

Wilfrid Laurier University