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Job Description Summary
The Lab Safety & Equipment Manager is responsible for the safety, regulatory compliance, and operational reliability of teaching and research laboratory spaces within the Department of Biology. This position serves as the department's primary point of contact for building and laboratory safety, animal research protocol compliance, and new laboratory setup, and performs routine maintenance and coordination of shared instructional and research equipment. The role works closely with the Department Chair, Faculty, Staff, University Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and Facilities to ensure that all laboratory spaces meet safety standards and remain in good working order.
* This position is not eligible for sponsorship of non-immigrant or immigrant visa status through Wake Forest University. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.
Job Description
Essential Functions:
Building and Laboratory Safety
- Serve as the department's building and lab safety coordinator, conducting routine inspections of teaching and research labs, prep rooms, and shared spaces for compliance with OSHA, ANSI Z358.1, and university EHS standards.
- Assists PIs to maintain chemical hygiene plan documentation, chemical inventories, hazardous waste pickup scheduling, and safety data sheet (SDS) accessibility.
- Track and document testing of eyewash stations, safety showers, fume hoods, and other relevant safety systems; coordinate corrective action with EHS when deficiencies are identified.
- Coordinate department-level emergency preparedness planning, including evacuation procedures, spill response, and incident reporting.
- Coordinate with EHS to develop and deliver safety training and onboarding materials for faculty, staff, graduate teaching assistants, and students working in laboratory spaces.
Animal Research Protocols
- Serve as departmental liaison to the IACUC for teaching- and research-related animal use, coordinating protocol submissions, renewals, and amendments with faculty and graduate students.
- Assists PIs to maintain training records and certifications for personnel working with live animals, ensuring compliance with institutional and federal (USDA/PHS) requirements.
- Coordinate facility-level compliance for animal housing and care spaces used in coursework, including inspection readiness and recordkeeping.
Equipment Maintenance
- Perform or schedule light/routine maintenance, calibration, and cleaning of shared instructional and research equipment (e.g., autoclaves, balances, microscopes, incubators, water baths, centrifuges, pH meters).
- Maintain a preventive maintenance schedule and equipment log for department-owned instrumentation to reduce breakdowns and extend usable life.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for equipment service vendors, coordinating repair calls, warranty service, and service contracts; track recurring issues to inform repair-versus-replace decisions.
- Maintain an inventory of departmental equipment, consumables, and safety supplies, and support budget planning for equipment replacement.
Liaison and New Lab Setup
- Act as the department's primary liaison to University EHS, Facilities, and the IACUC on all matters of laboratory safety and compliance.
- Coordinate the safety-related setup of new or renovated laboratory spaces, including utility and ventilation review, safety equipment installation (eyewash/shower, fume hoods, fire suppression), signage, and initial safety inspection sign-off.
- Advise faculty and staff on safe layout, storage, and equipment placement when establishing new research or teaching labs.
- Represent the department on university safety committees as needed and communicate policy or regulatory updates to department faculty, staff, and TAs.
Other Functions:
- Maintain accurate records of inspections, trainings, certifications, and maintenance activity for audit readiness.
- Support the Instructional Lab Manager and faculty with safety-related aspects of course lab planning as needed.
- Other duties as assigned by the Department Chair.
Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, environmental health & safety, or a related field, with two to five years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Working knowledge of laboratory safety regulations and standards (OSHA laboratory standard, ANSI Z358.1, chemical hygiene planning).
- Demonstrated ability to perform routine maintenance on scientific instrumentation, or aptitude to be trained on department equipment.
- Strong organizational skills and experience maintaining compliance documentation and recordkeeping systems.
- Effective communication skills and ability to serve as a liaison across departmental, university, and external (vendor, regulatory) stakeholders.
Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Experience with IACUC processes or animal research compliance in an academic or research setting.
- Experience coordinating laboratory construction, renovation, or setup projects.
- Certification or training in laboratory safety, hazardous materials handling, or biosafety.
- Experience working in a higher education or research institution.
Accountabilities:
Responsible for own work. Reports directly to the Department Chair.
Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions:
Work is performed in a combination of office and laboratory environments. Position requires regular presence in teaching and research labs, occasional exposure to chemical, biological, and animal-research settings, and the ability to lift and move equipment and supplies (up to 40 lbs). May require occasional evenings or availability for urgent safety incidents.
Additional Job Description
Time Type Requirement
Full time
Note to Applicant:
This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.
In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.
Accommodations for Applicants
If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact AskHR@wfu.edu or (336) 758-4700.
