Laboratory Manager

The physical infrastructure of modern civilization is conceived and realized by civil and environmental engineers, and the George Washington University’s department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) contributes to these advances and improvements in our infrastructure through a wide range of research activities. The CEE department is in search of a Laboratory Manager that will report to the Department chair. This position does not have direct reports but may schedule, train and supervise temporary staff and student workers.

Under general guidance of the Principal Investigator (PI), the Laboratory Manager coordinates and organizes the activities in the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) laboratories, particularly those in the high bay structural laboratory within the Science and Engineering Hall.

The key responsibilities include:

Oversees the daily and long-term operations of the High-bay Structural Testing, Hydraulics, Materials, Geotechnical Engineering, and Environmental Engineering laboratories.

Ensures efficient operation of multiple laboratory facilities and awareness of and compliance with all state and federal regulations regarding testing and safety.

Maintains and monitors all testing equipment for all labortories.

Oversees experimental procedures including setup, application of loads, instrumentation, data acquisition, analyses, and cleanup.

Identifies needs, researches and procures laboratory equipment as needed.

Maintains and supervises general working order of lab equipment including repairs and calibration.

Establishes and implements proper specimen and chemical handling, disposal and storage processes and procedures.

Manages the supply inventory, procurement, laboratories access, labeling and record keeping procedures.

Manages the access of all CEE laboratories.

Organizes and maintains safety training documentation for all of CEE’s laboratories.

Performs other work related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Capable of fulfilling the physical demands necessary to successfully perform the following tasks:

• Hand coordination in operation and manipulation of complex laboratory equipment,
• Standing for extensive periods of time to perform related activities such as the overhead crane operation,
• Occasionally lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 40 lbs. Requires corrected vision, color perception and hearing to normal range.

Prefer Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in civil or mechanical engineering (or equivalent area of engineering).

Working knowledge of electrical circuitry and wiring; lab-view programming necessary to develop automated control and data acquisition (DAQ) for testing systems interfaces; Testing equipment such as pumps, electric and gas motors, hydraulic rams and hydraulic actuators.

Working knowledge and experience with the use of data acquisition and data processing software (e.g., Lab view, Matlab) to acquire and process digital signals from instrumentation and data acquisition systems.

Experience with the use of hydraulic rams and actuators for structural testing.

Working knowledge and experience to operate overhead cranes, pallet jacks, forklifts, pumps, electric and gas motors, and scissors lifts.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.