Research Operations Manager

at  UNC Charlotte

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree and two years of general research experience; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

UNIVERSITY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from a four-year college or university and two years of general research or laboratory experience preferably including supervision of others; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Familiarity with a variety of the research fields concepts, practices and procedures. Demonstrated experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.

DEPARTMENTAL PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, TRAINING/EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree with at least two years of experience that aligns with the needs of this position; and/or equivalent experience in a strong general trades background that provides the necessary skill set to effectively manage the research labs, instructional labs, and fabrication shop; and/or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

• Ability to collaborate with students and faculty, and foster an atmosphere of teamwork;
• Ability to create and maintain organized and effective working spaces.
• Demonstrated experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.
• Experience in machine shop operations, including working with a metal lathe, vertical milling machine, horizontal and vertical band saws, drill press, belt sander, pedestal grinders, shearing machine, etc.
• Knowledge of basic laboratory instructional concepts, practices, and regulatory requirements;
• Familiarity with digital fabrication processes (e.g., CAD/CAM/CNC) and the ability to operate and troubleshoot fabrication equipment.
• Strong focus on safety management in machine shop environments, including implementation of safety protocols and oversight of safety training for students and staff.

EXPERIENCE IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING GENERAL TRADES:

• Machinist and/or Metal working
• Electrician and/or Electronics
• Carpentry and/or Woodworking
• Machine and/or equipment repair
• Welding

IDEAL SKILL SETS ARE LISTED, HOWEVER WE ARE WILLING TO TRAIN THE RIGHT PERSON IN SKILLS THAT THEY MAY NOT CURRENTLY HAVE.

• Knowledge/experience of/with fabrication/making and general construction methods such as carpentry, machining, welding, or other means (no particular one required, but some ability with shopcraft),
• Material handling: driver license and comfort driving trucks with trailers or forklifts
• Ability to instruct students in safe operation of hand tools and typical shop equipment and mentor student projects in the shop.
• Management of stocks, inventories and material stores.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION

The primary purpose of the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Laboratory Operations Manager is to support faculty and students conducting research, and to maintain the CEE research and instructional laboratory spaces on the first floor of the EPIC building. This individual will be expected to oversee the repair and maintenance of all laboratory equipment and supplies, solve logistical challenges that arise in both instructional and research spaces, fabricate specialized equipment or prototypes to support research projects and instructional needs, and oversee required personnel training and laboratory safety protocols associated with these workspaces. The Department is searching for an individual who enjoys solving unique problems, is willing to collaborate with and support students, faculty, and staff in an academic setting, and will effectively maintain research and instructional laboratory workspaces.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

The primary role of this position is to manage and supervise the CEE research and instructional activities associated with laboratory spaces and machine shop on the first floor of the EPIC building. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Oversight and maintenance of all equipment located in the machine shop and the CEE undergraduate and graduate laboratory spaces on the first floor of the EPIC building;
• Technical and logistical support of undergraduate and graduate laboratory spaces;
• Completion of research and educational fabrication needs;
• Laboratory planning, inventory control, and purchasing;
• Compliance with university and industry safety protocols in all laboratory and machine shop settings;
• Guidance and support during all phases of student and faculty research initiatives;
• Train students in the safe operation of laboratory equipment; and
• Ability to think creatively and solve problems.

OTHER WORK RESPONSIBILITIES

• Completion of any tasks or initiatives that provide effective support for CEE students and faculty in all research and educational laboratory spaces on the first floor of the EPIC building;
• Willingness to learn new skills and technologies to support evolving research and instructional needs.
• Performing other duties that may be assigned.