Natural Science Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Southwest Tennessee Community College is a comprehensive, multicultural, public, open-access college. Southwest has 6 campuses/centers from which it offers over 100 programs and over 20 technical certificate programs.

We foster student success, transform lives, and increase the educational level of a growing community in Shelby County. Southwest is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Title: Part-Time: Laboratory Technician (Natural Sciences)

Employee Classification: 

Institution: Southwest Tennessee Community College

Department: Natural Sciences

Campus Location: STCC - Multiple Campus Locations

Job Summary

This is a part-time temporary, fiscal year laboratory technician position under general supervision of the Department Head of Natural Sciences. The Laboratory Technician is responsible for operating, repairing, and maintaining complex electronic laboratory equipment and performing related work as required. He/she may work one day a week, away from his/her regular office at the Union Avenue Campus.

Job Duties

• Facilitates/recommends the purchases of chemical, biological, scientific, or maintenance materials for laboratories at the Union campus, Whitehaven Center, and Maxine Smith Center.
• Orders, stocks, and inventories chemicals and other supplies for Biotechnology, Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, and Physics labs.
• Maintains paperwork on purchase requisitions, inventory, and allotted supply budgets.
• Maintains an ordered chemical supply room with proper labeling for ease of use.
• Maintains a separate supply room for glassware, plastics, tubing, personal safety materials, and equipment.
• Follows preventive maintenance programs for laboratory equipment.
• Makes independent decisions on laboratory stock, equipment maintenance, and personal safety.
• Prepares materials for each lab as needed by faculty members; responsible for dissection materials, chemical solution preparation, and all associated laboratory equipment.
• Operates laboratory equipment such as the autoclave, balances, pH meters, etc; checks for laboratory cleanliness and stores laboratory equipment when necessary.
• Maintains safety signs for hazardous chemicals, their storage, and use; responsible for Hazardous material pick-up (biological material).
• Accommodates student questions and helps student workers and other lab assistants.
• Respectful and has a professional attitude with all his colleagues; appears in a professional manner, comes to work in a timely fashion, and responds to the needs of the faculty.
• Maintains general first aid kits for classrooms; responsible for any paperwork required by the college, TBR, or state that involves hazardous chemicals or materials used at the Union campus.
• May perform other duties as assigned.
  • For example, facilitating and ordering materials for several satellite campuses (Whitehaven and Maxine Smith). Works with faculty to ensure proper ordering and delivery of supplies to their labs; regularly attends departmental meetings.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
  
• Evidence of coursework and/or experience in science and mathematical areas.
  
• A background check will be required for the successful candidate.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of use and care of maintenance tools and materials relating to electronic repair of complex and delicate laboratory equipment.
  
• Knowledge of laboratory safety procedures and precautions.
  
• Ability calibrate and use laboratory equipment such as spectrometers, pH meters, centrifuges, balances.
  
• Ability to develop and follow preventive maintenance program.
  
• Ability to evaluate situations and make decisions.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty and other employees.
  
• Ability to manage scientific departmental prep/supply rooms for natural sciences (biology, microbiology, chemistry, physics, physical geography).
  
• Ability to purchase chemical, scientific, or maintenance materials and/or parts requiring special knowledge of product and usage.
  
• Ability to supervise work study students.
  

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Candidates who are called for an interview must notify Human Resources in writing at least five (5) days in advance of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

First consideration will be given to current Southwest Tennessee Community College employees who meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

In order to be considered for the position, the following items must be uploaded:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Unofficial Transcripts

A summary of our benefits can be found below: 

https://www.southwest.tn.edu/hr/benefits-overview.php

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The TBR does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. 

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies:  LeVetta Hudson, Vice President of People & Culture, myhr@southwest.tn.edu, 737 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, 901-333-5000. See the full non-discrimination policy.