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Physics Laboratory Manager Jobs in Springfield, MO

Physics Laboratory Manager information

What is the difference between Physics Laboratory Manager vs Physics Laboratory Technician?

AspectPhysics Laboratory ManagerPhysics Laboratory Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Physics or related field; management experienceAssociate's or Bachelor's in Physics or related field; technical training
Work EnvironmentOversees lab operations, manages staff, plans experimentsPerforms experiments, maintains equipment, assists in research
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutes, labsUniversities, research labs, industrial labs

The Physics Laboratory Manager focuses on overseeing lab operations, managing staff, and ensuring safety, while the Physics Laboratory Technician handles hands-on experiments, equipment maintenance, and technical support. Both roles are essential in physics research environments but differ in responsibilities and required credentials.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a physics laboratory manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Physics Laboratory Manager, you need a solid background in physics or a related science, laboratory management experience, and often a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), safety protocols, and scientific instrumentation is typically required, along with certifications in lab safety or hazardous materials handling. Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills help manage staff, coordinate experiments, and maintain a safe working environment. These skills are crucial for ensuring accurate research, efficient lab operations, and compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

What does a physics laboratory manager do?

A Physics Laboratory Manager oversees the daily operations of a physics laboratory, ensuring that experiments are conducted safely and efficiently. Their responsibilities include managing laboratory staff, maintaining and calibrating equipment, enforcing safety protocols, and coordinating with faculty or researchers for laboratory schedules and needs. They may also assist in budgeting for lab supplies and training new personnel. Overall, they play a key role in supporting research and educational activities within the laboratory.

Is a physics laboratory manager a stressful job?

A physics laboratory manager's job can be stressful due to responsibilities such as overseeing experiments, managing staff, maintaining equipment, and ensuring safety protocols. The level of stress often depends on the size of the lab, workload, and deadlines, but strong organizational and communication skills help manage these pressures.

What are some common challenges faced by a physics laboratory manager, and how can they be addressed?

Physics Laboratory Managers often encounter challenges such as maintaining complex equipment, ensuring safety compliance, and coordinating experiments among multiple users. Effective time management and clear communication with faculty, students, and technical staff are essential to keep lab operations running smoothly. Proactively scheduling maintenance, providing regular safety training, and fostering a collaborative environment can help address these challenges and ensure the lab remains a productive and safe workspace.
What are the most commonly searched types of Physics Laboratory jobs in Springfield, MO? The most popular types of Physics Laboratory jobs in Springfield, MO are:
What job categories do people searching Physics Laboratory Manager jobs in Springfield, MO look for? The top searched job categories for Physics Laboratory Manager jobs in Springfield, MO are:
What cities near Springfield, MO are hiring for Physics Laboratory Manager jobs? Cities near Springfield, MO with the most Physics Laboratory Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Physics Laboratory Manager job openings in Springfield, MO as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Assistant Director of Facilities Management - Environmental Management

Missouri State University

Springfield, MO • On-site

$75K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 21 days ago


Missouri State University rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 24 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

522nd of 616 rated colleges and universities


Job description

The Assistant Director of Facilities Management – Environmental Management administers and directs the University’s environmental management and hazardous materials compliance programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations. The position oversees the management, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous materials generated by University operations, research activities, and instructional programs across all Missouri State University campuses. The Assistant Director develops and implements environmental management policies and procedures, provides regulatory guidance related to facilities operations, laboratory activities, and construction projects, and serves as the University’s primary liaison with regulatory agencies regarding environmental compliance. The position supervises Environmental Management personnel and coordinates programs including hazardous waste management, environmental reporting, spill response, regulatory permitting, and environmental training. The Assistant Director has substantial responsibility for work planning activities, staffing, and performance management as well as budgeting and planning functions as well as collaborates with Facilities Management, Planning, Design & Construction, academic departments, and other campus stakeholders to support safe and compliant University operations and assists Facilities Management leadership in promoting workplace safety by supporting the development of safety procedures, providing safety guidance, and coordinating safety training initiatives.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A bachelor's degree is required; a bachelor’s degree in an environmentally related discipline, such as physical, biological, or health sciences, engineering, occupational health and safety, or an appropriately related field is preferred. Additional experience beyond the minimum requirements may be substituted for education requirements.

Experience: At least 6 years of progressively responsible relevant experience in environmental compliance, hazardous materials management, or occupational health and safety programs is required; ten or more years of experience is preferred. Required experience includes implementation, evaluation, and management of environmental compliance programming. At least two years of supervisory experience is required. Additional education beyond the minimum requirements may be substituted for technical or supervisory experience requirements.

Skills: Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations, and familiarity with OSHA standards; strong communication skills including the ability to interact with regulatory agencies as well as campus stakeholders with varying degrees of environmental health and safety knowledge. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and environmental instrumentation. Supervisory and budget management skills are required. Effective oral and written communication skills as well as analytical and problem-solving skills are required.

Certification: Environmental credentialing, such as CHMM (Certified Hazardous Materials Manager), REM (Registered Environmental Manager), CHP (Certified Health Physicist), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or similar is preferred. Candidates without certification are expected to obtain an appropriate certification within a reasonable period of employment, as determined by their department. Hazardous waste operations (HAZWOPER) training is required or must be obtained within 90 days of employment.

Other: A valid Missouri driver’s license is required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ensures that Missouri State University operations are in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations on all campuses, by administering and overseeing a comprehensive program for the management, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemical waste.
2. Provides guidance to university leadership and decision makers on environmental impacts of campus operations and construction projects through knowledge and interpretation of federal, state, and local environmental regulations, including assessing environmental compliance risks and recommending strategies to minimize regulatory exposure and environmental liability.
3. Monitors the development of new legislation or regulations to assess impacts to University research protocols and practices and reviews environmental reports for potential concerns related to property transactions.
4. Provides leadership in the establishment of protocols for environmental compliance on all campuses by providing guidance and technical assistance to faculty, staff, and students relating to federal and state requirements.
5. Conducts routine periodic inspections of laboratory spaces, art studios, and other spaces that generate chemical waste, notifying appropriate administrators of noncompliant activities, and working with stakeholders to identify strategies to achieve compliance while promoting research.
6. Ensures a cooperative working relationship with federal, state, and local regulators, and serves as the primary point of contact for regulatory inspections and communications. Submits required reports (Tier II, Annual Generator, Annual Stormwater, etc.) and manages applicable permits and plans (i.e., Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Plan (SPCC)).
7. Serves on relevant committees (such as the institutional biosafety, radiation safety, and enterprise risk management committees, and environmental management policy panel) as a regular or ex-officio member, providing environmental regulatory guidance and advising environmental policy recommendations and may serve on other committees as assigned.
8. Supports facility operations with issues related to indoor air quality concerns through review of impacted spaces, management of specialized contractors, interpretation of reporting, and recommendations of appropriate actions.
9. Maintains compliance with environmental laws, rules, and regulations related to appropriate generator status of each discrete campus. Coordinates transportation of University-generated hazardous waste to the appropriate accumulation site and coordinates periodic waste removal activities with commercial waste disposal vendors.
10. Responds to reported chemical or hazardous material spills on campus, assesses if the situation can be handled internally or requires outside contractor support, coordinates with University Safety and other appropriate departments to manage the response effort and ensures that Environmental Management staff possess the proper hazardous materials certifications and training needed for response activities.
11. Fosters campus awareness of environmental compliance issues by developing and delivering training programs for faculty, staff, and students who may be involved with hazardous materials or waste management on all campuses.
12. Ensures compliance with university environmental management policies and practices by acting in an advisory role for the leadership of the Jordan Valley Innovation Center (JVIC), the Missouri State University-West Plains campus, and Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station at Mountain Grove.
13. Supports Facilities Management Leadership in promoting workplace safety within Facilities Management operations by assisting with the development of safety procedures, providing safety guidance, and coordinating safety training initiatives for Facilities Management personnel.
14. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as required by the supervisor and/or certification maintenance.
15. Helps to assure the overall success of Administration and Finance by performing all other duties assigned.

SUPERVISION

The Assistant Director of Facilities Management - Environmental Management supervises program full-time coordinators, technical staff, and part-time graduate assistants, and student workers.

To apply go to: https://jobs.missouristate.edu/postings/87319 


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