*Lab Technician

Salary: $5,241.00 - $6,630.00 Monthly
Location : Various - Merced County (See Supplemental Information), CA
Job Type: Classified Full Time
Job Number: 20260530
Division: Office of Instruction Div
Opening Date: 06/02/2026
Closing Date: 6/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

The Merced College Rising Scholars Program provides currently and formerly incarcerated students with rigorous, hands-on laboratory experiences that support academic transition and workforce readiness. The Lab Technician plays a vital role in supporting laboratory instruction within carceral facilities, including Valley State Prison (VSP), Central California Women's Facility (CCWF), United States Penitentiary (USP), and Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex (JJCC).

This position is ideal for a detail-oriented, safety-conscious individual who is comfortable working within correctional environments and collaborating with faculty to serve justice-impacted students. The Lab Technician is responsible for preparing and maintaining laboratory spaces, equipment, and specimens inside these facilities to ensure labs are ready for high-quality instruction. By bridging lecture content with applied learning in a unique educational setting, the Lab Technician directly contributes to student rehabilitation and success across multiple science-based programs.
As you consider this opportunity, know that Merced College is more than a community college - we are a catalyst for transformation, redefining higher education and setting new standards for excellence. Serving nearly 20,000 students each year, we are proud to be a leading center of learning and opportunity in California's Central Valley.

Founded in 1962, Merced College blends a strong tradition of academic excellence with forward-thinking innovation to create an inclusive and engaging environment for students and employees alike. Committed to the well-being, growth, and professional success of our team, we foster collaboration and a supportive culture where every employee is empowered to make a difference. Located in the heart of California's Central Valley, the City of Merced offers a welcoming community of more than 90,000 residents, with easy access to the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Yosemite National Park.

If you are passionate about innovation, equity, and student success, we invite you to join the Merced College team.

Merced College Mission

At Merced College, students are our focus, and we are known by their success. We transform lives through education and workforce development.

Merced College Vision

Enriching our community through educational experiences and support services:

• Degree/Certificate Programs
• Transfer
• Career Technical Education
• Workforce Training
• Lifelong Learning
• Basic Skills
• Community Engagement

Merced College promotes student success through equitable access, continuous quality improvement, and institutional effectiveness, all with a focus on student achievement.

Salary Schedule
Range 24
40 hours/week
12 months/year

General Description:

Under direction, to perform a variety of instructional and clerical duties designed to free the instructor from routine, ancillary and preparatory work associated with an educational program or discipline. The focus of the duties is not only on assistance to the instructor but to the student as well.

Examples of Duties
Representative Duties :

• Orders, receives, issues and maintains supplies, tools and equipment
• Duplicates written materials
• Prepares classroom or laboratory setups
• Assembles demonstration materials
• Assists students on projects
• Performs clerical and recordkeeping functions
• Repairs tools and/or equipment
• Keeps instructional areas clean and orderly
• Trains and oversees student assistants
• Other related duties as assigned

The emphasis on, and the scope of, the aforementioned duties will depend on the nature of the program or discipline to which the technician is assigned as well as on the nature of the facility in which the technician works.

Knowledge of :

• Role of the instructor in the educational process
• Fundamentals, terminology, techniques, materials and equipment used in the instructional area to which assigned

Ability to :

• Use, demonstrate and maintain the specialized materials, instruments, tools and equipment of the subject matter specialty
• Speak, read and write standard English
• Understand and to make advanced mathematic computations
• Work with a minimum of supervision and with a high level of knowledge in the field to which assigned
• Cooperate with others
• Promote and incorporate culturally affirming DEIA and anti-racist principles to nurture and create a respectful, inclusive, and equitable learning and work environment. In conducting their duties, staff members shall respect and acknowledge the diversity of students and colleagues

Typical Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Education/Training/Experience

• Bachelor's degree
  OR
• Associate's degree AND three (3) years of applicable experience
  OR
• The equivalent education and experience
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students

PHYSICAL DEMAND AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environme nt:

Work is performed primarily in a classroom environment, incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends.

Physical Ability to:

• Work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations
• Hear and understand speech at normal levels
• Communicate so others will be able to clearly understand normal conversation
• Read printed matter and computer screens
• Stand or sit for prolonged periods of time
• Bend and twist, stoop, kneel, crawl, push, pull
• Lift, carry, push, and/or pull moderate to heavy amounts of weight
• Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard
• Reach in all directions

Vision

See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing

Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Supplemental Information
How to Apply :

1. Submit a complete application by the closing date/time on the Merced College career pages at

Required Documentation:

1. Letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position (cover letter)
2. Resume
3. List of three professional references (no reference letters permitted)
4. Legible, unofficial college transcripts; transcripts must include the degree major and date the institution granted the degree ; official copies are not required unless applicant is hired
5. If applicable, foreign transcripts must include a U.S. evaluation and translation completed by an

Only the required documentation as listed above will be accepted for this recruitment. Any additional documentation will be removed from your application profile.

Interview Information :

Applicants deemed highly qualified for the position will be invited to participate in onsite oral interviews conducted by a screening committee. A limited number of candidates will be selected to move forward to the interview stage.

Employee Benefits :

Employee Benefits: Health benefits for the employee and all their eligible dependents cost employee's only $12 per month and provide access to PPO medical coverage, PPO dental coverage, VSP Vision coverage, and more! Please visit our for more details about our incredible employee benefits. In addition, sick leave and retirement benefits are also provided.


Condition of Employment :

The selected candidate must be fingerprinted and tested for tuberculosis at his/her own expense prior to the start of employment. In compliance with the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, all new employees are required to verify their identity and the right to work in the United States. All offers of employment are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. The applicant must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Individuals with disabilities may request any needed accommodation to participate in the application process. Please submit your request with your application to the Human Resources Office.

Merced Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Merced College offers a wide range of employee benefits at minimal cost to the employee.

CLASSIFIED
Health Benefits

The cost is $12.00 per month for 10 months each year, with no deductions in June and July. This amount covers the following services, provided that members use Plan providers:

• Medical (Anthem Blue Cross)
  $100 deductible for each family member or $300 deductible per family paid by employee each calendar year. 100% coverage after deductible is paid (except for emergency room visits which cost $100 unless the person is admitted to the hospital).

• Prescription (Navitus)
  Pharmacy costs are $3.00 for up to a 30-day supply of generic medications and a $15.00 co-payment for brand-name medications; at Costco, a 30-day supply of generic medications and a 90-day supply by mail are $0.00, while brand-name medications cost $15.00 for a 30-day supply and $35.00 for a 90-day supply.
• Dental (Delta Dental - Incentive Plan)
  • Plan pays 70% the first calendar year that the plan is used
  • 80% paid second year
  • 90% paid third year
  • 100% paid fourth year
  • 100% will be paid each year thereafter unless member does not visit the dentist each year for cleanings/check-ups.
  • $1,500 lifetime maximum for each enrollee.
• Vision (VSP)

$5.00 co-pay for exam every calendar year. The plan pays $150 for frames, anything over $150 is paid by the member. Single vision, lined bifocal and lined trifocal lenses are covered in full.

• $50,000 life insurance policy on employee

• Short-term and long-term disability.

Retirement (Public Employees Retirement System - CalPERS)
Classic members - 7% and the college pays 26.68%.
New members (PEPRA) - 8% and the college pays 26.68%.
Holidays, Sick Leave, Vacation

• Holidays: 11 paid plus 5 days during Christmas.
• Sick: 12 days per year each fiscal year.
• Vacation: 12 days per year (8 hours per month). Can accrue more based on years of service (see table below).

Years of Service

Days Per Year

Hours Per Months Worked

Hours Per Year

Max Cap in Hours

0-5

12

8

96

192

6-10

15

10

120

240

11-15

18

12

144

288

16-20

22.5

15

180

360
01


If you have an associate's degree or higher, have you attached your transcripts with conferral date?

• Yes
• No

Required Question