Laboratory Administrative Assistant

Position: Laboratory Administrative Assistant

Status: Regular, Full-time, Non-Exempt

Department: AWI Laboratory

Reports to: Laboratory Director

Salary: $23.00/hour

Description:

The Adirondack Watershed Institute is a program of Paul Smith’s College, a private undergraduate college located in the heart of the Adirondack Park in upstate New York. The mission of AWI is to protect clean water, conserve habitat, and support the health and well-being of people in the Adirondacks through scientific inquiry, stewardship, and real-world experiences for students. AWI’s Environmental Research Laboratory holds certification under NYSDOH Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP).

The Laboratory Administrative Assistant is a critical low-level position within AWI. This position supports daily laboratory operations by working with laboratory management on administrative duties and serves as the Sample Coordinator responsible for ensuring all samples that arrive at the lab are received and processed correctly, completely, and in a timely manner. This position also serves as the Laboratory Safety Officer.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Act as the Sample Coordinator responsible for managing the receipt of samples, chain of custody forms, and initial sample processing and preservation. Ensure sample information is entered into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

• Assist the lab management with writing and executing lab service agreements and contracts specific to lab work. Coordinate with clients for arranging sampling supplies and sample deliveries.

• Support efficient laboratory workflow, including scheduling of laboratory operations tasks and analysis. Work with management to coordinate tasks and prioritize sample processing.

• Oversee purchasing, receiving, and tracking of materials and supplies necessary to operate the lab and meet NYSDOH ELAP traceability requirements.

• Assist laboratory management in overseeing and maintaining the Environmental Research Laboratory Quality Assurance Management System to NYS DOH ELAP standards.

• Serve as the Laboratory Safety Officer. Responsible for developing the laboratory safety and chemical hygiene program and ensuring the lab is maintained as a safe working environment.

• Assist with equipment and instrument maintenance and calibrations.

• Assist in the hiring, training, and day-to-day supervision of Seasonal Laboratory Technicians and student employees.

• Contribute to the development of the training program for Seasonal Laboratory Technicians.

• Update laboratory standard operating procedures as needed. Assist in developing new processes and procedures.

• Conduct laboratory analysis, as trained.

• Prepare data for final review. Guarantee analysis and reporting is completed in a timely manner.

• Support annual quality assurance audits, oversight of staff demonstration of capability, oversight of lab proficiency testing, and the laboratory corrective action system.

• Contribute data for dissemination through annual reports, research publications, and presentations.

• Contribute expertise to new project development.

• Other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Limnology, Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Sciences, or a related field. Two years of working experience and an associate degree, or equivalent college credits, may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.

• One year of work experience in an environmental laboratory setting.

• Understanding of proper sample handling and preservation requirement.

• Understanding of laboratory QA/QC practices, laboratory instrumentation, and method development.

• Strong communication skills.

• Proven ability to multitask.

• Excellent problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work in a fast paced, multi-tasking, collaborative environment.

• Ability to work independently.

Preferred:

• Familiarity with the geography of the Adirondack region.

• Driver’s license and driving record acceptable to the College’s insurance carrier.

Paul Smith’s College is an equal opportunity employer. Position descriptions are created that focus on essential functions, using inclusive language, and avoid unnecessary or discriminatory requirements.