PRL Lab Services Manager

Lab Services Manager

Stanford Engineering has been at the forefront of innovation for nearly a century, creating pivotal technologies that have transformed the worlds of information technology, communications, health care, energy, business and beyond. Our faculty and students are creative risk-takers who pursue excellence across a breadth of disciplines. Our alumni include some of the world's most successful leaders in technology and business. Our staff are critical to enabling Stanford Engineering to accomplish its mission: seeking solutions to some of the world's most urgent challenges and educating leaders who will make the world a better place through the power of engineering principles, techniques and systems.

Mechanical Engineering is one of the largest departments in Stanford's School of Engineering. The department is consistently ranked in the top group of all mechanical engineering departments in the nation. The department works in four major research areas: computational engineering, design, sustainability, and human health. Our research philosophy is simple: We push the limits of the possible – the ultra-efficient and most sustainable, the fully autonomous and super-controlled, the bioinspired and maximally enduring. We employ a range of methodologies: design thinking, multiscale modeling, physics-based simulation, control systems, and artificial intelligence to the study of the nanoscale to complex living and mechanical systems.

The Product Realization Lab (PRL) is a vibrant, hands-on teaching environment open to all Stanford students interested in physical design, engineering, prototyping, and fabrication. The PRL is seeking a Lab Services Manager to play a key role in ensuring a safe, well-maintained, and fully operational lab. In close partnership with the PRL Director and teaching team, the Lab Services Manager is responsible for managing the lab's tools, equipment, and supplies to support student learning and project work. We're seeking a collaborative and committed team member who will help create a positive and productive experience for every student in the PRL.

In this role, you will:

• Apply technical expertise and subject matter knowledge to help determine appropriate new fabrication tools and equipment needs with the Product Realization Lab (PRL) Director and Lecturers. Oversee installation and setup of new equipment, and organize and maintain purchasing, user guides, and warranty records for all equipment. Coordinate with the PRL Director to manage and track equipment warranty plans and service contracts as needed.
• Establish protocols and schedules for equipment maintenance. Perform equipment preventive maintenance and as-needed repairs, engaging student staff and equipment manufacturers as needed. Create and organize documentation on proper equipment maintenance methods and troubleshooting.
• Perform inventory and initiate orders for equipment consumables, along with general use and course-specific lab supplies/materials in coordination with the PRL Director and Lecturers.
• Collaborate with the PRL Director to develop and document safety protocols and serve as Lab Safety Coordinator with University Environmental Health & Safety to ensure compliance for all processes and materials used in the lab. Will coordinate with peers from other Stanford fabrication facilities to understand best practices for maintaining a safe environment for students. Create and update training materials and standard operating procedures for safe equipment operation and materials use and disposal, providing training to student staff as needed.
• Help define and document usage guidelines in support of the work of students in the PRL in the design and fabrication of physical projects. Support the PRL Director and lecturers in evaluating and balancing access and usage of facility and equipment, and support students in the safe and effective use of the fabrication and assembly capabilities of the teaching lab. May develop and evolve documentation as well as lead trainings to facilitate student and student staff use of fabrication equipment and tools at the request of PRL lab director and lecturers.
• Collaborate with the PRL Director on facility renovations and coordinate with on-site contractors as needed. Coordinate with the Facilities and LBRE teams as needed for general building upkeep.

Education & Experience (Required): Bachelor's degree and two years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (Required): Understanding of academic research facility needs. General background in a discipline related to the work of specific lab(s). Demonstrated supervisory experience. Demonstrated experience managing multiple budgets. Knowledge and experience in managing facilities, operations, maintenance, space, and equipment administration in a research or teaching setting. Excellent communication and customer service skills. Ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects in a complex and technical environment. Familiarity with health and safety compliance regulations.

Education & Experience (Desired): Degree in a relevant engineering-related field. Experience with the use and maintenance of common fabrication equipment used in metal working (bandsaws, manual mills and lathes, CNC mills), welding, sheet metal cutting and forming, waterjet, woodworking (band saw, table saw, CNC router), rapid prototyping (3D printers, laser cutters, hand tools), electronics, soft goods (sewing machines, embroidery). Strong organizational and record-keeping skills. Proactive initiative-taker. Attention to detail.

Working Conditions: May at times be required to work with or be in areas where hazardous materials and/or infectious diseases are present. Specific hazards include, but are not limited to, chemicals, pesticides, and solvents, allergens, blood borne pathogens. May require work in an environment where animals are used for teaching and research. May be exposed to radiation or electromagnetic fields. Must perform tasks that require the use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses and shoes, protective clothing and gloves, etc. May work extended or unusual work hours due to research or project requirements and peak work cycles. After hours on-call availability required.

Physical Requirements: Frequently stand, walk, twist, bend, stoop, squat, grasp lightly, use fine manipulation, grasp forcefully, perform desk-based computer tasks, use telephone, write by hand, lift, carry, push and pull objects weighing over 40 pounds. Occasionally sit, kneel, crawl, reach and work above shoulders, sort and file paperwork or parts. Rarely climb, scrub, sweep, mop, chop and mix or operate hand and foot controls. Must have correctable vision to perform duties of the job. Ability to bend, squat, kneel, stand, reach above shoulder level, and move on hard surfaces for up to eight hours. Ability to lift heavy objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Ability to work in a dusty, dirty, and odorous environment.

Work Standards: Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations. Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide.

Pay Range: The expected pay range for this position is $92,587 to $105,351 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Why Stanford is for you: Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with: Freedom to grow. A caring culture. A healthier you. Discovery and fun. Enviable resources. How to Apply: We invite you to apply for this position by clicking on the "Apply for Job" button. To be considered, please submit a cover letter and résumé along with your online application. The cover letter should briefly describe why you believe you are a good fit for this position. For example, applicants should speak to prior work experience operating, maintaining, and/or designing manufacturing equipment, experience working with students, and anecdotes showcasing independent initiative and troubleshooting abilities. Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form. Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.