Director of Instructional Laboratories

Director of Instructional Laboratories

• 558239
• New York
• Dept of Mechanical Engineering
• Full Time
• Opening on: Jul 3 2026
• Grade 13

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• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building: Morningside
• Salary Range: $102,000 - $110,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University''s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

The Director of Instructional Laboratories provides operational management and day-to-day coordination for Department of Mechanical Engineering instructional facilities, including the main Teaching Laboratories, the Mechatronics Laboratory, and the departmental Machine Shop. The Director coordinates and guides instructional laboratory staff; implements established safety and compliance procedures; maintains laboratory equipment and instructional spaces; and collaborates with faculty to align laboratory readiness and support with course and experiential learning needs. The Director coordinates with Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S), University Compliance, and Risk Management and supports departmental compliance activities, escalating issues as needed.

Responsibilities

Operational Coordination and Lab Support (25%)

• Coordinates day-to-day operations for all instructional laboratory spaces, the Mechatronics Lab, and the Machine Shop.
• Supports planning and scheduling for instructional activities and provides operational coordination to ensure labs are prepared for classes, demonstrations, and approved projects.
• Supports routine maintenance and incremental improvements to facilities, equipment, and instructional technologies in alignment with established departmental priorities.
• Partners with faculty to align laboratory setup, instructional technologies, and fabrication capabilities with curricular and experiential learning objectives.
• Implements established operational policies, procedures, and best practices; documents standard operating procedures (SOPs) as needed to promote efficiency, safety, and instructional quality.

Personnel Supervision, Guidance, and Training (20%)

• Supervises and provides day-to-day guidance to technical staff supporting instructional, fabrication, and laboratory support services.
• Provides direct supervision to assigned technical staff, including the Senior Machinist and Senior Laboratory Technician, and coordinates work assignments and schedules for junior technical staff, casual employees, and student workers.
• Provides on-the-job training and coaching to promote consistent service delivery, safe practices, and effective use of lab resources.
• Ensures appropriate coverage for instructional activities and communicates expectations in accordance with departmental practices and University policies.

Safety, Compliance Coordination, and Risk Support (15%)

• Serves as a departmental coordinator for EH&S, University Compliance, and Risk Management matters related to instructional laboratory operations.
• Implements established safety and compliance procedures, including required documentation, signage, training coordination, and recordkeeping.
• Coordinates incident reporting and response in accordance with University protocols; escalates complex or high-risk issues to departmental leadership and EH&S as appropriate.
• Assists with audit preparedness and follow-up actions to maintain a safe and compliant instructional environment.

Equipment, Inventory, and Purchasing Coordination (15%)

• Coordinates equipment maintenance, asset tracking, and space readiness across instructional facilities.
• Initiates and tracks routine purchasing requests within established guidelines and approval limits; coordinates receiving, inventory control, and stock replenishment for consumables and shop materials.
• Supports billing and reconciliation for laboratory and shop materials in coordination with the department's finance function.
• Maintains inventories of equipment, tools, and consumables; provides recommendations for equipment replacement, repair, or incremental upgrades as needed.

Technical Consultation and Hands-on Support (10%)

• Provides technical consultation and hands-on support to undergraduate/graduate students, researchers, PIs, and student clubs regarding project design feasibility, manufacturing workflows, and fabrication techniques (e.g., CNC machining, rapid prototyping).
• Trains users on safe equipment operation and appropriate lab practices; reviews plans for safety and manufacturability and refers specialized engineering decisions to faculty as appropriate.

Coordination with Stakeholders and Committee Participation (10%)

• Participates in department- or school-level meetings/committees as assigned regarding lab safety, space coordination, and facilities planning.
• Collaborates with departmental administrators, faculty, Facilities, CUIT, EH&S, and other stakeholders to coordinate instructional lab needs, address operational issues, and support scheduled facilities or technology work.
• Provides operational input, documentation, and status updates to support planning and service coordination.

Other Duties (5%)

• Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and equivalent experience required.
• 4-6 years of related experience in an academic, research, or industrial engineering laboratory, instructional lab, or manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting instructional labs and/or machine shop operations, including equipment use, maintenance coordination, and user training.
• Experience supervising or guiding technical staff and/or student workers in day-to-day operations.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety practices and ability to implement established EH&S procedures and documentation requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related technical field.
• Additional experience coordinating day-to-day technical operations in a hands-on laboratory/manufacturing environment.
• Master's degree or professional engineering equivalent strongly preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.