Chemistry/Biological Science Laboratory Coordinator

Posting Closing Date: Friday, January 6, 2023

Part-Time 11-month Position (0.875 FTE)

35 hours per week plus benefits

Classified Salary Schedule

(Currently: $29.48 - $35.83)

About Gavilan:

Located in the heart of California between San Jose and Monterey, Gavilan College’s main campus in Gilroy

serves a diverse student population in a beautiful, park-like setting. In addition, we have campus centers

located in Hollister, San Martin, and South San Jose, which offer students a variety of courses and programs.

Our community recently voted to pass Measure X, a bond to renovate the main campus and build a full-

service campus in Hollister. Gavilan is proud to meet the needs of our growing community, offering high-

quality education in more than 70 transfer-related fields and over 30 industry-relevant career pathways; in

2020-21, we awarded more than 600 Associate Degrees and 797 career education certificates.

Gavilan College, a Hispanic Serving Institution with a 58% Latinx student population, is committed to

achieving educational equity for all students. We work to provide students with a rich and relevant learning

experience that emphasizes student engagement in and out of the classroom, encouraging students of all ethnic

and socioeconomic backgrounds to realize their goals and become socially responsible leaders. When you join

our team at Gavilan College, you will become part of an innovative and equity-focused community that

approaches higher education as a matter of social justice requiring broad collaboration among faculty, staff,

administration, students, and community partners.

Gavilan College fosters justice, equity, diversity and inclusion through its Principles of Community. As a

member of the Gavilan College community, you will join us in valuing the worth and dignity of every person,

the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, and the principles of democratic citizenship. All Gavilan

employees strive to maintain these ideals in an environment of inclusiveness and mutual respect. We live

these shared Principles of Community and work collaboratively to serve as a model of an exemplary, student-

centered community-serving college.

Ideal Candidate:

Gavilan College is committed to recruiting individuals that embody our Principles of Community by:

• actively demonstrating a commitment to embracing and celebrating diversity;

• committing to collaboration, effective communication and the development of strong working

relationships;

• promoting purposeful inclusion of all groups and the free exchange of ideas in a respectful, trusting

and considerate environment; and

• demonstrating commitment to a college which prioritizes equity in resource allocation.
  

The ideal candidate for this position is an equity-minded individual who understands the importance of

holding ourselves accountable for closing equity gaps and engaging in equitable practices. Gavilan strives to

attract candidates who view the elimination of inequities as an individual and collective responsibility and

who are able to reframe inequities as a problem of practice. The ideal candidate understands the mission and

purpose of the Natural Science department and demonstrates a commitment to student-centered practices,

effective cross campus collaboration, purposeful service to the community and culturally responsive practices.

This assignment will support Chemistry and Biology, which includes the following classes: Anatomy, Botany,

Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Ecology, Environmental Science, Human Biology, Marine Biology,

Microbiology, Organic Chemistry, Physiology, and Zoology. The ideal candidate must be knowledgeable in

the fields of chemistry and biology and be well versed in laboratory procedures and practices including

microbiology and molecular biology techniques. They will maintain a clean lab space, properly wash

glassware, sort lab supplies and equipment appropriately, and follow lab safety regulations.

The ideal candidate will enjoy supporting a variety of faculty, staff members, and students in a positive and

professional manner. Organization and multi-tasking skills are key and the ability to quickly produce quality

work to meet deadlines is an integral part of the position. Strong attention to detail and excellent verbal and

written communication is essential.

The Position:

Are you interested in creating an exceptional educational environment for students who are part of a dynamic,

inclusive community? If you see yourself as a professional who empowers students of diverse backgrounds to

reach their potential through innovative, structural change, we invite you to apply for the

Chemistry/Biological Science Laboratory Coordinator position. At Gavilan College, we welcome your

commitment to fostering a learning environment where resources are devoted to developing opportunities for

students to break barriers and thrive as scholars and community members.

Under general direction, to prepare and organize materials and equipment for Biology and Chemistry

labs; to dismantle and clean up lab materials; to order, grow, collect, maintain inventory,

and maintain records of supplies, equipment, cultures and specimens; to assist in annual budget

planning and tracking for the labs; and to perform related duties as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This classification requires technical understanding of the principles and procedures of specific

laboratory class activities, and administrative skills to order, assist in budgeting for, and maintain

inventory and records of lab supplies, equipment, specimens, cultures and materials, used in

chemistry, biology, zoology, anatomy, botany, and ecology labs including nursing program labs.

This class is responsible for the safe storage, use and disposal of hazardous and infectious materials

used in laboratory classes.

Essential Duties: The following duties are typical of those performed by employees in this job title; however,

employees may perform other related duties, and not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each

employee in the job title.

• Prepares, sets up and organizes materials and equipment for Biology and Chemistry labs

including calculating, measuring, mixing, dispensing and labelling chemicals and reagents,

assembling equipment and other materials for class use, and preparing media and microbial

agents; sets up lab experiments for classroom demonstrations;

• Reviews syllabi and textbooks, and discusses lab class needs and experimental procedures

with instructors to determine needed preparation and supplies, and improve student

learning; assists with practicums;

• Dismantles and cleans up lab materials and equipment including cleaning of glassware,

equipment, and lab surfaces, proper disposal of hazardous and infectious materials, and

restocking;

• Recommends equipment, supply and materials costs for annual lab budget; maintains

financial records of accounts used by Biology and Chemistry departments;

• Orders and receives all supplies and equipment required for labs; purchases local supplies

as authorized; schedules and requisitions service for equipment and cadaver disposal;

• Maintains inventory of chemicals, equipment and supplies, including SDS records;

• Maintains and grows live plants; maintains aquaria, terraria, bacterial and fungal cultures;

collects wild specimens such as fungi, flowers, and plants; processes specimens;

• Autoclaves and sterilizes microbial media contaminated with infectious agents and

maintains records of use, and sterilization procedures;

• Calibrates and makes minor repairs to equipment as needed;

• Assists students with lab related items and special project;

• Tracks and posts lab classroom schedule and usage;

• Prepares hazardous materials for disposal by proper labelling and packaging;

• Maintains a variety of logs, records and files including hazardous materials, inspections, and

related matters;

• Serves on various committees to represent laboratory needs and issues;

• Maintains current knowledge of laboratory procedures and principles and practices of

chemistry and biology;

• Provides limited office support
  

Minimum Qualifications Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience

equivalent to:

Knowledge:

• Principles and practices of chemistry, biology, botany, mycology, zoology and anatomy as relates to

laboratory activities, supplies, cultures and specimens.

• Laboratory equipment, instruments and procedures.

• Safe handling, storage, use, labelling and disposal of hazardous materials and infectious agents.

• Mathematics and measurement related to laboratory work including stoichiometry.

• Basic administrative procedures and practices including inventory, basic budgeting, purchasing,

vendor contracts for supplies and repairs, and related.

Skills and Abilities:

• Identifying necessary equipment, supplies and instruments for student laboratory activities.

• Planning annual needs, requisitioning, receiving storing, inventorying, storing and issuing

laboratory materials, supplies and equipment; maintaining basic budget records.

• Preparing chemicals, reagents, and media to exact specifications.

• Assembling, operating, cleaning and repairing laboratory equipment and apparatus.

• Safely handling, using, storing, sterilizing, and disposing of hazardous materials and/or infectious

agents.

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with instructional staff and students.

• Problem solving and analysis to improve laboratory success and student learning.

• Training and supervising student assistants.
  

Other Requirements:

Must possess a valid California driver's license and have a satisfactory driving record.

Illustrative Education and Experience:

A typical way to obtain the above knowledge and skill is a combination of education and experience

equivalent to:

Completion of an Associate of Arts degree with major coursework in chemistry, biology or

a relat ed laboratory science, and three years of experience in laboratory operations.

Physical Characteristics: The physical abilities involved in the performance of essential duties are:

Vision and color vision to identify compounds, reactions and specimens, and read texts,

instructions, lab equipment, meniscus, and labels; sense of smell to identify/detect status of

substances, specimens and hazardous conditions; hearing for normal communication and to monitor

laboratory situations; strength to lift up to 40 pounds; manual dexterity to operate laboratory

instruments and delicate measuring/culturing equipment; lifting, stooping and climbing to store,

retrieve, set up and dismantle lab equipment and materials; work in exposure to odors, hazardous

chemicals, fumes, biological/infectious agents, and vermin, insects and parasites. This work is

performed primarily indoors in laboratory and classroom settings

The physical characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to

successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable

individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Application Process:

To be considered for this excellent opportunity the following items are required to be received by the CCC

Registry no later than 5:00pm on Friday, January 6, 2023 through the following CCC Registry website:

www.cccregistry.org

1. CCC Registry online application (all sections are required to be completed, Education, Employment
History, Professional References, General Information). Apply at www.cccregistry.org *

2. Cover letter detailing qualifications and experience*
3. Abbreviated Curriculum Vitae or Resume*
4. Diversity Statement (within CCC Registry application)

• Denotes application materials that are required for full consideration.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are required to compile summary data on applicants. We are requesting

your assistance in providing the information on the personal and ethnicity section of your CCC Registry

profile. The completion of the questionnaire is voluntary. The form will remain in the Human Resources

department and will be kept confidential and separate from all hiring documents. It will not be forwarded to

those making employment decisions.

If you have questions related to the CCC Registry or technical aspects regarding submitting application

materials on the CCC Registry website, please contact the CCC Registry directly at registry@yosemite.edu or

call (800)245-4157.

Please make sure to contact the CCC Registry at (800)245-4157 AFTER you have applied for this job to

verbally confirm that your application materials were submitted correctly and that your application is included

in this recruitment.

If you have a verifiable disability and require accommodation to complete the application process, please

contact the Human Resources Office at (408) 852-2823.

Please be aware, the District does not reimburse for expenses related to the recruitment process.



NON-DISCRIMINATION

G avilan Joint Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to nondiscrimination on the

basis of ethnic group identification, race, color, language, accent, immigration status, ancestry, national origin, age,

gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, transgender, marital status, veteran status, medical condition,

physical or mental disability and any other status protected by applicable federal and state laws. Applicants who

require accommodations to complete the application or interview process, please contact the Human Resources

Office at (408) 852-2823 for assistance.