Southwest Tennessee Community College is a comprehensive, multicultural, public, open—access college. Southwest has four campuses/centers from which it offers over 100 programs and over 20 technical certificate programs.

We foster student success, transform lives, and increase the educational level of a growing community in Shelby County. Southwest is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Title: Laboratory Technician

Employee Classification: Technical & Paraprofessional

Institution: Southwest Tennessee Community College

Department: Natural Sciences

Campus Location: SWTCC - Multiple Campus Locations

Job Summary

This is a full-time permanent, fiscal year laboratory technician position under the supervision of the Department Head of Natural Sciences. The laboratory technician may be assigned to duties at any college campus and is responsible for managing and organizing laboratories, laboratory materials, and equipment for teaching laboratories across the college.

Job Duties

• Manage the chemical, biological, anatomy and physiology, physics, and biotechnology laboratories at any assigned campus.
• Order, stock, and maintain inventories of chemicals and other supplies and materials for chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology, physics, and biotechnology labs.
• Maintain paperwork on purchasing, receiving reports, inventories, and allotted supply budgets.
• Maintain an ordered chemical supply room with proper labeling and a Safety Data Sheet inventory.
• Maintain, stock, and clean glassware, plastics, tubing, personal safety materials, and equipment.
• Plan and execute preventive maintenance programs for laboratory equipment.
• Request equipment repairs as necessary to maintain business continuity.
• Make independent decisions on laboratory stock, equipment maintenance, and personal safety.
• Prepare materials for each lab as needed by faculty members including chemical solution preparation, microorganism cultures and all associated laboratory equipment and material needs.
• Coordinate with faculty members to ensure proper ordering and delivery of materials and supplies to their labs.
• Operate a variety of laboratory equipment including but not limited to daily use of an autoclave, biosafety cabinet, chemical fume, and pH meter.
• Maintain clean, safe, and organized laboratories.
• Communicate professionally and collegially.
• Maintain general first aid kits for classrooms.
• Assist with documentation required by the college, the Tennessee Board of Regents, the State of Tennessee government office or United States government office to maintain the college in compliance with laws or policies that govern laboratory safety including but not limited to chemical waste handling, inventories, and removal and biological waste handling, inventories and removal.
• Attend department meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in a natural science discipline.
  
• Familiarity with the operation and general maintenance of natural science materials and equipment.
  
• General knowledge of laboratory safety procedures and precautions.
  
• A background check will be required for the successful candidate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with mammalian cell culture.
  
• Bachelor’s Degree in a natural science discipline

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to supervise work study students.
  
• Ability to direct part-time laboratory technicians.
  
• Ability to operate laboratory equipment such as spectrometers, pH meters, centrifuges, or balances.
  
• Ability to follow a written protocol and prepare chemical solutions.
  
• Ability to initiate, passage, and maintain cell cultures.
  
• Ability to develop and follow a preventive maintenance program.
  
• Ability to evaluate and make decisions independent of supervision.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with faculty members and other employees.
  
• Ability to manage Natural Sciences preparatory and supply rooms.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Candidates who are called for an interview must notify Human Resources in writing at least five (5) days in advance of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

First consideration will be given to current Southwest Tennessee Community College employees who meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

In order to be considered for the position, the following items must be uploaded:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Unofficial Transcripts

A summary of our benefits can be found below: 

https://www.southwest.tn.edu/hr/benefits-overview.php

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The TBR does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. 

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies:  LeVetta Hudson, Vice President of People & Culture, myhr@southwest.tn.edu, 737 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, 901-333-5000. See the full non-discrimination policy.