University of Waterloo

Analytical Lab Services Specialist

University of Waterloo • $87K — $109K *
Waterloo, ON N2J 1A1In-Person
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in chemistry or related field, advanced degree preferred.
  • 5+ years experience in a laboratory setting, particularly with analytical instrumentation.
  • Strong knowledge of analytical techniques and their operational parameters.
  • Experience in managing laboratory operations and supervising personnel.
  • Excellent communication skills for collaboration with researchers and clients.

Responsibilities

  • Manage the Chemical Engineering Analytical Services Laboratory and ensure its safe operations.
  • Provide analytical services and collaborate with internal and external researchers.
  • Supervise lab users, including students and postdoctoral fellows, ensuring proper equipment usage.
  • Maintain laboratory equipment, addressing troubleshooting needs as they arise.
  • Establish a competitive fee structure for laboratory services and manage billing procedures.
  • Develop and implement training programs on analytical techniques and lab equipment use.
  • Promote lab services and maintain an updated online presence.

Benefits

  • Access to professional development and continuous learning through training programs.
  • Opportunities for networking and collaboration with internal and external researchers.
  • Engagement in cutting-edge research projects in a dynamic laboratory environment.
  • Support from the Department Financial Officer and Laboratory Director for budgetary needs.
Full Job Description
Job Requisition ID:


Time Type:
Full time

Employee Group:
Staff

Job Category:
Laboratory Support

Employment Type:
Temporary

Department:
Faculty of Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Technical Operations

Hiring Range:
$87,620.25 - $109,525.32

Posting Information:This posting is for an existing vacancy.

The internal posting deadline for this position is October 1, 2026 at 11:59PM

This position is being offered as a Secondment or contract opportunity. Contract end date: September 30, 2028

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

This position is responsible for the provision of analytical and general chemistry services to support graduate and post-doctoral research in the Department of Chemical Engineering, including funded external research interests. The incumbent is required to manage the Chemical Engineering Analytical Services Laboratory and all aspects of its safe operations.

Key Accountabilities

Analytical Services
  • Be proficient in the use of analytical equipment and sample preparation. Possess a good knowledge of the associated limitations and operating parameters for each analytical technique.
  • Establish service-level objectives and consult with the lab director as to the objectives.
  • Provide analytical services for, and collaborate with, researchers across campus as well as clients from outside the university.
  • Identify and update analytical/testing services based on faculty needs and industry trends.
  • Supervise lab users including undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, visiting researchers and external users as they utilize the lab equipment in their research.
  • Recommend the upgrading or replacement of existing analytical instrumentation when required.
  • Provide analytical consultation for researchers on campus and for external clients, develop custom solutions for clients and help solve specific operational problems.
  • Assist faculty in the acquisition of new analytical instrumentation, which includes the writing of equipment grant proposals.
  • Expand and/or update knowledge and expertise by attending company, supplier and/or manufacturer training programs concerning analytical instruments or methods of analyses, with special emphasis on new devices and techniques.

Operations
  • Ensure and maintain the day-to-day operational capability of the laboratory.
  • Provide regular maintenance to lab equipment and troubleshoot analytical and instrumental problems.
  • Ensure the operation of the facility according to the departmental and university safety procedures.
  • Proactively maintain an adequate level of consumables, chemicals, and analytical standards for the Lab.

Training
  • Offer workshops and hands-on training on equipment usage to increase lab engagement.
  • Train researchers on the proper use of lab equipment and recommended quality control practices.
  • Develop and implement training programs, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and documentation.
  • Provide seminars regarding analytical chemistry and instrumental analysis, upon request of the Laboratory Director, Research and Special Projects.
  • Provide explanation of analytical techniques to visiting researchers and students touring the facility.

Financial Administration
  • Establish competitive, transparent fee structures (internal, external academic, and industry rates) that support cost recovery or surplus generation.
  • Keep track of and document billing of users.
  • Prepare and communicate billing statements to internal users.
  • Submit the termly charges to the Department Financial Officer for processing.
  • Invoice external clients for analytical services.
  • Provides input into the annual operating budget needed to operate the facility in collaboration with the Department Financial Officer and the Laboratory Director, Research and Special Projects.
  • Submit all chemicals, equipment consumables, and repair cost requisitions through Unit 4.

Administration
  • Assist in the hiring and supervision of casual co-op students and technicians when necessary to maintain sample turnaround during busy periods in the departmental instrumentation lab.
  • Process users' requests for analysis and communicate results.
  • Establish and maintain liaison with sales representatives and technical support.

Promotional/Advertising
  • Promote the core lab among faculty, postdocs, and students to encourage internal recharge revenue.
  • Assist in writing technical scopes for fee-for-service or sponsored research agreements.
  • Maintain a professional, detailed lab website with service descriptions, pricing, and contact info. Document and share successful collaborations or impactful analyses via testimonials.
  • Actively respond to the research needs of new clients.
  • Actively provide updates on the analytical capabilities and new projects supported by the ChemEng analytical lab using available professional platforms, departmental meetings and UWaterloo website, when possible.

About University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo is a public research university with a main campus in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is on 404 hectares of land adjacent to "Uptown" Waterloo and Waterloo Park. The university also operates three satellite campuses and four affiliated university colleges. The university offers academic programs administered by six faculties and thirteen faculty-based schools. Waterloo operates the largest post-secondary co-operative education program in the world, with over 20,000 undergraduate students enrolled in the university's co-op program. Waterloo is a member of the U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada. The institution originates from the Waterloo College Associate Faculties, established on 4 April 1956; a semi-autonomous entity of Waterloo College, which was an affiliate of the University of Western Ontario. This entity formally separated from Waterloo College and was incorporated as a university with the passage of the University of Waterloo Act by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1959. It was established to fill the need to train engineers and technicians for Canada's growing postwar economy. It grew substantially over the next decade, adding a faculty of arts in 1960, and the College of Optometry of Ontario, which moved from Toronto in 1967. The university is a co-educational institution, with approximately 36,000 undergraduate and 6,200 postgraduate students enrolled there in 2020. Alumni and former students of the university can be found across Canada and in over 150 countries; with a number of award winners, government officials, and business leaders having been associated with Waterloo. Waterloo's varsity teams, known as the Waterloo Warriors, compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the U Sports.
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* Ladders Estimates

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