Chemical Technician

This competition is restricted to internal applicants of the University of Alberta. Please indicate your internal status using the "Advertisement" drop down menu when applying.

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA). 

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: Faculty & Staff Benefits .

Location

Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton and this role is in-person.

Working for the University of Alberta 

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Working for the Department/Faculty

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Alberta  provides an outstanding environment for studies in chemistry, is among the most research active departments in Canada, and is regarded as being among the top three in the country. The department is one of the best equipped and best funded in North America and has a faculty renowned internationally for its excellence in teaching and research.

Position

The primary focus of this position is to support the Department of Chemistry's Organic Chemistry (Chem X6X), Inorganic Chemistry (Chem X4X/X3X), and Physical Chemistry (Chem 37X) and Analytical Chemistry (Chem 21 X) Undergraduate Teaching Labs. The technical duties of the position directly support approximately 1300-1 500 undergraduate Chemistry students. The incumbent is also required to service the Chemistry Storeroom window/ counter by issuing required supplies, chemicals, and glassware to students.

Duties

Sample, Reagent, and Equipment Preparations (30%)

• Interpret experiments from course manuals and Lab Coordinator's requests in order to prepare chemical solutions and samples for use in laboratory courses and practical examinations
• Ensures necessary quantities of supplies and chemicals needed are available for course use by obtaining them from common departmental inventories
• Record receipt of goods to Stores database to ensure appropriate stock levels are maintained accurately
• Obtain specific-to-course goods and chemicals by requisitioning them via the Stores Supervisor
• Precisely prepare student samples by weighing and combining compounds to parts per thousand accuracy. Enter each of the sample properties into a database for student grading
• Prepare various volumes of solutions by using appropriate formulas and calculating mixtures
• Assists the Lab Coordinator in assessing and readying lab-specific apparatus', including individual disposable pipet-columns, vacuum aspirator apparatuses, mercury bubblers, and various other customizable devices needed.
• Maintain schedules and records of student breakages and ensure repairs are made to equipment if needed, and cost of repair or replacement is acquired from the student.
• Confer with Laboratory Coordinator if necessary to offer suggestions to optimize experiments or address potential issues arising from experiment procedures.

Servicing Storeroom Counter/General Stores Operation (30%)

• Perform daily bookkeeping capturing all sales and balancing transactions
• Serve at the Stores counter by issuing required supplies, chemicals, and glassware to students
• Maintain records of student requirements and purchases by entering transactions in Student Accounts database to ensure accurate billing and processing of student records
• Receive and record payments of student accounts. Hand in Cash to General Office for deposit. Place holds on student accounts using PeopleSoft if fines go unpaid.
• Sell lab manuals to approximately 10,000 students per year.
• Prior to the start of each term, student equipment drawer and combination lock data are collected using a barcode scanner, which is then downloaded to the Student locker Assignment System and in combination with the Cumulative Academic Records System Lab Coordinators assign registered students to lab sections
• Maintain general safety conditions in the storeroom and in the teaching labs via WHMIS and Uappol.
• Perform first aid as required.

Purchasing (10%)

• Sourcing and acquisition of reagents and supplies from preferred or other vendors
• Fulfilling custom purchasing requests from undergraduate laboratory and other departmental personnel
• Use of University of Alberta purchasing software Supply Net
• Maintain transaction records of all items purchased
• Generate monthly reports for purchases made by the Undergraduate Storeroom

Database and Inventory System Management (10%)

• Train individuals to use CHEMATIX system for inventory, point of sale, and waste
• Generate monthly fiscal reports for internal sales by each research group within the Department
• Maintain inventory upon receipt of items purchased
• Update stock and generate new stock codes as needed
• Develop and maintain student payment database and communication system

Outreach Technical Support (5%)

• Interpret experiments from interdisciplinary outreach group requests in order to prepare chemical solutions and demonstrations for use in outreach activities and events
• Find best practices for requested experiments, recommend new experiments and flag unsafe requests from student outreach groups.
• Support of underrepresented interest groups such as women in STEM (WISEST, WISE, WISER), underprivileged inner-city youth as well as youth in science (U of A Science Summer Camps) among others by providing technical expertise, supplies and demonstration kits.

Collection and Disposal of Hazardous Waste (5%)

• Remove hazardous waste from teaching labs and transport safety to the central waste collection area
• Ensure that proper waste containers are used, contents are labeled and waste disposal forms are properly filled as per Environmental Health and Safety guidelines
• Use of CHEMATIX online hazardous Waste Management System.
• Advise safe disposal measures and/or accept hazardous waste from other members of the department, if necessary.
• Mix and provide emergency spill response kits to department members.

Other Duties (10%)

• Position holder may be asked to cover illness or vacation leave for other positions within the Department.
• Shipping dangerous materials in a timely manner using Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG)

Minimum Qualifications

• Chemical Technology diploma, supplemented by 3 to 4 years of related laboratory experience in a teaching environment (equivalent combinations of education and experience considered)
• Purchasing experience and use of Supply Net and CHEMATIX software
• A combination of Chemical Safety Training, Hazardous Waste Management, or Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS) Certification
• Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Certification
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, teamwork and conflict management are advantageous
• Keep current on knowledge of handling and storage of dangerous goods, hazardous materials, and safety protocols

Preferred Qualifications

• PeopleSoft and Enterprise Campus Solutions training
• Inventory and database system maintenance
• Microsoft Excel and Word as well as Google Suite including Google Sheets, Documents among others

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.