Job Vacancy Announcement

Position Information

Functional TitlePhysics Laboratory ManagerPosition TypeAdministrative/ProfessionalAppointment TypeRegularFTE %

100

Work Schedule (if atypical)Job Description Summary

The University of La Verne is a private not-for-profit university founded in 1891 located in La Verne, California. The core values that we live by are Ethical Reasoning, Diversity and Inclusivity, Lifelong Learning and Community and Civic Engagement.

If you’re passionate about these values, join us at the University of La Verne!

Manage physics program labs, equipment, and facilities; supervise student employees; provide safety and technical training for laboratory T.A.’s; provide instructional and research support to students and faculty; assist Program Chair; and conduct program outreach events.Specific Duties

• Manage and prepare introductory and advanced instructional laboratories.
• Order, test, maintain, repair, and inventory equipment, supplies, software and chemicals to meet anticipated laboratory needs.
• Develop and oversee laboratory and workshop safety protocols and implement safety training.
• Edit and update experiments in instructional lab manuals based on input from faculty, equipment changes and best-practice physics education research.
• Support lab instructional goals by developing or improving labs experiments, policies, and procedures.
• Supervise student employees–Recruit, hire, train and evaluate. Manage and coordinate employee schedules and work assignments.
• Develop and run weekly T.A. training sessions that cover lab safety, technical training, and teaching pedagogy
• Provide instructional support to program-related courses and workshops.
• Participate in the development of and provide support for special class projects and activities.
• Develop, fabricate, prepare and support the use of lecture demonstrations.
• Remain current in and serve as a resource for faculty for best practices in research-based physics pedagogy by participating in physics education conferences and workshops
• Assist with student and faculty research projects.
• Assist program chair
• Track budget allocations for laboratory equipment, supplies and teaching assistants.
• Support overall program goals through participation in program evaluations, grant opportunities and research support.
• Represent the physics program in outreach events both on and off campus.
• Provide general assistance to physics program faculty.
• Maintain computer software for PCs and Macs in physics labs and arrange for technology repairs when needed.
• Organize program field trips (transportation, schedules, supplies)

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in physics, astronomy or related field.
• 3 years Physics laboratory experience.
• 2 years Supervising of students and/or staff.
• 2 years Development of physics demonstration equipment.
• Experience troubleshooting and maintaining instruments and electronics found in a teaching physics lab such as multimeters, function generators, oscilloscopes, and digital data acquisition systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Fundamental knowledge of undergraduate mechanics, electricity and magnetism, optics, thermodynamics, modern physics and quantum mechanics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in physics or physics education.
• Machine shop and fabrication skills using a drill press, band saw, miter saw, CNC milling machine, laser cutter or lathe.
• Analog and digital electronics experience.
• Experience designing and troubleshooting electronics devices.
• Experience with digital data acquisition systems such as Lab View or Matlab and/or microcontroller electronics such as Arduino.
  Public outreach experience.
• Knowledge of current pedagogical best practices in physics education literature.

Benefits Summary

Salary will be commensurate with experience and internal equity. Benefits include a comprehensive health and wellness plan, tuition remission program for employee, spouse, and dependent children, a generous 10% contribution to the University’s 403B retirement plan, and a generous time off plan.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion and clearance of a background check and employment verification.

U.S. News & World Report rates La Verne Online No. 1 in California for the third consecutive year and 24th best in the country. Washington Monthly’s 2016 “America’s Best Colleges for Adult Learners” rankings place La Verne No. 3 among private, 4-year institutions in California.
La Verne is Tier 1 in U.S. News 2017 “America’s Best Colleges” National University rankings for the seventh straight year, and again made Forbes “America’s Top Colleges” rating (WASC Accredited).LocationLa Verne Central Campus Posting Detail Information

Posting Number2018-190611SASpecial Instructions to ApplicantsOpen DateClose DateOpen Until FilledYesPosting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
   • InsideHigherEd.com
   • HigherEdjobs.com
   • Referred by University of La Verne Employee
   • University of La Verne Website
   • ScholarlyHires.com
   • Other

Applicant DocumentsRequired Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. List of 3-5 Professional References

Optional Documents

1. Transcripts