Lab Coordinator/Technician-Biology (Plant and Animal Systems)

Department: Faculty of Science 

Job Type: Limited Term

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year) 

Campus: Waterloo 

Reports to: Administrative Manager, Faculty of Science

Employee Group: WLUSA 

Application Deadline: July 13, 2026

Requisition ID: 11571 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Laurier's Waterloo, Kitchener, and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources, and not to engage in conflict. Laurier's Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

This job posting is for a current vacancy.

Position Summary

At Laurier, we are a community. It’s what brings our students here and what keeps our people here.

As an educational institution, we inspire lives of leadership and purpose in our student community. As an employer, we seek, foster and value the same qualities of leadership and purpose in our employee community.

We currently have an opportunity to join the Laurier community as a Laboratory Coordinator/ Technician with a focus in the biology of plant and animal systems.

Reporting to the Manager of Teaching Labs (Biology), works in collaboration with other laboratory support personnel and course instructors in the Department of Biology, and is responsible for the planning, implementation and oversight of assigned labs and/or tutorials for undergraduate courses in support of all undergraduate Biology programs including Water Science and Environmental Health and Environmental Science, and for the technical support of all assigned teaching laboratories.

The Lab Coordinator/Technician is responsible for developing and/or revising laboratory experiments and exercises and corresponding lab manuals, study guides, assignments, lab tests and marking rubrics in support of lab/course content. They also train and supervise Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) and/or undergraduate Instructional Assistants (IAs) as assigned to instruct or provide support for labs and/or tutorials in these courses. The incumbent is responsible for staying abreast of current advances in pedagogy and pedagogical technology as they relate to delivery of laboratory content.

In consultation with other teaching lab support staff and relevant faculty members, the incumbent will implement these identified advances in the development, design, evaluation and revision of lab exercises, experiments and tutorials for the assigned courses, ensuring that such improvements contribute to meeting the program and course-level learning outcomes.

The incumbent is responsible for the preparation and setup of equipment, solutions, media, reagents and materials as required for undergraduate teaching laboratories in Biology courses ensuring lab activities are completed safely and in accordance with meeting the program and course-level learning objectives. This responsibility involves understanding the specific protocols as well as interpreting and understanding the academic goals of the courses in consultation with course instructors or teaching lab personnel. The incumbent will also recommend appropriate protocols, materials and assessments as needed. The position requires a high level of laboratory competence to work independently and maintain a safe working environment.

Sourcing, purchasing, care, maintenance and repair of equipment, materials and specimens used in the design of each lab is a key responsibility of this position. Given the breadth of the lab curriculum, the incumbent requires a diverse understanding of a broad range of organisms, biological processes and techniques, as well as detailed knowledge regarding the safe handling and disposal of biological and hazardous wastes. A strong background in both animal and plant cell biology and physiology is required.

Accountabilities

Laboratory/Tutorial Development & Implementation:

• In collaboration with course instructors or other teaching lab personnel as appropriate, designs and implements labs to fulfill course learning objectives;
• In collaboration with course instructors, prepares lab manuals describing lab safety, schedule, exercises and assessments. This may include reviewing published lab exercises and peer-reviewed literature, as well as authoring, testing, troubleshooting and revising lab/tutorial exercises;
• Establishes assessments, including assignments, quizzes and lab exams that are designed to test course learning objectives, and develops associated grading rubrics;
• Completes daily/weekly tasks to ensure that labs are prepared and ready to run according to schedule;
• Provides support to Graduate Teaching Assistants, undergraduate Instructional Assistants and undergraduate students as they prepare for and actively deliver and participate in lab and tutorial exercises/experiments;
• Works with (bio)hazardous equipment, chemicals, materials, organisms, and procedures ensuring that all participants are able to conduct work safely;
• Educates GTAs, IAs, students, and others as required on the safe handling of equipment, specimens, chemicals, etc. used during lab activities;
• Tears down and cleans up completed labs, including maintenance/repair of equipment, (bio)hazardous and chemical waste disposal;
• Available as a resource for students’ questions outside of lab hours.

Selection and Supervision of GTAs/IAs

• In cooperation with the department’s Graduate Officer, the Manager of Teaching Labs, other teaching lab support staff, and relevant course instructors, assists with the assignment of GTAs to appropriate courses;
• Provides feedback to the Manager of Teaching Labs and relevant course instructors, in the review and selection of IAs needed to complement GTA assignments;
• Trains, supervises and mentors GTAs and IAs in the designated courses. Supports GTAs and IAs in the development of professional work habits and skills, and efficient use of resources; pedagogical objectives include but are not limited to improving student skill in presenting background information, responding to student questions, relating to and working with peers, and the timely completion of grading.
• Holds regular meetings to prepare GTAs and IAs for upcoming labs, tutorials, assignments, etc.;
• Generates GTA and IA lab schedules, and ensures coverage of labs in the event of GTA/IA absences;
• Establishes grading criteria and rubrics for assessments (tutorial/lab performance, lab reports, lab notebooks, assignments, quizzes and tests); regularly evaluates assessment methods and results to ensure uniform and fair practices; oversees grading by GTAs and IAs;

Administrative Duties

• Collects and collates student grades from GTAs and IAs, and makes them available to the course instructor when requested; (re-)grades student assessments as needed;
• Assists students who experience difficulties with course materials or miss lab/tutorial sessions or submission due dates due to illness or other reasons;
• Implements recommended accommodations to students registered with the Accessible Learning Centre;
• Investigates and reports incidents of academic misconduct; providing documentation to the Manager of Teaching labs for follow-up with the Department Chair;
• Participates in departmental and university functions and committees;
• Oversees other administrative duties as they pertain to the successful management of labs or field trips;
• Provides input into the scheduling of teaching labs;
• Arranges for the printing, sale and related documentation of lab manuals;

Lab Preparation and Management

• Provides guidance to students with regard to lab procedures, outcomes, analysis and assessments;
• Cleans and maintains lab spaces including communicating with Physical Resources regarding necessary infrastructure repairs (plumbing, electrical, etc.);
• Decontaminates and disposes of sharps and (bio)hazardous waste;
• Maintains PPE, spill kits, showers/eye wash stations, and first aid kits;
• Updates SDS, chemical inventory;
• Maintains tools, equipment, and chemicals according to regulations;
• Identifies animals, bacteria, plants, equipment, reagents, supplies and other resources as required for lab experiments;
• Complies with university safety and regulatory protocols;
• Develops and maintains Standard Operating Procedures for labs;
• Oversees the duties of Work Study Students each academic year.

Procurement and Maintenance of Equipment, Specimen and Other Materials

• Sources and purchases reagents, supplies, specimens and other materials required for labs;
• Participates in the field collection of required specimens and other materials as needed;
• In collaboration with other teaching lab support staff, manages departmental equipment and facilities used in the assigned courses, including development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the safe use of the relevant equipment and facilities; ensures that equipment is functioning well for lab sessions; provides or arranges for maintenance/repair, storage, and inventory of laboratory equipment;
• Researches and makes recommendations on purchases of new equipment;
• Receives departmental deliveries and arranges for distribution of materials to respective (research) labs.

Engagement and Outreach:

• Actively participates in Faculty of Science outreach initiatives (e.g. Open House, AquaSONG, Mama Aki Youth Camp, JUMP in conjunction with Conference Services, SHAD, and Waterloo Wellington Science Fair). 
• Duties include: providing supervision and guidance to students participating in outdoor activities affiliated with outreach programs; field sampling, presentations, development and delivery of lab activities and experiments, representing Laurier as judges at science fairs.

Reporting Relationships

The incumbent to oversee approximately 10 positions on an annual basis. These positions are comprised of the following roles:

• Graduate Teaching Assistants
• Instructional Assistants
• Work Study Student(s)

Qualifications

• Master of Science in Biological Science
• Three (3) years relevant work experience
• First aid and fire safety – preferred but will provide training as necessary to successful candidate
• Sound knowledge of the handling, storage and disposal of (bio)hazardous materials;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Ability to communicate, interact and work efficiently and effectively with faculty, staff and students on a wide range of issues;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment, with well-developed team management, organizational and leadership skills;
• Motivated to work independently;
• Comfortable training and conveying detailed information to individuals or a group/audience;
• Supervisory experience, including the ability to train and manage GTAs and undergraduate IAs;
• Exceptional attention to detail and problem-solving ability
• Ability to accommodate deadlines
• Knowledge of and experience using a range of standard biological equipment and related control systems
• Sound knowledge of all programs available through Microsoft Office and familiarity with learning management systems (e.g. Brightspace/Desire2Learn)
• Must be able to provide a recent vulnerable sector check.

Hours of Work: This is a full-time, limited term role with an approximate end date of August 4, 2028. The normal hours of work are 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Flexibility of hours may be required to provide service for afternoon or evening labs as needed (5:30 - 7:30 pm). Flexibility may also be required on weekends for the care of organisms and other time-sensitive materials. The manager will adjust the schedule, when possible, to ensure no more than 35 hours per week are worked.

This role offers limited flexibility regarding flexible work arrangements. Please see Policy 8.14 (Flexible Work Policy) for more information. All arrangement must be approved by the direct manager. On occasion, this schedule may need to be adjusted to meet operational requirements.

Compensation:

Level: G

Rate of Pay: $52.17 to $55.14 per hour with an annual step progression on anniversary date up to $59.63 per hour.

Considerations for new hire step placements include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.

Please note, when pre-screening questions are used as part of the application process, AI is utilized to score responses. All other aspects of the hiring process are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team.