Arizona Climate and Ecosystems (ACE) Laboratory Assistant Director

Northern Arizona University seeks a full-time Lab Research Facility Administrator Assistant Director for the Arizona Climate and Ecosystems (ACE) Laboratory. This on-site role involves managing sample processing, coordinating research projects, overseeing budgets, and facilitating communication among researchers. The position requires experience in project coordination and research administration, focusing on ecological research led by faculty members. Remote work opportunities are rare.
Arizona Climate and Ecosystems (ACE) Laboratory Assistant
Director

Location: Vice President for Research

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Job ID: 608365

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Workplace Culture

NAU aims to be the nation's preeminent engine of opportunity,
vehicle of economic mobility, and driver of social impact by
delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and
beyond.

Special Information
• This position is posted as Arizona Climate and Ecosystems (ACE)
Laboratory Assistant Director, which is a working title. The NAU
system title for this position is Lab Research Facility
Administrator Assistant Director.
• This position is subject to the availability of funding. The
incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal
notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.
• This position is an on-site position which requires the
incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus,
or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote
work are rare.

Job Description

Northern Arizona University is seeking a detail-oriented and
organized Lab Research Facility Administrator Assistant Director to
support research at the Arizona Climate and Ecosystems (ACE)
isotope laboratory in particular as it interfaces with ongoing
ecological research projects led by Drs. Ted Schuur, Michelle Mack,
and Xanthe Walker. This position will focus both on the technical
side of managing and facilitating the sample processing pipeline
for the ACE laboratory as well as managing the administrative,
financial, and logistical aspects of research projects that are the
source of samples.

Responsibilities will include coordinating project timelines with a
variety of researchers and directly working with sample processing
and operating analytical instrumentation in support of the overall
sample processing pipeline of the ACE laboratory. To this end,
responsibilities will also include managing budgets and sample
spreadsheets, assisting with paperwork for grant proposals,
tracking expenditures, and ensuring compliance with institutional
and funding agency regulations.

The position will also be responsible for organizing team meetings,
maintaining communication with collaborators, and facilitating the
smooth operation of laboratory and project activities. The role
requires overseeing project documentation, managing logistics for
lab and fieldwork, and ensuring the efficient allocation of
resources. The ideal candidate will have experience with project
coordination, and research administration in an academic,
scientific, or equivalent setting.

Lab Liaison - 45%
• Work directly and actively with three faculty members to ensure
proper flow of paperwork through the lab and university
systems.
• Work with a variety of lab members including students and staff
scientists to ensure optimal sample pipeline operations. Promote a
welcoming work environment for all.

Research - 20%
• Work collaboratively with research team to organize data
collection and processing with the goal of maintaining and
optimizing a sample pipeline for isotope analyses.
• Implement research protocols and adapt standard procedures and
methods, in particular focusing on preparing and analyzing samples
for radiocarbon analysis.
• This involves coordinating the work of others on these tasks,
as well as actively working in the sample processing pipeline.
• Interface the sample pipeline processing with laboratory
analyses in conjunction with staff scientists.
• Participate in scientific discussions with other members of the
research team and lab and attend mandatory lab and project
meetings.

Operations - 20%
• Maintain clean, orderly and uncluttered laboratory space.
• Order and keep stock of laboratory supplies, chemicals and
spare maintenance items.
• Track incoming samples and outgoing results.
• Organize and keep an inventory of samples.
• Return, dispose or curate any excess sample materials.
• Optimize use of lab space and lab equipment.
• Manage hazardous waste according to University protocols.
• Prepare and track invoices.
• Manage a PCard.
• On- and off-board student workers.
• Approve time sheets.

Data Management - 10%
• Tabulate and summarize data as part of the sample processing
pipeline.
• Report results.
• Track values for standards and blanks.
• Curate and maintain backup copies of all data and metadata
according to best data-management practices.

Other - 5%
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
• B.S. degree in a relevant field (e.g., Environmental Science,
Biology, Chemistry, or related); and
• 2-4 years of management experience; and
• At least 3 years of relevant experience, including:
• Project organization and management or research administration,
with a proven track record in coordinating complex projects,
managing budgets, and handling grants.
• Experience with the operation of analytical instrumentation,
including sample processing and data management of environmental
samples; or
• Any combination of relevant education and experience may be
substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year
basis.

Preferred Qualifications
• M.S degree.
• Experience organizing and managing multi-component research
projects.
• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams and managing
external collaborations.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge
• Familiarity with ecological or environmental science
research.
• Familiarity with the preparation and submission of grant
proposals and progress reports.
• Advanced knowledge of the principles and practices related to
laboratory operation, including sample
• preparation and handling, data acquisition, data processing and
data interpretation.
• Advanced knowledge of laboratory health and safety
requirements.

Skills
• Strong budgeting and financial management skills.
• Customer service skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint).

Abilities
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships.
• Communicates effectively.
• Possesses strong problem solving, organizational, and
analytical capabilities.

Background Information

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the
following: a criminal background investigation, an employment
history verification and a degree verification (in some cases)
prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a
fingerprint background check. Additionally, as an employer in the
state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal
E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new
employees' right to work in the United States. Finally, each year
Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result
of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery
reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed
calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU
uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report
crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the
Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual
Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this
campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire
safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing
and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you
would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the
NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the
department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Salary

Salary range begins at $58,882. Annual salary commensurate with
candidate's qualifications and related experience.

FLSA Status

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair
Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or
compensatory time for additional time worked.

Benefits

This is a Service Professional (SPF) position. NAU offers an
excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and
vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement
System or the Optional Retirement Program; 22 days of vacation and
10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and
qualified dependents. More information on benefits at NAU is
available on the Human Resources
benefits website. NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.
Service Professionals are hired on a contract basis, renewable each
6 months according to terms of the
Conditions of Professional Service. Employees offered a
position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's
BCBS Plan). New employees are eligible
for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their
enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31
days from their start date to enroll in benefits. If a new employee
chooses the ASRS retirement option, participation in the Arizona
State Retirement System, and the long-term disability coverage that
accompanies it, will begin on the first of the pay period following
6 months after the new employee's start date. New employees who
choose to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), which
is an alternative to the ASRS plan for faculty and other appointed
staff, will begin to participate on the first day of the pay period
following election. Additionally, the long-term disability plan
that accompanies the ORP will begin on the first day of the pay
period following election.

Learning and Development

Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity
for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to
be completed within the first 30 days.

Immigration Suppt/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship
for this position.

Application Deadline

May 26, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on
this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the
"Submit" button by midnight of the application deadline. If you
need assistance completing your application there are instructions
available on the Human Resources website or in person in the
Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus
- on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable
accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact
the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ
86011.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disabled/Protected Veterans.
NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

Know Your Rights Poster

NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps,
and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.

To apply, visit https://hr.peoplesoft.nau.edu/psp/ph92prta/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=608365&PostingSeq=1

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