Course Technician
McGill University
Montréal, Québec, Canada
Full-Time
$33
RemoteManager
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Faculty of Science
Department of Biology
Position Summary:
The Course Technician works in close collaboration with the Lab Course Coordinator and other technical staff members to ensure the smooth daily operations of two large undergraduate biology laboratory courses. Key responsibilities include preparing and aliquoting solutions, materials, and supplies and rearing various organisms. The role also involves preparing materials and samples for upcoming laboratory sessions, as well as processing orders, maintaining inventory, and ensuring that all laboratory activities meet the safety and quality standards. Teaching labs are held on several weekday evenings, and afternoons of the fall and winter terms.
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 11:00am to 7:00pm.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Prepare and organize the materials and supplies for the weekly, daily teaching laboratory sessions of the fall and winter terms.
Daily inspection of prep room and teaching lab cubicles to identify any issues (i.e.: leaks, damaged or missing equipment, state of teaching cubicles, etc.), to ensure that the spaces are safe and functional before the next lab session.
Perform a variety of specialized technical tasks to prepare and aliquots the solutions, reagents, samples, materials, supplies and organisms (bacteria, fungus, algae, seeds, plants, invertebrates and dissection specimen, etc.) required for the daily lab sessions. Hazardous substances are involved.
Suggest improvements for the existing or new prep room and teaching procedures and logistics.
Apply modifications, documents and updates methodologies electronically on shared spaces (text and photos), when needed. Resolve problems and advise the Lab Course Coordinator and the other technical team members about any sub- or non-functional prep room and teaching cubicle materials, items and equipment.
Perform regular maintenance and organize the repair of the prep room and teaching spaces, items or equipment, when needed.
Maintain shared electronic inventories for chemicals, consumables, glassware, plasticware (Mylab, MSDS) and equipment.
In collaboration with the Lab Course Coordinator and other technical staff members, plan and complete purchase requisitions for materials, supplies, chemicals, organisms (live and preserved) and equipment through McGill Market Place (MMP). Ensure timed purchase of all items, including perishables and live specimens.
Follow-up on orders and planned delivery dates, quality controls all goods on arrival and follows up about missing, damaged or incorrect items directly with the suppliers.
Ensures safety of teaching lab areas and gives directions to students (location of lab cubicles, locker area, etc.) upon their arrival and waiting for their lab session to start.
Maintain and update the prep room desk calendar with their own year-round, daily tasks and the scheduled deliveries, ensuring colleagues have permanent access to this information for both terms and the preparation/clean-up periods (December, spring and summer).
Update and maintain (text and photos) the Biol 111-112 prep room, Procedural Manual (procedures done by the Course Technician) and the Teaching Material Manuals (materials and equipment provided to TAs to deliver the lab sessions), in both online and physical formats, to ensure accuracy and permanent accessibility for all technical staff.
Participate in the training and supervision of new (or casual) technical staff and quality control of their work and of the teaching materials they prepare.
Ensure compliance with safety regulations and good lab practices in the lab (WHMIS, safety courses) and with the use of equipment. Ensure proper use, storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials.
In collaboration with the other technical staff members, apply any identified needed corrections, following the EHS lab inspections.
Attend and participate in the weekly Biol 111-112 prep room lab meetings.
Assist Lab Course Coordinator with exam viewing sessions.
Act as a backup for other Biol 111-112 technical staff, in case of sporadic absences.
Keep abreast of new developments in the field to update skills and knowledge.
Use a variety of lab instruments and equipment: balance, pipettes, microscopes, spectrophotometer, autoclave, dishwasher, pH-meters, photometers, UV lamps, centrifuges, incubators, Bunsen burner, fume/flow hoods, electrophoresis, water purification apparatus, computers, photo-documentation, etc.
The list of duties and responsibilities outlined above is representative and not a complete and detailed list of tasks which may be performed by an employee whose position has been matched to this generic job description.
Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities:
Undergraduate degree in Biology is strongly preferred.
Bilingual; excellent verbal and written communication skills, in both English and French.
Knowledge in the field of general biology (involving all kingdoms) and strong knowledge of best practices in laboratory and safety regulations.
Experience with microbiology techniques (sterile techniques, preparing and inoculating liquid and solid media) and molecular biology techniques (DNA work, pouring agarose gels, electrophoresis equipment, etc.) reagents, samples and procedures.
Proven experience working with live and preserved cultures of bacteria, fungus, yeast, algae, seeds, plants, invertebrates (aquatic and terrestrial), dissection specimen, some being preserved with hazardous chemicals, etc.
Experience in preparing solutions and samples in large quantities for aliquoting, executing procedures required for analytical measurements.
Experience working with various instrumentation as it pertains to analysis (PCR machines, balances, pH meters, pipettors, laminar flow and fume hoods, incubators, autoclaves, light and dissecting microscopes, spectrophotometers, centrifuges, chromatography apparatus, electrophoresis apparatus).
Proven ability to take initiative to improve procedures, oversee the work of others in their work team, organizational skills and the ability to multi-task.
Ability to identify and resolve problems and triage complex issues, re-evaluate priorities and provide recommendations.
Able to perform minor repairs on instrumentation and laboratory equipment and request repair, if needed.
Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to work autonomously, independently and as part of a team.
Experience working in PC and Mac environments, GEL doc image and audio-visual equipment (ability to trouble-shoot the A/V equipment in all 12 teaching cubicles).
Ability to carry and move material and equipment of up to 15kg.
As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:
Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)
Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)
Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
Competitive vacation policy
Two (2) personal days
Two (2) floating holidays
Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
Paid time off over the December holiday period
Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits
Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.
Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level #4 (qualifier) on a scale of 0-4.
For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click here.
Minimum Education and Experience:
Hourly Salary:
Hours per Week:
Supervisor:
Position End Date (If applicable):
Deadline to Apply:
McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca.