CECS Director of Facilities and Lab Safety

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) has an exciting opportunity for a Laboratory Safety and Facilities Manager. The position is responsible for the management of the building, facilities, space, and research and instructional laboratories within CECS with a particular emphasis to ensure safe operations. We are seeking a visionary and detail-oriented Director of Facilities and Laboratory Safety to lead the operations, safety, and strategic management of our engineering facilities and labs. In this critical role, you will oversee daily operations, manage assets and equipment, ensure compliance with safety regulations, and support cutting-edge research and innovation. Collaborating with faculty, researchers, and campus partners, you?ll drive efficiency, maintain safety standards, and optimize space and resource utilization.

Responsibilities*

CECS Facilities Operations:

• Serve as the liaison between the campus Facilities Operations Department and CECS.
• Oversee and manage daily operations for multiple engineering facilities, ensuring smooth operations and addressing issues promptly.
• Supervise and manage repair and maintenance of facilities and equipment.
• Manage the daily operations of facilities and oversee the Assistant Facilities Director.
• Manage CECS Department Access Coordinator and all building key and MCard access.
• Manage CECS Engineering competition teams safety, access, and operations.

CECS Space Survey Workflow:

• Lead the CECS space survey process, ensuring accurate and up-to-date reporting on space utilization and conditions.
• Collaborate with department leaders to resolve discrepancies and implement improvements based on survey results.

CECS Assets/Equipment Management:

• Conduct a biennial inventory to effectively track and manage CECS assets, ensuring proper documentation and accountability.
• Oversee the asset audit process to ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory standards and provide detailed reports for senior leadership.
• Manage the asset tagging and documentation process to facilitate seamless tracking, maintenance, and auditing of all CECS assets.
• Coordinate and process work orders for ITS requests, janitorial services, and building repairs, minimizing disruptions and ensuring operational efficiency.
• Manage the disposition, auction, or scrapping of CECS property in compliance with institutional policies and regulations, ensuring responsible disposal and asset recovery.
• Oversee service agreements and coordinate vendor service calls for equipment repair, calibration, and maintenance, ensuring minimal downtime and optimal functionality.

Procurement:

• Work closely with the CECS Director of Business Operations to facilitate the timely and accurate purchase and approval of equipment, aligning with budgetary and strategic goals.
• Coordinate logistics for equipment deliveries, ensuring items are distributed accurately and on schedule to meet departmental needs.

Lab Safety:

• Develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive lab safety and training programs, ensuring full compliance with university safety standards and regulations.
• Oversee building-wide incident response training to equip faculty, staff, and students with the knowledge to respond to emergency situations and mitigate risks.
• Design and manage a centralized dashboard to foster data sharing across departments, improving tracking, contact tracing, and collaboration.
• Manage and update research lab safety policies and procedures, ensuring ongoing researcher training on the latest protocols and guidelines.
• Provide day-to-day support to researchers, including scheduling, resource coordination, and troubleshooting operational challenges.
• Coordinate researcher access requests, ensuring efficient documentation management and streamlined approval processes.
• Conduct daily lab inspections to verify adherence to UMOR (University of Michigan Office of Research) guidelines and maintain safety compliance.
• Develop, implement, and oversee battery and high-voltage electrical training programs.

Construction Management:

• Facilitate and manage campus access requirements for construction tasks, ensuring compliance with university protocols and safety standards.
• Collaborate with faculty and stakeholders to address space needs and challenges identified during and after the move into the Engineering and Laboratory Building (ELB).
• Lead the relocation of the Bioengineering department, managing logistics such as:
  • Equipment sanitization and decommissioning
  • Transporting refrigerated and frozen lab supplies in compliance with safety standards
  
  
• Oversee and coordinate vendor activities, including:
  • Microscope setup, maintenance, and calibration
  • Gas delivery, installation, and service calls
  • Installation of instructional and research equipment
  
  
• Manage ongoing maintenance of CECS instructional and research-related equipment, ensuring optimal functionality and safety.
• Oversee the moving, setup, and secure storage of equipment, ensuring safe handling, accurate tracking, and minimal disruption to operations.

MSEL/Technician and CECS ITS Technical Staff:

• Supervise Assistant Director of MSEL.
• Manage and supervise CECS technician staff, ensuring efficient operations and task completion.
• Supervise and manage the CECS Professional and Student Shop MSEL, ensuring safe, efficient operation and resource availability.
• Lead and enhance the CECS safety training program, ensuring rigorous standards for certification, training completion, and adherence to safety protocols.
• Oversee the setup and operation of safety equipment within the CECS labs and workshops, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and maintaining a safe working environment.
• Manage the certification process for safety equipment, ensuring regular testing, maintenance, and compliance with university standards.
• Supervise internal ITS technicians, overseeing license agreements and ensuring all CECS technology is up to date and fully operational.

CECS Research Proposal Review Process:

• Support faculty research proposal development by providing research equipment installation costs estimates in a timely manner.
• Approve research space requests for equipment and processes.
• Work with the University facilities team to coordinate construction project execution and to align with research project timelines.

Required Qualifications*

• A minimum of five years of progressive professional experience in lab safety and facility operations.
• Experience in managing a research development lab, machine shop, fabrication lab, and/or manufacturing facility is necessary, as is actual fabrication experience.
• Successful management of a safety program and nurturing a culture of safety
• Experience with OSHA/OSEH requirements.
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written)
• Ability to effectively manage/coordinate the activities of others.
• Ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including faculty, students and administrators.
• Experience with asset utilization, capacity optimization, efficient scheduling, and lean practices.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the .

Additional Information

The University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-Dearborn) is one of the three campuses of the University of Michigan system. UM-Dearborn is a comprehensive university offering high-quality undergraduate, graduate, professional, and continuing education to residents of southeastern Michigan, and it attracts more than 8,000 students. Faculty and students have the opportunity to collaborate across all three campuses in research and scholarly activity. UM-Dearborn is located 10 miles west of downtown Detroit and 35 miles east of Ann Arbor. The campus is strategically located on 200 suburban acres of the original Henry Ford Estate in the Greater Detroit Metropolitan Region.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Source ⇲