Safety and Facility Officer

Job Summary

This role provides senior technical support for the day to day operation and readiness of the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering's teaching laboratories, research laboratories, pilot scale facilities, workshops, preparation areas and equipment storage spaces.

The position maintains, services and troubleshoots specialized equipment and technical systems; supports laboratory safety requirements; prepares equipment and technical arrangements for teaching and research; and provides day to day direction to assigned technical staff.

The position plans and carries out assigned technical work, applies practical knowledge of laboratory equipment and facility systems, and independently resolves non routine operating and equipment problems within its expertise. The incumbent advises laboratory users on equipment capabilities and workable technical approaches, adapts procedures and equipment arrangements where necessary, and refers regulated engineering, trade or other specialist work to the appropriate resource.

The position supports specialized equipment and technical systems in the Coal and Mineral Processing Laboratory and pilot plant, Surface Chemistry Laboratory, Rock Mechanics Laboratory, Ventilation Laboratory, Microwave Testing Facility, Microscopy Laboratory, Particle Size Analysis Laboratory, Maker Space, Machine Shop, Welding and Fabrication Shop, rock and sample preparation areas, and associated equipment and sample storage facilities.

Organizational Status
The position reports to the Manager, Finance, HR & Operations on administrative, financial, human resources and operational matters. The Department Head establishes teaching and research priorities and provides high level direction on technical and laboratory safety matters. Within those parameters, the incumbent organizes the day to day technical work within the assigned scope and determines the appropriate methods and sequence for completing it. The incumbent consults the Applied Science Health & Safety Advisor on complex or faculty wide safety matters and implements approved requirements within the assigned technical work.

Work Performed
Laboratory and Facility Technical Operations

• Plans and maintains the day to day technical readiness, access and use of departmental teaching laboratories, research laboratories, workshops, pilot scale facilities, preparation rooms and storage areas.
• Operates, inspects, adjusts, services and troubleshoots laboratory, workshop and pilot scale equipment and associated technical systems; determines whether work can be completed internally or requires vendor, trade or specialist support.
• Establishes and carries out preventive maintenance, calibration and inspection schedules based on equipment condition, operating requirements, manufacturer guidance and service history.
• Installs, acceptance tests and commissions approved new, relocated or repaired equipment and confirms that operating information, user instruction and safety requirements are in place before use.
• Inspects laboratory infrastructure and initiates service requests relating to utilities, ventilation, compressed air, water, electrical and mechanical services, providing technical information to UBC service units, vendors and contractors.
• Maintains inventories of technical supplies, consumables, tools and spare parts and identifies replenishment and storage requirements needed to sustain laboratory operations.
• Identifies equipment, facility capacity and service constraints and provides practical recommendations to the Manager or Department Head for decision.
• Prepares technical reports, service requests, work orders, cost estimates and operating information required for departmental planning and decision making.
• Assigns daily technical work, establishes priorities and prepares schedules for two technicians and one millwright in accordance with priorities established by management.
• Provides technical direction, practical instruction and assistance and checks assigned work for accuracy, completeness, safe execution and timely completion.
• Plans staff coverage and balances assigned workloads across laboratory operations, maintenance activities, teaching requirements and research support.

Teaching and Research Technical Support

• Prepares laboratories, equipment, materials and technical arrangements for scheduled teaching activities and approved research work.
• Advises faculty members, researchers and students on equipment capabilities, technical feasibility, sample preparation, instrumentation, data acquisition arrangements and available laboratory support.
• Translates teaching and research requirements into workable test setups and adapts equipment arrangements or operating methods within the incumbent's technical expertise.
• Provides hands on technical support during laboratory exercises, equipment trials and research activities and resolves operating problems as they arise.
• Demonstrates specialized equipment and instructs users in equipment operation, technical procedures, shop practices and safe methods of work.
• Reviews specific teaching or research equipment requirements with users and determines a practical approach within available resources and the incumbent's technical expertise.
• Designs, fabricates or modifies limited fixtures, sample holders, guards, adapters and equipment arrangements required for specialized laboratory applications.
• Adapts existing instrumentation, controls or data acquisition arrangements where a commercially available solution does not fully meet the approved requirement.
• Interprets or prepares sketches, drawings, component specifications and material lists needed to complete an approved modification.
• Tests modified equipment or components, corrects identified deficiencies, records the final arrangement and refers work requiring professional engineering or other regulated expertise.

Laboratory Safety and Regulatory Compliance

• Implements safety requirements for laboratories, workshops, pilot scale facilities and technical work areas and monitors their day to day application.
• Conducts and documents laboratory inspections, equipment checks, hazard assessments and operational risk reviews; addresses corrective actions within the position's authority and escalates unresolved or complex matters.
• Develops and updates laboratory safety manuals, equipment specific procedures, safe work instructions and emergency procedures in consultation with laboratory users, the Department Head and the Applied Science Health & Safety Advisor.
• Administers hazardous material inventory, storage, handling and disposal processes and monitors compliance with WHMIS, WorkSafeBC, University requirements and approved departmental protocols.
• Removes defective equipment from service or pauses an affected activity when an immediate hazard is identified and promptly refers broader access or laboratory shutdown decisions to the Department Head or Manager.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Errors in equipment maintenance, repair, modification, laboratory operation, technical instruction or the application of safety requirements may result in injury, damage to valuable equipment or facilities, invalid experimental results, cancelled teaching activities, research delays, regulatory non compliance or financial loss. Failure to identify equipment limitations, unsafe conditions or the need for specialist advice may increase these consequences.

Supervision Received
Works independently under administrative direction. The Manager, Finance, HR & Operations establishes administrative and resource parameters, and the Department Head establishes broad academic and technical priorities. The incumbent determines how the technical function will meet those requirements and seeks direction on matters with significant policy, financial or academic implications.

Supervision Given
Provides day to day technical supervision, assigns work, prepares schedules, coaches staff and gives Allocates, supervises and coordinates the work skilled technical positions at varied levels. Establishes assignments, schedules and work standards; monitors performance; provides coaching and provides functional technical direction to laboratory users and coordinates student employees, temporary staff, contractors and service providers working in departmental facilities.

Minimum Qualifications
Graduation from a technical college or institute or completion of a recognized apprenticeship and a minimum five years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting the technical operation of teaching, research, pilot-scale or industrial laboratories and workshops.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing and adapting specialized laboratory or process equipment and associated technical systems.
• Ability to interpret technical manuals, drawings and specifications and prepare clear sketches, operating procedures and equipment documentation.
• Practical knowledge of relevant mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, machining, welding or fabrication methods appropriate to the equipment supported.
• Experience advising laboratory users, demonstrating specialized equipment and providing day-to-day technical direction or instruction to staff and students.
• Working knowledge of laboratory and workshop safety practices, hazard assessment, lockout, WHMIS and applicable occupational health and safety requirements.
• Ability to organize competing technical priorities, exercise sound judgment, communicate effectively and recognize