Director of Natural Science Labs & Sustainability
Job ID: 15556
Location: Cascadia College
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular
About Us
Cascadia College is seeking highly motivated individuals who are interested in being part of a small yet dynamic community, with a faculty and staff that are dedicated to meeting the needs of our intersectional, diverse students. Cascadia College is committed to creating and supporting an equitable and inclusive faculty, staff, and student population centered on dismantling systemic oppression and historic marginalization. Individual differences are celebrated in a community of learners focused on social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Application Instructions
Vacancy Announcement
Director of Natural Science Labs & Sustainability
Priority Consideration Deadline: Sunday, May 17, 2026 by 11:59pm
ATTENTION CANDIDATES!
In order to submit a complete application and receive full consideration by the Search Committee, please include the following attachments with your online application:
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Equity Statement (expected length 500 to 800 words) to include each of the following elements:
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A description of a time when you recognized an equity issue. What was the issue? What did you do to make a difference? What did you learn about equity through this experience?
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A detailed description of how you are seeking to learn more about equity related issues including but not limited to race, gender, LGBTQ+, disability (ableism), age (ageism), socioeconomic class, and body diversity.
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An explanation of how you will contribute to equity at Cascadia (i.e. closing the achievement gap and raising the retention rates amongst historically marginalized students), as well as actively work against the institutionalized norms of oppression against historically marginalized people.
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Cover Letter (not to exceed 1,000 words) that specifically addresses how your qualifications and experiences meet or exceed the minimum qualifications, preferred qualifications, and the characteristics of the position.
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Resume
Position Overview
Under general direction of the Dean for Student Learning Transfer and General Education, the Director of Natural Science Laboratories and Sustainability collaborates with lab staff and faculty to ensure the function and daily operations of the natural science lab activities so that students have the optimal learning experiences in their STEM and sustainability education. This position leads the Cascadia sustainability efforts and collaborates with our campus partners.
The Director oversees laboratory operations and safety, including arranging and documenting lab technician and faculty safety training, coordinating safety audits of Cascadia lab spaces, supervising and evaluating lab technicians, and monitoring lab equipment and supplies. The role includes coordinating repair and replacement ordering, managing operational lab budgets and program data, and serving as the primary budgetary contact for science labs and sustainable practices programs. In close collaboration with instructional and classroom support technicians, laboratory science and sustainability faculty, and the Dean for Student Learning Transfer and General Education, the Director ensures EH&S and regulatory compliance; supports undergraduate research with an emphasis on faculty-developed CUREs programming; develops student research and community-based learning opportunities; maintains purchasing, inventory, and repair schedules; provides information to prospective students; leads campus sustainability initiatives; represents the department and college at meetings and workshops; serves as primary administrator of the Cascadia Sustainability Committee; and teaches up to five credits per year as needed.
s, serves as the direct budgetary contact for the science labs and sustainable practices programs, and serves as the primary administrator of the Cascadia Sustainability Committee.
As the Director of Natural Science Laboratories and Sustainability, it is expected that the following qualities will be demonstrated daily: a high degree of understanding and empathy for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors, as well as the ability to encourage the inclusion of all voices in decision-making, promoting equity in all areas, and actively working against institutionalized norms of oppression against historically marginalized people.
Employee Type: Full Time Exempt, Permanent
Initial Salary: $110,808.00 (includes 5% King County Premium Pay) County Premium Pay (KCPP)
Supervising Position: Dean for Student Learning
Essential Duties
Natural Science Laboratory Operations
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Supervision of ICST staff, which includes: interview, hire, and train; with lab team consultation, prioritize and assign work; course support schedules for the ICSTs; approve/deny leave requests; conduct annual performance evaluations; recommend corrective action; advise and codevelop with employees standard operating procedures for lab equipment and processes
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Track staff and faculty compliance safety training; support the Dean in administering primary oversight for faculty safety trainings; ensure proper communication about compliance with policies and procedures; and coordinate/collaborate with staff, faculty, and EH&S for training in safety procedures
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Ensure proper tracking, storage, and disposal of chemicals and biological waste.
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Directly manage the science laboratory budgets for Repair and Replace and the purchase of quarterly consumables; prepare budget forecasts, working with the Dean for Student Learning to prepare and present the yearly budget to the Board of Trustees; and serve as primary point of contact with Finance and Student Learning for science laboratory purchases
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Coordinate the development and implementation of undergraduate research experiences with the faculty and ICST staff, with emphasis on CUREs programming
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Work with facilities and scheduling to manage lab spaces within Cascadia College
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Coordinate the schedule of lab courses for both natural sciences and sustainable practices programs
Provide technical support for lab courses in emergency situations
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Campus Sustainability Leadership
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Oversee Environmental Health & Safety (including making current practices more sustainable) and campus gardens
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Serve as the primary administrator of the Cascadia Sustainability Committee
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Identify and implement campus and community sustainability projects, in collaboration with the Cascadia Sustainability Committee, that provide sustainable practice students with hands-on learning opportunities and establish Cascadia as a regional leader in campus sustainability and a national leader in community college campus sustainability
Identify and secure funding and resources for students and faculty to implement applied sustainability research and best practices on campus
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Teaching
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Teach up to 5 credits a year in natural sciences special project classes, as needed
May substitute for lab faculty on an emergency basis
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Performs other related duties of a similar nature or level as assigned.
Education & Experience
Minimum Qualifications:
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BS and 18+ graduate credits in chemistry, biology, or similar fields
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One-year+ full-time lab technician experience or equivalent
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Experience managing and purchasing for lab inventory
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Experience teaching or training in secondary or post-secondary education
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Experience with managing science research projects
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Demonstrated experience with sustainable practices at the institutional level
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Demonstrated commitment to and interest in diversity, equity and inclusion and the ability to support a multicultural workplace and educational environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
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Experience supervising classified employees
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Project management
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Experience with EH&S
- Experience with ctcLink
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Ability to successfully communicate (written and orally) in a language in addition to English
Physical Work Environment
Semi-Sedentary Work: Involves staying in a stationary position to a significant degree. Jobs are sedentary if moving is required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
This position requires campus presence
4 days a week minimum with the option to work remotely for the remaining workday. During on-campus operations, this position will perform work in a standard office setting, use standard office equipment and physically attend meetings both on and off campus and requires the ability to communicate in person or through appropriate means. Employees will need to provide their own remote workspace and internet access, noting the College will provide technical equipment and support for online work needs.
Positions in this class typically require operating a computer, communicating, observing, minor lifting, and repetitive motions.
The position will work in an environment that has potential exposure to chemicals, high voltage (such as from a Van der Graaf generator), BSL-2 microorganisms, anatomical specimens, and outdoor work in campus gardens.
This position involves exerting between 10-50 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to transport, put, install, remove, or otherwise move objects, including the human body, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Occasional evening and weekend work may be required for special events, meetings, and program activities.
Condition of Employment
As an institution that upholds the value of diversity, equity and inclusion of every individual, Cascadia College expects its employees to embody and promote these values. Both current and prospective employees of the College are encouraged to seek deeper understanding in these areas as part of professional growth.
Cascadia College maintains a drug-free work and learning environment and prohibits smoking in all college buildings and state-owned vehicles.
Benefits
Cascadia College offers comprehensive Benefits packages to support you and your family in a variety of ways. All eligible employees, retirees, and their dependents are offered: medical, dental, and vision plan options; life insurance; long-term disability insurance; medical and dependent care reimbursement accounts; leave programs; employee assistance programs; tuition waiver; optional credit union participation; optional home/auto insurance, and retirement planning.
To learn more about the benefits offered here, please click on the Employee Benefits tab located on our Jobs at Cascadia webpage or click here: https://www.cascadia.edu/about/jobs/default.aspx
Campus Safety
In recognition of the Jeanne Clery Act, information on our campus safety can be found at www.uwb.edu/safety.
Cascadia Commitment
Cascadia College is committed to creating and supporting a diverse faculty, staff and student population. Individual differences are celebrated in a community of learners focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. Cascadia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion/creed, sex/gender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, age, genetic information, marital or honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, and is prohibited from discrimination in such a manner by college policy and state and federal law. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process may make request to the Human Resources Office by calling (425) 352-8880.
