Soil Testing Laboratory Manager

UMass Amherst
United States, Massachusetts, Amherst
Aug 19, 2024
About UMass Amherst UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region. About the UMass Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory The UMass Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory, a unit of the UMass Extension Agriculture Program, provides testing services to the public and delivers results accompanied by technical interpretations and recommendations, and educational resources. It is the only not-for-profit testing services of its kind in the state and its fee-based services are utilized by farmers, the commercial horticulture industries and home gardeners. It typically processes 15,000-20,000 samples annually. In addition to the Manager position, the Laboratory has several professional staff with technical, administrative, and educational responsibilities and several student employees. Job Summary The Soil Laboratory Manager leads the operations at the UMass Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory, providing expertise on soil-related matters for UMass Extension. Responsibilities include managing finances, customer relations, laboratory equipment, and information systems. Develops analytical methods, ensures quality control, and complies with environmental health and safety standards. Programmatic duties involve assisting clients with technical advice, enhancing agronomic recommendations, creating educational resources, and collaborating with Extension colleagues. The manager supervises and trains both technical and professional staff and is responsible for the overall success of the lab team and soils program area. Essential Functions Serves as a key leader within UMass Extension's Agriculture Program, ensuring compliance and consistency with department, college, and university policies and goals and contributing to the development of Extension policy, long range plans and objectives, cross-disciplinary initiatives, technology, communications, and marketing. Maintains current knowledge of laboratory testing trends and challenges, developments in soil health and related fields, and developments in complementary and competitive fields. Serves as a subject matter expert for Extension staff and faculty, farmers and other land management professionals, public decision-makers, stakeholder organizations, and other audiences as appropriate. Supports and guides development of collaborative programs with other horticultural and agricultural service providers supporting science-based, safe, responsible, and sustainable best practices. Develops and sustains collaborative projects with other Extension organizations. Represents and promotes UMass Extension at the local, state, regional, and federal levels. Maintains and increases personal and professional competence through participation in in- service training, professional association activities, and continuing education. Prepares and implements professional development plan. Drives the collaborative development and delivery of cross-commodity soil-related programming with local, regional, statewide and national impact. Oversees a regular cycle of educational program management and applied research activities in the relevant area(s), including needs assessment, short- and long-term planning, multi-modal outreach, delivery method innovation, production and delivery of research-based educational materials and programs, evaluation, and reporting. Oversees high-volume analysis of soil, plant tissue, greenhouse media, and other materials. Evaluates effectiveness and efficiency of laboratory functions; develops and implements ongoing improvements to methods, procedures, data reporting, and recommendations. Develops new analytical services to meet identified demand. Maintains quality control program for all test methods, including participation in national proficiency programs. Monitors laboratory equipment and information systems needs, schedules maintenance and repair, purchases parts, and plans for future purchases and upgrades. Manages safety, repair and maintenance of 2,200 ft2 laboratory facilities and associated chemical inventory and waste generation. Serves as Lab's primary contact with consultants and vendors for ongoing maintenance and improvements. Updates the lab's crop-specific recommendations to adapt to developments in best management practices, regulations, and other dynamic factors. Oversees business operations, identifies trends, and develops strategies to maintain financial success of fee-based operations. Pursues and manages earned-revenue opportunities, competitive grants, and other sources of external funding to enable team to achieve mission. Develops and manages budgets of $250,000 to $1,000,000 in coordination with supervisor and financial staff. Oversees bookkeeping and accounting functions for the lab business unit. Supervises technical and professional staff within Soil Laboratory division. Ensures excellent customer service through improvement of systems and oversight of staff. Collaborates with directs reports, supervisor, and other colleagues to identify staffing needs and resources. Hires, trains, supervises, evaluates, recognizes, and supports team staff. Fosters collaboration between team leaders and others in the department to support program activities. Establishes and maintains commitment to serve previously underserved populations and communities. Works actively to ensure that all programs are conducted in compliance with federal, state and university diversity, equity, and inclusion laws, regulations, and policies. Other Functions Works collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness. Works in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean's strategic priorities. Performs other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure) M.S. in plant and soil science or related field and five (5) years' experience as a manager in an analytical laboratory setting OR Ph.D. in plant and soil science or related field and three years' experience as a manager in an analytical laboratory setting. At least three (3) years of laboratory management experience in an academic or customer-facing setting, including extensive analysis of soils, plant tissue, and/or greenhouse media and development of standard operating procedures and training of others to follow procedures. Knowledge of concepts involved in material sampling, both with respect to field sampling and laboratory preparation. Demonstrated understanding of land management practices, obstacles to practitioner implementation of test-based recommendations, and strategies for overcoming these obstacles Knowledge of the concepts, operation, care, and maintenance of at least two of the following: ICP Spectrometers, Flow Injection Analyzers, Block Digesters, Carbon-Nitrogen Analyzers by Catalytic Combustion, Ion-Selective Electrodes. Demonstrated ability to design and conduct applied research. Strong organizational and prioritization skills, attention to detail, and the ability to anticipate, recognize, and assess potential problems. Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with a diverse range of people. Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure) Experience in supervision of technical and administrative staff. Experience working in a higher education setting, including research and/or teaching. Experience providing customer service in a fee-for-service setting. Experience providing Extension education or other forms of conveying science-based knowledge and recommendations to professionals in agriculture and related fields. Experience with procurement of laboratory and field equipment, including soliciting quotes or bids and navigating complex institutional systems. Demonstrated knowledge of the concepts, operation, care, and maintenance of three or more of the following: ICP Spectrometers, Flow Injection Analyzers, Block Digesters, Carbon-Nitrogen Analyzers by Catalytic Combustion, Ion-Selective Electrodes, related analytical instruments. Physical Demands/Working Conditions Occasional lifting of packages and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds, otherwise typical laboratory and office environment. Work Schedule Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Salary Information Level 30 PSU Hiring Ranges Special Instructions to Applicants Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter which should include a diversity statement (see below). References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged. As part of a commitment to their own multicultural community, CNS seeks an individual with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and one who will understand and embrace university initiatives and aspirations. In addition to application materials above, candidates will need to submit a Statement of Contribution to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Diversity Statement should identify past experiences and future goals. These contributions may result from lived experiences, scholarships, and/or mentoring, teaching, and outreach activities. (https://www.umass.edu/natural-sciences/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/our-commitment-diversity ) UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.