Technician V - Chemistry/Biology

Job summary

The Laboratory Technician is responsible for the installation, maintenance, and optimization of science laboratory equipment and the preparation of materials for student labs. They ensure regulatory compliance with safety standards, manage inventory, and provide support during student lab periods.

Job details

When you join Okanagan College, you’re joining a team that’s transforming lives and communities. Every course you create, every student you support and every connection you build, it all matters. Be a part of a vibrant campus community, where the work you do every day truly makes a difference. Desired Start Date: October 26, 2026 Position End Date: October 29, 2027 Salary range: $33.93 - $38.77 Bargaining unit: BCGEU Support Classification: Technician V Type of appointment: Non-regular full-time Closing date: September 27, 2026 Special Instructions to Applicants: Please provide the names and contact information for a minimum of three referees. Shortlisted internal candidates must notify the current Support Staff Bargaining Chairperson and People Services if they want a Union Observer during interviews and final selection of candidates. For further information regarding this posting, please contact Jasmine Korcok, Chair, Department of Chemistry, at [email protected]. \n Your Opportunity Under the limited supervision of the Dean, Arts & Sciences, and the general supervision of the Science Department Chairpersons, the Laboratory Technician installs and maintains lab and general equipment in the Science labs; troubleshoots, repairs and optimizes equipment; organizes and maintains an inventory of supplies and equipment; maintains live organisms and cultures; complies with standard biosafety practices; maintains documentation for regulatory compliance (e.g. Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) and Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)). Functions and Duties * Responsible for set-up, take-down and clean-up of labs; sets up student stations when required * Under the direction of the College Professor, prepares solutions, media, cultures and maintains live organisms * Is available during student lab periods to ensure there are adequate materials to perform the labs; ensures the safe and correct operation of equipment * Maintain science equipment such as glassware, computers, microscopes and other science lab equipment * Troubleshoots, repairs, upgrades and optimizes equipment and lab specific computers; places work requests to IT Services and Facilities when required * Coordinates the use of shared lab equipment between Science departments * Conducts and coordinates lab safety inspections * Maintains appropriate records and documentation for regulatory compliance (e.g. Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS), Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)) * Complies with standard biosafety practices * Ensure safe storage of chemicals and the safe collection, transportation, handling and disposal of hazardous and glass waste * Procures laboratory materials by sourcing supplies and equipment including off campus purchases and samples * Maintains inventory records of lab materials and equipment * Perform other duties as required Education and Experience Graduation from a related two-year technologist program is required. Must possess a valid Occupational First Aid – Level 2 certificate. A valid class five driver’s license is required. A minimum 2 years related experience is required. Skills and Abilities * Able to perform work of a routine nature with minimal or no direct supervision * Proven ability to repair, operate and service science lab equipment * Able to lift and move lab equipment (up to 30 pounds) * Able to distinguish colour to maintain live organisms Preferred Qualifications Applicants with a BSc or MSc in Chemistry or Biochemistry preferred. Research and/or laboratory experience is an asset. Schedule Work schedule may vary to support demands of teaching labs. Schedule to be determined. Travel to Penticton, Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses will be required. \n Our Values: Students first: Creating meaningful life-long educational opportunities of the highest quality for alumni, current, and future students is at the heart of everything we do. Community: We are one College. We enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to work with, learn from, and support everyone we encounter collaboratively and collegially. Respect: We welcome, embrace, and celebrate that which make us unique in creating an environment in which every individual is valued, affirming our commitment to human dignity for all. Courage: We are courageous in our actions in areas that contribute to positive change in our communities and beyond. We have the courage to be vulnerable. We are truthful, sincere, and act ethically with honesty and fairness. Relationships: We steward meaningful relationships built on a foundation of reciprocity. We are compassionate, empathic, and care for the holistic well-being of students, employees, community members, and the land. Distinction: We choose activities in which we can achieve excellence and positively impact society. Okanagan College is committed to increasing the equitable and inclusive participation of marginalized people in all aspects of college life. We welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black People, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, people with disabilities and people with diverse gender identities or expressions. People with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected] [[email protected]].

What you’ll do

The Laboratory Technician is responsible for the installation, maintenance, and optimization of science laboratory equipment and the preparation of materials for student labs. They ensure regulatory compliance with safety standards, manage inventory, and provide support during student lab periods.

Requirements

Candidates must have a two-year technologist diploma, a minimum of two years of related experience, and a valid Occupational First Aid Level 2 certificate. A valid class five driver's license is also required to facilitate travel between campus locations.

Listed skills

• First Aid · Preferred
• Inventory management · Preferred
• Technical Support · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Laboratory maintenance
• Equipment troubleshooting
• Chemical handling
• Biosafety practices
• Inventory management
• WHMIS compliance
• TDG compliance
• First aid
• Lab safety inspections
• Solution preparation
• Microscope maintenance
• Hazardous waste disposal
• Data documentation
• Technical support
• Laboratory Experience
• Courage
• Laboratory Safety
• Laboratory Equipment
• Dangerous Goods/Hazmat Transport
• Lifting Ability
• Ethical Standards And Conduct
• Valid Driver's License
• Compassion
• First Aid
• Research
• Chemistry
• Teaching
• Biochemistry
• Regulatory Compliance
• Inventory Management
• IT Service Management
• Laboratory Techniques
• Material Safety Data Sheet
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems
• People Services
• Jasmine (JavaScript Testing Framework)
• Honesty

Job areas

• Science & Research
• Education
• Administrative
• Biology/Chemistry Teacher
• Chemical Technician
• Chemical and Physical Science Technicians
• Chemical Technicians