Lab Technician - Chemistry

Department: Faculty of Science

Job Type: Recurring

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year)

Campus: Waterloo

Reports to: Chemistry and Biochemistry Chair and the Senior Administrative Officer: Faculty of Science

Employee Group: WLUSA

Application Deadline: 11/09/2026

Requisition ID: 11911

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Laurier's Waterloo, Kitchener, and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources, and not to engage in conflict. Laurier's Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

This job posting is for a current vacancy.

Position Summary

At Laurier, we are a community. It’s what brings our students here and what keeps our people here.

As an educational institution, we inspire lives of leadership and purpose in our student community. As an employer, we seek, foster and value the same qualities of leadership and purpose in our employee community.

We currently have an opportunity to join the Laurier community as a Laboratory Technician within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Reporting to the Departmental Chair for Chemistry and Biochemistry, the Chemistry Technician shares responsibility with other Chemistry Technicians for the preparation of equipment, chemical solutions, and media as required for undergraduate laboratories in Chemistry, and ensures that lab activities are completed safely and in accordance with the academic and research goals of the department. They maintain the Department’s chemical stores and equipment, and in the control and disposal of chemical waste from teaching labs. The Technician works on a regular basis with hazardous chemicals classified as carcinogenic, irritant, toxic, flammable/combustible, corrosive, or dangerously reactive.

This position has a university-wide mandate and will be based at the Waterloo campus.

Accountabilities

Laboratory Operations

• Prepares chemistry undergraduate labs, including preparation of chemical reagents, set up of dispensing units, equipment, workstations, and collection and disposal of hazardous waste;
• Troubleshoots problems with experimental results, refining unsatisfactory preparatory methods as required;
• Responds appropriately according to the safety data sheets in the event of a chemical spill or first aid event;
• Ensures student chemical lockers (located in labs) contain all necessary equipment in good condition at the beginning of each course.
• Prepares personalized equipment bins when student equipment lockers are unavailable.

Equipment replaced weekly according to lab delivery schedule

• Planning locker arrangements on a per term basis to accommodate for the space constraints
• Supports make-up labs as necessary (generally multiple make-up labs per week)
• Provides support to faculty and researchers in their lab activities
• Plans and prepares materials and experience for demonstrations and special events.

Chemical Inventory and Storage

• Ensures proper storage of chemicals, including chemicals classified as carcinogenic, irritant, toxic, flammable, combustible and/or corrosive;
• In collaboration with the Sr. Laboratory Technician:
  • Keeps an up-to-date inventory of chemicals;
  • Develops, maintains and updates Safety Data Sheets for department chemicals;
  • Coordinates hazardous waste collection and disposal for undergraduate labs.

Equipment Maintenance

• Monitors quantities of glassware, consumables, and other equipment in stock;
• Performs preventative maintenance and repairs to complex chemical instruments;
• Provides technical support to faculty, lab coordinators, TAs and students;
• Refills the departments NMR spectrometers with liquid nitrogen weekly (including holidays);
• Completes the NMR liquid helium fill with the Senior Lab Technician.

Administrative Duties

• Maintains records of borrowed materials by faculty, students and other departments, collecting deposits as required;
• Adjusts tech files (Chemical preparation) and bin/locker inventories on an ongoing basis due to the experimental changes and space limitations

Qualifications

• MSc in Chemistry or Biochemistry;
• Two years of work-related experience;
• Experience in the safe and accurate preparation of reagents;
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of equipment, chemicals, glassware and hardware used in laboratories;
• Sound knowledge of lab safety rules and procedures;
• Sound knowledge of legislation relevant to the storage, handling, and disposal of chemicals and hazardous waste;
• Ability to work independently, to set priorities, and meet deadlines in an atmosphere of multiple demands;
• Ability to work in a professional manner when faced with a challenging situation;
• Exceptional oral and written skills to communicate effectively with students, faculty, and staff;
• Computer literacy, including the ability to maintain computerized inventories;
• Must enjoy working in a team environment.

This position has not been deemed eligible for Educational Equivalencies.

Hours of work: This is a recurring, full-time limited term position with summer layoff scheduled for the months of July and August annually. The approximate end date is May 2, 2028.The normal hours of work fall between 8:30 am to 10:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Flexibility in hours will be required, including evening and/or weekend work due to changing lab schedules. When possible, the manager will adjust the work schedule so that no more than 35 hours are worked in a week.

As Per Article 12.7.6 of the collective agreement, prior approval of a member’s manager is required to return to their previous position upon the completion of a Limited-Term Position.

This role offers limited flexibility regarding flexible work arrangements. Please see Policy 8.14 (Flexible Work Policy) for more information. All arrangement must be approved by the direct manager. On occasion, this schedule may need to be adjusted to meet operational requirements.

Compensation

Level: E

Rate of Pay:$44.01 to $46.53 per hour with an annual step progression on anniversary date up to $50.30 per hour.

Considerations for new hire step placements include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Job Evaluation Factor Scores

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact People and Culture. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.

Please note, when pre-screening questions are used as part of the application process, AI is utilized to score responses. All other aspects of the hiring process are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team.