Cornell AES Chamber Supervisor/CALS- Tech Services Supervisor

Job Description

Under the very general supervision of the Plant Growth Facilities Manager, provide daily hands-on operational management for approximately 130 growth chambers and the SARL quarantine labs, greenhouses, and incubators serving multiple departments in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Chambers are located across 3 Chamber Hubs and 5 buildings, ranging in size from 6 to 108 square feet, and ranging in age from those built in the 1960s to current technology and builds. Design and build growth chamber and greenhouse equipment as required.

Consult with faculty and other investigators to ascertain needs, coordinate experimental set-up and plant care for growth chamber research, teaching, and extension projects. Interact frequently with growth chamber users to determine project needs, adjust chamber setpoints, and communicate policies and procedures. Provide technical support to researchers and communicate policies and procedures. Participate in formulation of research methods with growth chamber users. Follow through with experimental setup and chamber modifications or construction with facility users and trades for all projects. Adapt methods to fit research requirements and collaborate in developing new techniques. Coordinating with Greenhouse Managers and plant care staff, provide assistance and advice to faculty, staff, graduate students, and other researchers about plant maintenance procedures.

Provide daily supervision of the CALS Growth Chamber Maintenance Crew consisting of 3 regular, full-time technicians who repair and monitor chambers and associated equipment. Oversee and contribute to the planning and organization of the KPL and Chamber Crew Machine Shops. Hire, evaluate, and supervise employees. Assist in the development and implementation of safety and training programs; ensure adequate chemical handling and equipment training. Verify staff comply with all regulations.

Working with the Plant Growth Facilities Manager, plan and propose for continued improvements to growth chamber facilities. Supervise and train others in programming computerized environmental controls, including heating, cooling, ventilating, humidification, dehumidification, irrigation, photoperiod lighting, growth lighting and CO2 enrichment.

Work closely with the Plant Growth Facilities Manager and two Greenhouse Managers to coordinate growth chamber plant care and pest management efforts by plant growth facility staff. Oversee a growth chamber equipment database. Assess chamber use patterns, recommend growth chamber policies, user fee schedules and equipment decommissioning and replacement schedules. Work closely with the Plant Growth Facilities Manager, the Growth Chamber Crew, University trades Shops, Cornell utilities personnel and consulting engineers to upgrade and refit chambers to optimize performance and energy efficiency. Manage space requests and occupancy data and provide and reconcile billing. Assist PGF Manager with budgeting for the growth chamber operations. Negotiate with vendors and place orders for supplies, materials and equipment. Maintain supply thresholds, ensure proper utilization, and record of service for chambers. Serve as Building Coordinator and assume responsibility for physical plant functioning at several of the facilities housing growth chambers and SARL. Oversee monitoring and computer control of growth chamber environments. On call 24 hours/day for growth chamber equipment and facilities emergencies. Ensure compliance with Federal, State, and Local regulations, and CALS and University policies relating to growth chamber functions.

Minimize energy and resource consumption and promote sustainability in all aspects of the chamber operations. Assist in development of recommendations for facility improvements. Responsible for physical functioning of the chambers. Communicate and coordinate facility maintenance needs and follow up with zone supervisors and tradespeople; submit tickets and coordinate repairs and preventative maintenance. Ensure strict compliance with Federal, State, and Local regulations and CALS and University policies regarding refrigerant use, storage, transport, report filing, and
recordkeeping.

This position includes 24/7 on-call responsibilities and requires weekend and holiday availability.

About Us

About the College

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

The Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station (Cornell AES) is dedicated to sustainable “science for life,” in its two-core separate but related functions — the operation of world-class research facilities throughout the state and the generation and application of research-based knowledge through the administration of federal formula grants. The Cornell AES chamber operations on and around Cornell Campus are the largest non-commercial chamber facility in the state. The 125 chambers are primarily used as teaching and research facilities, housing a hundred different research projects at any given time.

Duties & Responsibilities

See more in the full overview at https://jobs.hr.cornell.edu/us/en/job/WDR-00059022

Additional Information

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Application Instructions

https://jobs.hr.cornell.edu/us/en/job/WDR-00059022