Lead Chemist and Manager of Cooperative Chemical Analytical Lab (CCAL) — Oregon State University
OSU College of Forestry’s Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management is seeking a Manager of the Cooperative Chemical Analytical Laboratory. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position.
The OSU College of Forestry’s Cooperative Chemical Analytical Laboratory (CCAL) is a premier trace-level analytical laboratory with a 40+ year legacy of excellence in freshwater analysis. CCAL's analyses are key to many short-term and long-term projects and provides defensible water quality analyses for numerous researchers and agency customers. For example, CCAL has provided water quality data for the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest and for Crater Lake National Park for over 40-yrs.
CCAL is a self-sustaining (through use and analysis fees) production laboratory housed within the College of Forestry at Oregon State University. The CCAL laboratory manager is responsible for running analyses and for managing business processes including daily operations, budget, database, compliance and control, customer service and supervision of laboratory personnel.
This position offers the unique opportunity to combine high-level laboratory management with hands-on analytical services. The manager oversees all business operations, including engaging with clients and partners, while also serving as senior chemist, allowing them to directly contribute to the analytical excellence that has made CCAL an essential resource for researchers at Oregon State University and collaborating organizations.
The work provides critical data for environmental monitoring programs, scientific publications, and watershed management decisions across multiple agencies and locations. With access to specialized analytical equipment and a collaborative team environment, the manager enhances and maintains CCAL’s reputation for exceptional accuracy and precision while advancing the laboratory’s capabilities through innovative method development and quality assurance procedures.
This position offers a blend of scientific expertise, leadership opportunity, and meaningful environmental impact for a chemistry professional seeking to advance their career in a university research setting.