Lab Manager - Advanced Geospatial Labs

UMSL Geospatial

The University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) Geospatial Collaborative invites applications for a Lab Manager to oversee its state-of-the-art Advanced Geospatial Labs. This is a full-time, on-site staff position responsible for managing all lab functions, providing technical support and training, maintaining specialized geospatial equipment, and ensuring a safe and effective lab environment. The Lab Manager will work under the direction of Dr. Reda Amer, Director of the UMSL Geospatial Collaborative, and collaborate with faculty, students, and external partners to advance geospatial innovation and workforce development initiatives in the rapidly growing St. Louis geospatial ecosystem.

UMSL's new Geospatial Advanced Technology Lab features state-of-the-art resources for geospatial education and research. It includes a virtual reality lab as well as a 25-workstation GIS computing lab equipped with the latest geospatial software and tools

Key Responsibilities

* Technical Support & User Training: Provide front-line technical assistance to students, faculty, and researchers utilizing the Advanced Geospatial Labs. Help users operate geospatial software (e.g. Esri ArcGIS, ENVI, Pix4D, Trimble GPS software) and hardware (VR headsets, GPS/GNSS receivers, drones, etc.), and conduct orientations or training sessions on lab equipment and protocols as needed to facilitate teaching and research activities.
* Equipment Management & Maintenance: Oversee and maintain all hardware and software in the GIS and VR labs, ensuring that high-end workstations, specialized geospatial software packages, and emerging technologies remain up-to-date and fully functional. Manage advanced equipment including virtual reality systems, 3D printers, field data collection devices (GPS units, UAVs/drones), and the Spot agile mobile robot with its infrared and LiDAR sensors. Coordinate with UMSL IT and vendors for troubleshooting, software licensing, and equipment repairs or upgrades. Maintain detailed inventory records and a regular maintenance schedule for all lab resources.
* Lab Operations & Administration: Oversee day-to-day operations of the geospatial labs to ensure a safe, efficient, and accessible environment for users. Develop and enforce lab usage policies (e.g. hours of operation, access procedures, safety guidelines) and serve as the primary point of contact for lab-related inquiries. Schedule and monitor lab usage for classes, research projects, and events, optimizing the availability of lab facilities. Manage procurement of lab supplies and new equipment as needed, working within university purchasing guidelines and budgetary constraints to support the labs' growth.
* Research & Academic Support: Support geospatial research projects, coursework, and training programs that rely on the labs. Assist faculty and students in planning and executing lab-based projects such as GIS analyses, remote sensing workflows, spatial data visualization, and VR simulations. Provide guidance on best practices for geospatial data collection and analysis (e.g. assisting with drone-based data gathering or field GPS surveys) to ensure effective use of lab technology in academic research and teaching. Help integrate the lab's capabilities into curricula and grant-funded research initiatives.
* Supervision & Collaboration: Supervise any student lab assistants, interns, or graduate assistants assigned to the labs, providing training, guidance, and oversight of their work. Foster a collaborative atmosphere by working closely with UMSL Geospatial Collaborative staff and faculty to maximize the labs' impact. Coordinate with external partners and stakeholders (e.g. facilitating visits from NGA scientists, industry partners, or community groups) for joint projects, demonstrations, or training sessions in the labs. Support outreach and workforce development events - including K-12 or community workshops - that utilize the lab facilities. helping to showcase geospatial technologies and engage the broader community.
* Safety & Compliance: Ensure compliance with all relevant safety protocols, data security policies, and regulatory guidelines within the labs. Implement and enforce safety procedures for operating lab equipment (such as UAV/drone flight safety, VR equipment usage, and handling of any sensitive geospatial data). Maintain a clean, organized lab space and conduct regular safety inspections or equipment checks as required. Work with university compliance officers or partner liaisons to meet any additional requirements associated with grant-funded projects or partnerships.

Other duties as assigned by the Director will be performed as needed to support the overall mission of the UMSL Geospatial Collaborative.

This position supports a project funded by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which limits participation in the project to citizens of the United States. As a result, only U.S. citizens are eligible for this position.

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

A Bachelor's or Master's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience and at least 3 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

* Advanced Education: Master's degree in Geospatial Science, Geographic Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
* Additional Experience: More than 2 years of laboratory or technical management experience, especially in an academic, research, or high-tech industry setting. Prior experience supervising staff or student workers is a plus.
* Geospatial & IT Expertise: Familiarity with a broad range of geospatial hardware and software is highly desirable - for example, experience with remote sensing instruments (LiDAR scanners, UAV photogrammetry), managing GIS servers or databases, or advanced geospatial analysis techniques. Experience participating in geospatial research projects or collaborations with federal agencies (such as NGA, NASA, USGS) or industry partners is a plus.
* Certifications: Relevant professional certifications are advantageous, such as GISP (Certified GIS Professional) or an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification for drone operations. Demonstrated commitment to continuing professional development in geospatial technology and lab management.
* Project & Budget Skills: Experience assisting with grant-funded projects, budgeting for lab resources, or procurement of technical equipment. Familiarity with university or government procurement processes and asset management would be beneficial
*Experience: A minimum of 2 years of experience managing a laboratory, technical facility, or comparable technology-driven environment, including hands-on work with geospatial equipment or advanced computing labs.
* Technical Proficiency: Strong knowledge of geospatial technologies and software (such as GIS, remote sensing, and GPS/GNSS applications) and familiarity with maintaining related hardware and software systems. Ability to troubleshoot and support GIS software (e.g. ArcGIS Pro, QGIS) and to operate and maintain devices such as GPS receivers, UAVs (drones), virtual reality systems, and other field-mapping or sensing equipment.
* Organizational Skills: Excellent organizational and project management abilities, with the capacity to maintain equipment inventories, manage multiple tasks or projects concurrently, and coordinate scheduling and resources effectively in a lab setting.
* Communication & Training: Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and to train or instruct lab users of varying skill levels. Strong interpersonal skills and a customer-service orientation to work collaboratively with faculty, students, and external partners in a professional manner.

Salary Range: $59,737.60 - $64,000 yearly

Grade: GGS-011

University Title: Research Lab Manager

Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

* Application materials include a cover letter and resume. Finalists will be asked to provide references at a later date.
* Applicants must combine all application materials into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as a resume attachment to the UMSL Careers:
https://www.umsl.edu/services/hrs/careers/index.html
* Limit document name to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.). For questions about the application process, please email employment@umsl.edu. If you are experiencing technical problems, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu.

*Cover letter outlining qualifications and interest in the position.
*Curriculum Vitae (CV).
*A brief statement summarizing previous experience in laboratory management and operation of geospatial and virtual reality (VR) equipment.
*Contact information for three professional references.

For questions regarding this position, please contact: Dr. Reda Amer - Director, UMSL Geospatial Collaborative (Chair of the Search Committee) - Email: reda.amer@umsl.edu.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please email the Office of Human Resources at umslhr@umsl.edu.