Lab Coordinator

• 504138

• Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States

• Staff

• Staff Full-time

• Closing at: Oct 30 2026 - 23:55 MDT

Department Contact: Luis Sabillon Galeas, 575-646-3936, [email protected]

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Advertising Summary: The NMSU Food Safety Laboratory is seeking a Laboratory Coordinator to support the operation, quality management, and continued growth of an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited food safety testing laboratory. The position will coordinate laboratory activities and provide technical and quality assurance support for food microbiology testing, laboratory documentation, quality control, internal audits, corrective actions, and accreditation requirements. The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining and continually improving the laboratory’s ISO/IEC 17025 quality management system while supporting day-to-day laboratory operations, testing activities, personnel coordination, and client service. This position offers an opportunity to work in a dynamic, student-supported laboratory environment focused on food safety testing, research, and applied services for industry, government, and other stakeholders.

Position Details

Position Title: Lab Coordinator

College/Division: Agricultural Experiment Station

Department: 317775-BIO SECURITYAND FOOD SAFETY CENTER

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status: Exempt

Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule:

Job Duties and Responsibilities: • Coordinate daily operations of the NMSU Food Safety Laboratory, including sample processing, testing activities, workflow, and laboratory resources.

• Maintain and continually improve the laboratory’s ISO/IEC 17025 quality management system and ensure compliance with accreditation requirements.
• Coordinate quality assurance and quality control activities, including document control, recordkeeping, quality monitoring, corrective actions, and continual improvement.
• Support internal audits, external assessments, surveillance visits, proficiency testing, and other laboratory accreditation activities.
• Review laboratory documentation and testing records to ensure accuracy, completeness, traceability, and compliance with established procedures.
• Support development, revision, verification, validation, and implementation of laboratory methods, SOPs, and quality procedures.
• Perform and/or oversee food microbiology testing and related laboratory activities within the laboratory’s scope of services.
• Coordinate training and provide technical guidance to laboratory personnel, students, and other staff on testing methods, quality requirements, and laboratory procedures.
• Support equipment calibration, maintenance, verification, inventory, and associated documentation.
• Assist with sample receiving, accessioning, tracking, testing, reporting, and records management.
• Support laboratory safety, biosafety, and contamination-control practices.
• Assist with client services, laboratory projects, research activities, and other operational needs of the Food Safety Laboratory.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:
Associate's Degree + 2 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree.

Equivalent Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree in food science, microbiology, biology, or a closely related field; professional experience in a food, environmental, clinical, or other analytical laboratory; demonstrated experience with laboratory quality assurance and quality control programs; experience developing, implementing, maintaining, or continually improving an ISO/IEC 17025 quality management system; experience supporting laboratory accreditation, internal audits, external assessments, corrective actions, and proficiency testing; knowledge of food microbiology, microbiological testing methods, molecular methods, and laboratory quality control practices; experience with laboratory information management systems, technical documentation, equipment calibration, method verification/validation, and data review; experience training and supervising laboratory personnel, students, or technicians; and strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Special Certification/Licensure:
Certification as a laboratory quality professional, such as ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA), or related credential, is preferred but not required. Formal training or certification in ISO/IEC 17025, laboratory auditing, quality management systems, food microbiology, biosafety, or related areas is also preferred. No specific professional license is required.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed indoors.

Physical Effort: Light physical effort. Effort applies to no more than two (2) hours per day.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions.

Recruitment Summary

We are New Mexico’s land-grant institution and a comprehensive research university dedicated to teaching, research public service and outreach at all levels. NMSU is a welcoming community of talented faculty, staff and students who are working together to make a difference. We are a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), a minority-serving institution (MSI) and home to the first Honors College in New Mexico. We offer an accessible education that shapes bright futures.

NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at four campuses, Cooperative Extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, 12 research and science centers, and through distance education.

NMSU Global Campus

Since 1888, NMSU has proudly embodied this tradition, building relationships that last a lifetime while serving students who want to earn their degree and grow in their field. Today, NMSU Global Campus provides flexible, career-focused online education that helps our students transform their lives – and the lives of the people they love – through over 70 degree and certificate programs, skill-building microlearning courses, and career and talent development.

NMSU Main Campus

Located in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University's 900-acre main campus is located at the crossroads of I-10 and I-25 in the Southwestern United States. As a thriving center of higher education, deeply rooted in the regional tradition, its role as a comprehensive university is recognized throughout the state.

Doña Ana Community College

Founded in 1973 in collaboration with local school districts to support occupational education, DACC is now a leading community college that provides transformative educational opportunities that meet the workforce needs of Doña Ana County. With a focus on access, innovation and excellence, DACC offers over ninety degrees and certificates, adult education, specialized workforce training, and small business assistance.

Alamogordo Campus

Established in 1958 to serve the needs of the airmen and families stationed at Holloman Air Force Base located only 10 miles west of Alamogordo, NMSUA is a community college with a long history of excellence that is supported by a caring community of hard-working students and dedicated faculty and staff. The campus is situated “on the hill” above Alamogordo and provides inspiring views of the city and the Tularosa Basin, offering the perfect venue for creative and motivated learning.

Grants Campus

NMSU Grants was established as a branch of New Mexico State University in 1968 through the cooperative efforts of New Mexico State University and Grants Municipal Schools. As a two-year branch community college, NMSU Grants serves the local communities in Cibola and McKinley counties, including the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni, as well as Tohajiilee, San Mateo, San Rafael, Cubero, the City of Grants, and the Village of Milan.

Special Instructions to Applicants

The electronic application is the *official* document that will be used to qualify applicants. Paper/email documents will not be accepted. Required documents must be attached to this application.

EEO Statement

New Mexico State University does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Requesting an Accommodation

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and New Mexico State University policy, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply, interview, or complete onboarding for a position with New Mexico State University, or if you cannot use the online application system, please visit our Accessibility & Accommodations page to initiate an accommodation request