CSU Spur Water Technology Operations and Laboratory Manager

Job Description Position Summary

The Laboratory Operations Manager is responsible for the safe, reliable operation and day-to-day management of complex laboratory infrastructure at the CSU Spur Campus. This role has primary responsibility supporting the Water Technology Accelerator Platform (Water TAP), a highly applied research and innovation environment designed to advance water technologies from concept through pilot-scale demonstration, while also supporting coordinated operations across other Spur laboratory spaces.

The position oversees building-scale water-reuse systems and pilot-scale water, wastewater, and bioprocessing systems that enable applied research, technology testing, and innovation activities. The Laboratory Operations Manager supervises and trains laboratory staff and students, coordinates closely with CSU Facilities and Environmental Health & Safety, and supports consistent laboratory practices across the Spur campus. A portion of the role also supports purchasing and fiscal coordination for laboratory operations in accordance with CSU policies.

This is an in-person, hands-on operational role requiring strong technical judgment, experience managing complex water and process systems, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, innovation-driven laboratory environment with shared infrastructure and competing priorities.

March 27, 2026

This position is located at the Colorado State University (CSU) Spur Campus in Denver, Colorado, and its associated laboratory facilities. The role holds primary responsibility for the Water Technology Accelerator Platform (Water TAP) and supports laboratory operations across CSU Spur and shared research infrastructure.

Water TAP is a first-of-its-kind applied research and innovation facility designed to accelerate the development, testing, and demonstration of water technologies. The platform supports research, innovation, and workforce development activities focused on water reuse, resource recovery, and fit-for-purpose water systems. Water TAP provides access to multiple onsite water sources including urban stormwater, graywater, river water, rainwater, and recycled industrial wastewater, at pilot-scale flow rates, along with flexible infrastructure to connect these sources to treatment and monitoring systems.

The facility is designed to support technology validation, pilot-scale experimentation, and translation of research prototypes toward real-world application. Learn more at: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

In addition to Water TAP, this position supports laboratory operations across other CSU Spur facilities, including the Biomanufacturing and Biotechnology laboratory and teaching laboratories, and shared-use research infrastructure. These spaces support a range of instructional, research, and outreach activities and include equipment such as bioreactors, analytical and processing equipment, and shared laboratory systems. The role contributes to coordinated operations, safety practices, and continuity across multiple laboratories with shared infrastructure and operational needs.

CSU Spur is a public-facing campus that brings together research, education, innovation, and community engagement across three interconnected buildings focused on water, food and agriculture, animal health, and sustainability. At Spur, CSU conducts research, convenes partners from around the world, and engages learners of all ages through hands-on science, technology, and workforce development experiences. The campus includes laboratories, classrooms, public education spaces, outdoor learning areas, a flexible theater, and a rooftop greenhouse.

All Spur facilities target LEED Gold certification and reflect CSU’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and healthy building operations. Learn more spur.org .

• Manage the safe, reliable operation of complex laboratory infrastructure, including building-scale water-reuse systems and pilot-scale water, wastewater, and bioprocessing systems and equipment used for technology validation, research, teaching, and workforce training.
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot water-related laboratory systems, including pumps, tanks, piping, valves, manifolds, bioreactors, and associated mechanical and process equipment.
• Support the commissioning, modification, and/or reconfiguration of laboratory, pilot-scale, building-integrated, and water-reuse systems as programmatic, instructional, and operational needs evolve.
• Install, maintain, and coordinate the use of online monitoring, instrumentation, and data logging systems associated with water, water-reuse, and bioprocessing operations.
• Provide day-to-day operational oversight and management for laboratory facilities at the CSU Spur Campus, with a…