Area Lead Guide

The Lab Lead is the “decision maker” for the area. They determine the placement of equipment, the rules for use, and other general area rules. They are responsible for making sure their lab stays in good working order. Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring equipment is in running condition and reporting equipment that may be out of order.
• Definition of rules, procedures and required orientations needed to use the equipment.
• Keeping track of consumables as well as establishing consumable policies.
• Ensuring area is usable and clutter-free as possible with policing members clean up after themselves as per policies that the area lead defines.
• Decides if a piece of member equipment can stay in the area based on their judgement of usability, safety and benefit to area.
• Answering questions that members may have on operation of equipment and other policies.
• Acts as the go-to person for their area of responsibility.
• Determines how to spend available funds on their area as well as requesting funds from the VPO when needed.
• Delegates their authority to a co-lead when they are going to be unavailable for a period of time.

In order to keep an area functioning, it is imperative that the Lead be present in the space. It is impossible for an absent lead to properly manage an area. Therefore, it is expected that the Leads (or their Cos) will, at minimum, be in the Space twice a month. Attendance on Open House Tuesdays (to ensure the area is in order, to meet potential new members, and to answer questions about their area) is expected. Attendance at at least one other Tuesday meeting, or the work Sunday, each month is desired.

Any purchases made by leads, co-leads or members must be approved by the VPO prior to purchase in order to receive reimbursement. Revenues generated in an area (shelf rentals, workshops etc) will go to the lead’s budget and they can make purchases with those funds as deemed necessary.

All leads are coordinated under the umbrella of the VP of operations (VPO) who is responsible for helping each lead with their area as needed. The VPO is also responsible for making sure the leads are performing their responsibilities as defined in this document. The VPO also interacts directly with the board of directors and/or the president and has the authority to override an area lead’s policy or layout if determined a change is necessary for safety, consistency or other concern. Any changes by the VPO should be coordinated with the lead in a constructive manner to ensure smooth operations. Leads serve at the pleasure of the VPO, and the Board, and can be replaced at their discretion. Any involuntary replacement of a lead by the VPO has to be reported to the board along with justification for the replacement.

Both the Lead and the Co-Lead will receive a contributor (legacy) rate on their membership. There is no monetary compensation.