This is a hands-on, high-ownership lab operations role supporting both the Chemistry and Biology teams. You'll oversee the day-to-day functioning of a ~9,000 sq ft research lab, manage a part-time Lab Associate who you'll help hire, and be the connective tissue between scientists, vendors, facilities, and finance. Chemistry instrument fluency is non-negotiable - HPLC, LC-MS/MS, and lyophilizers are mission-critical to our research and need a dedicated owner who can troubleshoot, not just schedule PMs.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Operations

• Hire, onboard, and directly supervise a part-time Lab Associate; scope their role and co-design their responsibilities
• Mentor the Lab Associate and support their development
• Serve as the escalation point for lab ops issues across both chemistry and biology teams

Core Lab Operations & Equipment

• Oversee common area cleanliness, organization, and decontamination of high-touch surfaces
• Coordinate receipt of lab deliveries - open, inventory, and log incoming chemical and reagent shipments before distribution to scientists; maintain chemical inventory in the ELN
• Manage glasswash and autoclave cycles
• Order and stock consumables, PPE, and lab supplies; confirm scope of reagent ordering with science team leads
• Own preventive maintenance scheduling for chemistry and biology instruments: LC-MS/MS, HPLC/UHPLC, lyophilizers, nitrogen generators, flow cytometers, CO2 incubators, plate readers, glassware washers, and cold storage
• Troubleshoot equipment issues directly - not just escalate; chemistry instrument knowledge is the priority
• Host service technician visits; manage service contract renewals
• Maintain chemical inventory and emergency backup coverage for ELN entry
• Willingness to learn LC-MS/MS monthly calibration (~4 hours/month) - not required at onboarding, but expected over time

Shipping & Receiving

• Manage all R&D outbound shipments including MSDS/CoA creation, shipping invoices, and international compliance - this is a high-volume, time-intensive task requiring dedicated oversight
• Coordinate inbound shipments in partnership with Inventory Control Associate
• Ensure DOT/IATA compliance including hazardous materials documentation and dry ice certification

Safety & Compliance

• Perform weekly safety inspections: safety showers, eyewashes, fire extinguishers
• Coordinate chemistry and biological waste disposal
• Manage DOT/hazmat compliance and dry ice (IATA) certifications for relevant staff
• Oversee EHS compliance and SOP maintenance in partnership with Safety Partners; Safety Partners leads training design and delivery - Lab Manager coordinates scheduling, tracking, and DIA-approved pipeline completion
• Maintain Subtenant fire warden accountability list
• Support pest control program decisions in coordination with Facility Manager

Procurement & Finance

• Generate POs for lab materials and equipment
• Manage lab software license inventory and renewals
• Participate in quarterly budget activities and interface with finance team on lab-related spend

Vendor & Facilities Coordination

• Serve as primary point of contact for external contractors: plumbers, electricians, fire department, Building Landlord
• Coordinate facility-related issues (HVAC/thermostat, mechanical room, glass panel contingency) with building management and facility manager
• Support any lab moves, buildouts, and facility improvements with facility manager; potential to absorb facilities coordination currently shared with Operations

Systems & Knowledge Management

• Own and maintain the Ops ticketing system (Smartsheet)
• Maintain the Confluence US Lab Operations Wiki as the living documentation home for lab procedures and SOPs
• Manage software license renewals for lab team in coordination with IT

Team Leadership

• Hire, onboard, and directly supervise a part-time Lab Associate; scope their role and co-design their responsibilities
• Mentor the Lab Associate and support their development
• Serve as the escalation point for lab ops issues across both chemistry and biology teams

Qualifications

Required

• Experience with ELN systems (chemical inventory entry and management)
• Familiarity with DOT/IATA shipping compliance and hazardous materials handling
• Experience with Smartsheet or similar ops/ticketing tools
• Prior experience hiring or supervising junior lab staff

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a closely related field - chemistry instrument fluency is the critical dependency for this role
• 3+ years of lab operations or lab management experience in a biotech or pharma setting
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with analytical chemistry instrumentation: HPLC, LC-MS/MS, lyophilizers, and nitrogen generators - must be comfortable troubleshooting, not just coordinating service calls
• Strong organizational skills; able to manage competing priorities across multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Service-oriented mindset - proactively identifies what's needed and acts without being asked
• Comfortable operating at all levels of the task spectrum: from managing a vendor contract to helping receive a shipment

Work Environment & Logistics

• Full-time, on-site, Lexington MA
• Occasional after-hours availability expected for equipment failures or urgent facility issues - not 24/7 on-call, but responsiveness matters
• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs; comfortable working with laboratory chemicals and reagents

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily within the context of the representative work environment and physical demands described above. Likewise, qualifications listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the position's essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.