Lab Techncian​/Senior Lab Technician; Chemistry), Medicines

Job Summary

Medicines for All (M4

ALL), a part of Virginia Commonwealth University, is an entrepreneurial, impact-oriented institute dedicated to dramatically improving global access to lifesaving medicines. We achieve this through synthetic process innovation and advanced technology deployment to reduce costs and waste in small molecule drug substance manufacturing. Our work supports treatments for diseases such as TB, malaria, HIV, oncology, metabolic diseases, CNS, and immunology.

We are seeking a highly skilled and adaptable Chemistry Lab Tech or Senior Lab Technician to provide hands‑on technical and operational support. This position offers the opportunity to take ownership of critical laboratory operations and support scientists in a collaborative research environment. This is a technical support position with responsibilities spanning laboratory management, operational and administrative support, including involvement in safety compliance, inventory logistics, and facilities support.

This role provides broad exposure to laboratory operations and the opportunity to contribute to impactful research by supporting scientific teams.

Lab & Technical Duties

• Support synthetic chemistry activities through reaction set up, monitoring, and cleanup under established procedures.
• Maintain, clean, and monitor laboratory instruments and equipment to ensure proper functioning.
• Ensure laboratory supplies and reagents are properly stocked and readily available for experiments.
• Assist scientists with execution of experiments by following written protocols and SOP’s.
• Troubleshoot routine to moderately complex laboratory and equipment issues in collaboration with research staff.

Laboratory Operations & Administrative Support

• Serve as an active member of the Lab Operations team, contributing to all aspects of laboratory support and providing coverage to ensure seamless continuity when needs arise.
• Maintain laboratory cleanliness, organization, and readiness for daily operations.
• Help draft and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Engage in knowledge‑sharing, peer support, and active reinforcement of safety practices, with increasing responsibility for mentoring as experience grows.

Inventory, Logistics, & Facilities Support

• Manage the consumables room, including tracking, organizing, ordering supplies and restocking inventory.
• Oversee receipt, labeling, and storage of chemicals and laboratory materials.
• Ensure the laboratory is stocked with necessary materials for ongoing and upcoming projects.
• Support equipment coordination, routine maintenance scheduling, and vendor interactions.
• Assist with waste handling, lab hygiene, and general facilities support.

Safety & Compliance

• Assist with safety inspections, compliance initiatives, and audits.
• Follow and reinforce chemical hygiene, laboratory safety standards, and good documentation practices.
• Support continuous improvement of laboratory efficiency, safety, and operational workflows.
• Monitor laboratory safety practices and support compliance by identifying improvement opportunities and contributing data for safety metrics and KPI reporting.

Required:

• B.S. in Chemistry or a related field, or equivalent hands‑on chemistry laboratory experience.
• Completion of college‑level coursework in Chemistry, including Organic Chemistry 1 and 2, or equivalent professional experience.
• Familiarity with standard chemistry lab instruments and techniques.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Demonstrated commitment to safety and integrity.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a history of precise scientific documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as at VCU.
• Comprehensive understanding of chemical and lab safety protocols.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic, multi‑project research environment.
• Experience managing lab inventory, consumables, and ordering processes.
• Commitment to collaborative teamwork while maintaining independent responsibility for…