Lab Operations Manager

Position Summary

The Laboratory Operations Manager will help lead all aspects of lab and facility operations, including EH&S compliance, vendor and contractor coordination, equipment maintenance, hazardous materials handling, and cross-functional support for chemistry, biology, radiochemistry, and vivarium teams. This individual will ensure that all work is conducted safely, compliantly, and efficiently in a startup environment that includes hazardous chemicals, biological agents, and radioactive materials.

• Manage daily operations of chemistry, biology, tissue culture, radiochemistry, and vivarium facilities
• Develop, implement, and enforce laboratory SOPs, safety protocols, and workflows
• Coordinate installation, calibration, preventive maintenance, and repairs for scientific and facility equipment
• Oversee facility services (waste disposal, janitorial, security, HVAC, compressed gases, LN2, etc.)

• Serve as site EH&S Officer: manage safety training, audits, risk assessments, and corrective actions
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, CDC, NIH, DOT, DEA, IACUC, and NRC regulations
• Manage hazardous, biological, and radioactive waste programs and safety documentation
• Lead chemical hygiene, biosafety, radiation safety, and vivarium IACUC compliance programs

• Own the procurement process of lab equipment, including price and contract/terms negotiation, ensuring timely delivery and installation, and vendor management/relations.
• Oversee inventory of chemicals, reagents, radioisotopes, lab animals, PPE, and consumables
• Manage relationships and contracts with vendors, service providers, and facility contractors
• Implement inventory tracking systems (e.g., for controlled substances and radioactive materials)

• Collaborate with research teams to support project-specific facility or operational needs
• Assist with facility build-outs, space planning, and equipment procurement as the company scales
• Coordinate with Finance and HR for budget tracking, onboarding, and training of lab personnel

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline (Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, etc.)
• 5+ years of relevant experience in lab/facility management in biotech, pharma, or academia
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-hazard labs (chemical, biohazard, radiological)
• Demonstrated familiarity with EH&S and regulatory compliance (OSHA, EPA, NRC, IACUC, etc.)
• Excellent organizational and communication skills; startup-ready mindset

• Experience with EHS program development and OSHA requirements
• Experience supporting vivarium operations (AAALAC/OLAW standards) and IACUC administration
• Familiarity with laboratory informatics systems (ELN, LIMS, inventory software)