Innovation Wet Lab Manager

at  University of Texas at Austin

Job Posting Title:
Innovation Wet Lab Manager
-
Hiring Department:
Discovery to Impact
-
Position Open To:
All Applicants
-
Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40
-
FLSA Status:
Exempt
-
Earliest Start Date:
Jan 02, 2025
-
Position Duration:
Expected to Continue
-
Location:

PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS

-
Job Details:
General Notes
The
Discovery to Impact
life science technology development group leverages the Life Science portfolio to significantly impact patient care at The University of Texas at Austin. Our charge is to take the outstanding scientific discoveries our faculty and staff created and move them forward through pre-clinical and early clinical development.
Our team
has a passion for impacting patient care through innovation. We have a “Start-up” mindset: a sense of urgency and bias for action. We are self-motivated problem-solvers who can thrive in (and help create!) a fast-paced, mission-driven, low-ego culture. We operate with a humble, flexible, can-do attitude, willing to jump in where needed, roll our sleeves up, and get the job done. We look for intellectually athletic, resilient candidates who can work in and through ambiguity. Our team members must be organized and capable of simultaneously managing multiple projects at different stages. Fearless, direct, tactful (and kind!) communication is a must!
Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.
Purpose
We are seeking an accomplished and visionary Innovation Wet Lab Manager to assume leadership in overseeing the strategic operations and management of our new 10,000 plus square foot facility at Parmer Lane and our 10,000 square foot facility at the Dell Pediatrics Research Center. The Innovation Wet Lab Manager will be instrumental in providing expert guidance and support to researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators, driving forward the development and translation of groundbreaking discoveries into real-world applications.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Laboratory Management: Direct the comprehensive oversight and strategic direction of the wet lab facilities, ensuring seamless operations, optimal resource utilization, and adherence to stringent safety and regulatory standards.
• Technical Leadership: Provide technical leadership and mentorship to laboratory clients, offering guidance on experimental design, protocol optimization, and cutting-edge research methodologies.
• Training and Development: Spearhead the development and delivery of advanced training programs and workshops, equipping users with the requisite skills and expertise to harness the full potential of wet lab resources effectively.
• Collaborative Engagement: Cultivate an interdisciplinary research ecosystem, fostering synergistic partnerships and facilitating knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders within the Texas Startups ecosystem.
• Resource Optimization: Strategically allocate laboratory resources, including state-of-the-art equipment, consumables, and workspace, to drive operational efficiency and maximize research productivity.
• Quality Assurance and Compliance: Institute rigorous quality control measures and compliance protocols to uphold the integrity and reliability of experimental data, ensuring adherence to university requirements and industry best practices.
• Marketing, Recruitment, and Community Engagement: Actively market and recruit start-up companies to the incubator from key markets across the US. Attend relevant trade shows and showcase the incubator where appropriate. Participate in the Life Science community at UT, within Austin, Texas, and the nation to ensure a best-in-class facility.
• Financial Management: Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and manage the wet lab budget, exercising fiscal prudence, and aligning expenditures with priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., biology, chemistry, bioengineering).
• Minimum of five years of experience working in a wet lab environment, preferably in an academic or research setting.
• Strong technical expertise in a wide range of laboratory techniques, including molecular biology, cell culture, microscopy, and biochemical assays.
• Experience with the operation and maintenance of complex analytical instrumentation commonly used in life sciences research.
• Strong strategic planning and problem-solving abilities, with a track record of driving innovation and excellence in a laboratory setting within the physical sciences.
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to effectively manage a team and prioritize competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of safety regulations and best practices for working in a laboratory setting, with a commitment to promoting a culture of safety and compliance.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., biology, chemistry, bioengineering)
• Proficiency in microscopy, spectroscopy, cell culture, PCR and other life science laboratory techniques.
• Experience with laboratory equipment maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting preferred.
• Familiarity with project management tools and software applications for data analysis and documentation.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Salary Range
$140,000+ depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a standard office environment and a life science laboratory environment.
• Repetitive use of keyboard at workstation and prolonged screen time.
• Use of manual dexterity, lifting, pushing or pulling.

Work Shift

• Work schedule is Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Occasional remote work may be allowed subject to approvals (and subject to change per university policy).
• Periodic travel and work outside of normal business hours, including evenings and weekends, may be required.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
-
Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
-
Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
-
Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
-
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an
equal opportunity/affirmative action employer
, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
-
Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
-
Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original
documents
to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
-
E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

-
Compliance:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in

Responsibilities

• Strategic Laboratory Management: Direct the comprehensive oversight and strategic direction of the wet lab facilities, ensuring seamless operations, optimal resource utilization, and adherence to stringent safety and regulatory standards.
• Technical Leadership: Provide technical leadership and mentorship to laboratory clients, offering guidance on experimental design, protocol optimization, and cutting-edge research methodologies.
• Training and Development: Spearhead the development and delivery of advanced training programs and workshops, equipping users with the requisite skills and expertise to harness the full potential of wet lab resources effectively.
• Collaborative Engagement: Cultivate an interdisciplinary research ecosystem, fostering synergistic partnerships and facilitating knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders within the Texas Startups ecosystem.
• Resource Optimization: Strategically allocate laboratory resources, including state-of-the-art equipment, consumables, and workspace, to drive operational efficiency and maximize research productivity.
• Quality Assurance and Compliance: Institute rigorous quality control measures and compliance protocols to uphold the integrity and reliability of experimental data, ensuring adherence to university requirements and industry best practices.
• Marketing, Recruitment, and Community Engagement: Actively market and recruit start-up companies to the incubator from key markets across the US. Attend relevant trade shows and showcase the incubator where appropriate. Participate in the Life Science community at UT, within Austin, Texas, and the nation to ensure a best-in-class facility.
• Financial Management: Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and manage the wet lab budget, exercising fiscal prudence, and aligning expenditures with priorities

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF