Laboratory Manager

at  California Institute of Technology

JOB SUMMARY

The Lab Manager will hold an integral role within the lab-directing the day-to-day operations involved in running the lab and serving as the liaison between the lab and various external partners. The successful candidate for this position is a highly organized professional with impeccable follow-through, outstanding communication skills and a passion for process improvement who is looking for a robust long-term career experience. This is an opportunity to have a tremendous impact on science by working alongside Prof. Roukes to maintain a positive and encouraging work environment that fosters a thriving, cohesive lab team.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s degree in health or life sciences, engineering or related disciplines is required.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience working in a research laboratory.
• Demonstrated ability to engage others effectively in learning and applying appropriate lab practices.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise others and provide constructive feedback, support, and guidance.
• Strong sense of self-motivation, responsibility, integrity, adaptability, trustworthiness, and leadership.
• Ability to work in a diverse environment with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Passion for efficiency, operational excellence, and process improvement.
• Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal, time management, and teamwork skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and analytical skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Knowledge of standard safety regulations and appropriate laboratory practices applying to research in biology and advanced lab equipment.
• Knowledge of computers and MS Office software.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in health or life sciences, engineering or related disciplines
• Five years of experience working in a research laboratory.

• Collaborate with Prof. Roukes to maintain a happy, safe, collaborative, and productive laboratory culture.
• Work with Prof. Roukes and his grant manager to track all deadlines associated with government and private funding sources, ensure timely contributions for reporting are received by internal and external partners, and assist with the preparation and submission of such reports.
• Maintain profiles on government sites for recent group publications and patents.
• Work with Prof. Roukes, his research group, and Caltech’s Office of Technology Transfer to assist and expedite patent filings and all associated deadlines.
• Develop laboratory guidelines, maintain procedures manuals, and evaluate new materials.
• Act as the lab safety officer and ensure compliance by lab members with safety policies including serving as liaison between lab and host safety and regulatory offices.
• Onboard new lab team members and ensure their familiarity with laboratory procedures.
• Plan for and provide working supervision to Research Technicians contributing to laboratory management.
• Maintain lab equipment including liaising with vendors, keeping track of service contracts, and repairs of equipment.
• Initiate and manage inventory orders to ensure adequate lab stock of supplies.
• Monitor the lab’s budget and communicate regularly with Prof. Roukes about expenditures and monitoring of the research team’s burn rates.
• Serve as liaison between lab, external collaborators, and Caltech administrative offices on issues such as budget management, fixed asset inventories, purchasing, and use of host accounts.
• Maintain web-based information repository for lab team members.
• Work with Prof. Roukes to maintain the group’s website (nano.caltech.edu).