Laboratory Operations Lead

University of Alberta; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Alberta is seeking a Laboratory Operations Lead in Edmonton’s North Campus to oversee facility setup, equipment lifecycle, vendor negotiations, and regulatory compliance within the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. The role also supports undergraduate and graduate education, prepares specimens, and coordinates course delivery with EH&S duties.

You will manage facilities across departments, supervise technical staff, and contribute to knowledge mobilization by drafting materials and

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree required; MSc strongly preferred or equivalent experience.
• 5–7 years of progressive technical and operational leadership in academia or biomedical labs.
• Formal EH&S, WHMIS, biosafety, First Aid/CPR with AED certifications or eligible.
• Experience in equipment lifecycle management and procurement.
• Strong vendor management, budgeting, and staff mentoring abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead lab infrastructure planning, design, and installation across departments.
• Oversee equipment lifecycle, maintenance, and service contracts with warranties.
• Support undergraduate and graduate course delivery and experimental setups.
• Administer EH&S programs for biosafety, TDG, spill response, and safety compliance.
• Coordinate knowledge mobilization efforts, scientific writing, and seminar planning.
• Manage procurement alignment and liaise with contractors and university facilities.

Skills

Laboratory leadership

Vendor negotiations

Educational program support

Regulatory compliance

Facilities management

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree

Master of Science (M.Sc.) in biomedical discipline

Tools

Audio-visual systems

Environmental Health & Safety knowledge

Job description

This competition is open to all applicants; however, internal applicants will be given priority consideration based on minimum qualifications, or a combination of experience, skills, and abilities before external applicants are considered.

Location - This role is in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton.

The Laboratory Operations Lead is a senior operational, technical, and leadership role within the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, supporting biomedical sciences departments. Reporting directly to the Academic Department Manager, this position serves as the operational backbone for departmental research, academic instruction, and scientific engagement. The incumbent spearheads all phases of laboratory facility setup, infrastructure planning, equipment lifecycle management, vendor negotiations, and procurement alignment while ensuring strict compliance with regulatory standards. Beyond facilities management, the role lynchpins undergraduate and graduate education by coordinating experimental setups, preparing specialized specimens, and supporting course delivery. As the departmental Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) lead, the position oversees WHMIS, biosafety, chemical waste management, and emergency response protocols. Crucially, the Lead also support departmental scientific communication, working closely with the Knowledge Mobilization team—translating complex biomedical research for public, donor, and recruitment channels—and support academic event strategies by curating seminar programming, drafting briefing materials, and operating audio-visual infrastructure.

• Laboratory Infrastructure & Setup: Orchestrate the planning, design, construction, and installation of new and existing research laboratories across medical science departments, acting as the primary liaison between researchers, faculty administration, contractors, and university facilities.
• Equipment Lifecycle & Resource Management: Manage departmental asset inventories, oversee service contracts and warranties, coordinate routine and unscheduled maintenance for core equipment (freezers, centrifuges, incubators), and establish user fee structures to fund ongoing repairs.
• Instructional & Research Technical Support: Collaborate with faculty to design, set up and execute undergraduate and graduate laboratory courses, including buffer preparation, instrument calibration, surgical specimen prep, animal handling, and real-time experimental troubleshooting.
• EH&S, Biosafety & Regulatory Compliance: Administer departmental safety programs as the designated officer for WHMIS, biosafety, radiation safety, chemical spill response, and transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), ensuring full compliance with university and government guidelines.
• Specialized Facility Administration: Direct the operations of specialized units, such as the Pharmacology Department Animal Facility, overseeing procurement, animal care compliance, billing, user training, and sanitation standards.
• Support to Knowledge Mobilization: Working closely with the Scientific Educator and the Research and Education Coordinator, the position contribute to scientific writing by drafting and editing scientific news, research briefs, and web content, contribute to the intellectual planning of departmental seminars and symposia by researching potential speakers, proposing scientific themes, curating session topics, drafting agendas for visiting scientists, and evaluating post-event feedback.

• Education: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree required; Master of Science (M.Sc.) in a biomedical discipline strongly preferred (or an equivalent combination of education and extensive technical experience).
• Professional Experience: 5–7 years of progressive technical and operational leadership experience within a post-secondary academic institution or biomedical research laboratory environment.
• Safety & Regulatory Certifications: Formal certifications (or immediate eligibility) in EH&S, WHMIS, Biosafety, First Aid/CPR with AED, and HSLAS, along with expertise in hazardous waste and TDG regulations.
• IAUTP Part I and II required or ongoing, ARLAT or RLAT preferred;
• Technical & Scientific Proficiency: Advanced hands-on skills in experimental prep, surgical/dissection procedures, animal handling, analytical equipment maintenance, and audio-visual standard operations.
• Operational Leadership & Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional organizational, financial tracking, vendor negotiation, and leadership skills, with a track record of effectively mentoring technical staff and supporting diverse faculty, student, and administrative stakeholders

Application Instructions

Click "Apply Now" to submit the following:

• Resume;
• Cover letter: Please indicate your motivation for this specific position and statement about your philosophy of client support and service;
• Statement of Teaching Interests;
• Statement of Research Interests.

This position is subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the collective agreement between the Governors of the University of Alberta and the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package.