Laboratory Systems Manager

Ellison Institute of Technology; Oxford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution in Oxford seeks a seasoned lab operations leader to oversee the design and implementation of a self-driving laboratory environment. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in lab operations, facilities planning, and automation integration. Responsibilities include leading the design of the lab, ensuring compliance with standards, and collaborating with engineers and scientists. This role offers the opportunity to work on groundbreaking autonomous lab solutions in a dynamic research setting.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in lab operations, with 3+ years in autonomous environments.
• Track record in designing laboratories with robotics/platforms.
• Experience with safety considerations in lab design.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of autonomous laboratory facilities.
• Specify requirements for robotics and analytical equipment.
• Manage project timelines and vendor selection.

Skills

Lab operations

Facilities planning

Automation integration

Vendor management

Project leadership

Education

Professional certifications in lab safety or project management

Background in biotech, pharma, or robotics-intensive research

Tools

Lab orchestration platforms

Job description

Led by a world-class faculty of scientists, technologists, policy makers, economists and entrepreneurs, the Ellison Institute of Technology aims to develop and deploy commercially sustainable solutions to solve some of humanity’s most enduring challenges. Our work is guided by four Humane Endeavours: Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology, Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Change & Managing Atmospheric CO2 and Artificial Intelligence & Robotics.

Set for completion in 2027, the EIT Campus in Littlemore will include more than 300,000 sq ft of research laboratories, educational and gathering spaces. Fuelled by growing ambition and the strength of Oxford’s science ecosystem, EIT is now expanding its footprint to a 2 million sq ft Campus across the western part of The Oxford Science Park. Designed by Foster + Partners led by Lord Norman Foster, this will become a transformative workplace for up to 7,000 people, with autonomous laboratories, purpose-built laboratories including a plant sciences building and dynamic spaces to spark interdisciplinary collaboration.

We are seeking a seasoned lab operations leader with direct experience in designing and building autonomous laboratory spaces. This individual will oversee the planning, design, and implementation of our self-driving laboratory environment, ensuring that facilities, infrastructure, utilities, and spatial layouts are optimized for high-throughput, automated science.

The successful candidate will have played a decision-making role in prior autonomous lab builds, combining expertise in facilities planning, lab infrastructure, automation integration, and operational readiness. They will collaborate closely with automation engineers, scientists, and IT to define requirements, select technology partners, and deliver a world-class autonomous research environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lab Design & Planning: Lead the end-to-end design of an autonomous laboratory facility, including layout, equipment placement, and workflow optimization.
• Define space requirements for robotics platforms, liquid handlers, analytical equipment, and collaborative spaces.
• Ensure compliance with lab safety, biosafety, and regulatory standards.
• Infrastructure & Facilities Management: Specify power, HVAC, gas, and networking requirements for autonomous systems.
• Design utility distribution plans to support uninterrupted lab operations.
• Work with architects, contractors, and facilities teams to implement space modifications and installations.
• Automation & Self-Driving Lab Integration: Evaluate and provide input on selection of self-driving lab platforms, robotics, and scheduling/orchestration systems.
• Ensure physical lab space enables integration across multiple automation platforms (liquid handlers, robotic arms, storage, analytical instruments).
• Align physical lab infrastructure with software/data integration requirements.
• Project Leadership & Delivery: Act as program lead for autonomous lab buildout, including vendor selection, budget oversight, and timeline management.
• Collaborate with scientific and engineering stakeholders to define requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Ensure smooth transition from design to commissioning to operational readiness.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• 10+ years in lab operations, facilities, or automation infrastructure, with at least 3+ years in autonomous or highly automated lab environments.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing new laboratory spaces that include robotics/automation platforms.
• Experience with power, HVAC, networking, and safety considerations in lab design.
• Strong vendor management and project leadership skills.
• Ability to bridge technical (engineering/automation) and operational (facilities/compliance) needs.
• Preferred
• Prior role as decision-maker in autonomous lab buildout (e.g., Emerald Cloud Lab, Strateos, academic/industrial self-driving labs).
• Familiarity with lab orchestration platforms (e.g., HiRes Cellario, Biosero Green Button Go, Automata LINQ).
• Background in biotech, pharma, materials science, or robotics-intensive research.
• Professional certifications in lab safety, project management, or facilities engineering.