Cell Culture Lab Manager & Operations Lead

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Initial Therapeutics, Inc. in San Francisco is seeking a hands-on Lab Manager / Cell Maintenance Research Associate to support daily lab operations and maintain healthy mammalian cell cultures for discovery and preclinical programs.

This hybrid role balances bench work with operational oversight. You will manage inventories, equipment maintenance, SOPs, and ensure safety/compliance while supporting multiple research teams.

Qualifications

• Must hold a Bachelor's degree in Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• 2–5 years of lab experience in biotech, pharmaceutical, or academic settings.
• Demonstrated experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day laboratory operations to maintain a safe, organized lab environment.
• Maintain mammalian cell lines, perform routine culture tasks and quality checks.
• Prepare media, buffers, and reagents; support multiple research projects.
• Maintain notebooks and electronic records; ensure biosafety and quality compliance.
• Collaborate with scientists, facilities, EHS, and vendors to resolve issues.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

Laboratory operations

Inventory management

Documentation and record-keeping

Independent work and teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biology or related field

Tools

ELNs / LIMS

Inventory management software

MS Office

Job description

Initial Therapeutics, Inc. in San Francisco is seeking a hands-on Lab Manager / Cell Maintenance Research Associate to support daily lab operations and maintain healthy mammalian cell cultures for discovery and preclinical programs.

This hybrid role balances bench work with operational oversight. You will manage inventories, equipment maintenance, SOPs, and ensure safety/compliance while supporting multiple research teams.