Facilities & Laboratory Operations Manager

BioGenerator; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

BioGenerator in St. Louis, MO oversees the Helix Center, coordinating day-to-day facility readiness across labs and offices, equipment maintenance, and tenant support. This role focuses on ensuring a safe, compliant, and productive environment for startup life sciences companies.

The Facilities & Laboratory Operations Manager will manage vendor relationships, safety programs, and space planning, while collaborating with BioSTL and STL Partnership leadership to support a growing biotech community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, biotechnology, engineering, facilities management, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in laboratory operations or facilities management.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and take ownership of outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Maintain day-to-day facility readiness and functionality across labs and offices.
• Coordinate repairs with property management, contractors, and service providers.
• Create and track equipment and facility work orders.
• Support facility improvement projects and infrastructure upgrades.
• Manage occupancy planning, tenant moves, and space transitions.
• Oversee laboratory equipment maintenance and preventative maintenance programs.
• Serve as primary operational contact for tenant companies and tours.
• Ensure documentation, insurance certificates, and safety requirements are maintained.
• Coordinate vendor visits and manage procurement activities.
• Maintain safety records and support laboratory safety programs.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Communication

Prioritization

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology/biotech/engineering/facilities management

Tools

Vendor management

Laboratory equipment knowledge

Job description

Facilities & Laboratory Operations Manager

St. Louis, Missouri

About BioSTL & Helix

BioSTL advances bioscience innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the St. Louis region. Through BioGenerator and its network of innovation facilities, BioSTL supports startup companies developing transformative technologies in agriculture, food systems, biotechnology, and human health.

The Helix Center Biotech Incubator is a growing hub for emerging life science and AgTech companies, providing laboratory space, shared equipment, operational support, and a collaborative innovation community. The Helix Center is owned by the STL Partnership and operated by BioGenerator.

We are seeking a Facilities & Laboratory Operations Manager to serve as the operational backbone of the Helix Center. This is a highly visible, hands-on role for someone who enjoys solving problems, working with scientific equipment, supporting entrepreneurs, and ensuring a complex facility runs smoothly every day.

Position Summary

The Facilities & Laboratory Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the Helix Center. This individual serves as the primary operational point of contact for tenants and works closely with BioGenerator and STL Partnership leadership, property management, contractors, vendors, and startup companies.

The ideal candidate enjoys troubleshooting equipment, managing facility operations, building strong relationships, and taking ownership of operational challenges from start to finish.

This role combines laboratory operations, facilities management, customer service, vendor coordination, and safety program execution.

Key Responsibilities

Facility Operations & Maintenance

• Maintain day-to-day facility readiness and functionality across laboratory, office, and shared spaces.
• Monitor building conditions and coordinate repairs with property management, contractors, and service providers.
• Create, track, and follow through on equipment and facility work orders.
• Support facility improvement projects, renovations, and infrastructure upgrades.
• Assist with occupancy planning, tenant moves, and space transitions.

Laboratory Equipment & Infrastructure

• Maintain shared laboratory equipment and coordinate preventative maintenance programs.
• Troubleshoot equipment and facility issues, identifying practical solutions whenever possible.
• Coordinate vendor service visits and equipment repairs.
• Maintain equipment inventories, service records, and maintenance schedules.
• Research and recommend replacement equipment and operational improvements.
• Oversee utilization of the shared lab and equipment facilities.

Tenant Support & Community Relations

• Serve as the primary operational contact for tenant companies.
• Support onboarding and offboarding activities, including access, orientation, and laboratory setup.
• Respond to tenant requests regarding facilities, equipment, and shared resources.
• Build positive working relationships with stakeholders, founders, scientists, and startup teams.
• Maintain a working knowledge of tenant companies, their technologies, and BioGenerator programs and resources to effectively support tenant engagement and external inquiries.
• Conduct facility tours for prospective tenants, partners, investors, and visitors, communicating the value of the Helix Center, the St. Louis innovation ecosystem, and the resources available to startup companies.
• Support facility tours, ecosystem events, and external visitors.
• Coordinate contractors, service providers, and approved vendors performing work within the facility.
• Ensure required documentation, insurance certificates, and safety requirements are maintained.
• Schedule and oversee vendor visits, preventative maintenance activities, and equipment servicing.
• Maintain productive relationships with suppliers and service providers.

Safety & Compliance

• Support implementation of laboratory safety policies and procedures.
• Conduct routine facility and laboratory inspections.
• Coordinate hazardous waste collection and disposal activities.
• Maintain safety records, training documentation, and compliance requirements.
• Serve as a resource for tenant questions regarding laboratory operations and safety practices.
• Support emergency preparedness and incident response activities.

Inventory & Procurement

• Maintain inventories of shared laboratory supplies, consumables, and operational materials.
• Coordinate purchasing and receiving activities.
• Support budget conscious procurement decisions and vendor selection.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in biology, biotechnology, engineering, facilities management, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered. (assocites + exp)
• 3+ years of experience in laboratory operations, facilities management, scientific equipment support, or a related operational role.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and take ownership of operational outcomes.

Preferred

• Experience working in biotechnology, life science, research, startup, university, or incubator environments.
• Experience supporting laboratory equipment and facility infrastructure.
• Familiarity with laboratory safety programs and OSHA requirements.
• Experience managing vendors, contractors, and service providers.
• First Aid, CPR, or laboratory safety certifications.

The ideal candidate has a natural curiosity for how things work and enjoys troubleshooting laboratory equipment, facility systems, and operational challenges.

If you enjoy solving practical problems, supporting innovative companies, and helping a growing biotech community succeed, we'd love to hear from you.