Head of Discovery Lab

Apodex; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Apodex seeks a senior laboratory operations leader to own the end-to-end lab build and establish a compliant, data-driven facility in San Francisco. You will hire and guide a 17–21 person team, implement AI-generated work orders and SOPs, and ensure real-time data capture with reproducible experiments.

Responsibilities include securing EHS permits, optimizing instrument utilization, and collaborating with scientific and customer teams on validation projects while managing a multi-million USD

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in life sciences, chemistry, materials science or a related field.
• 10+ years of laboratory experience, including at least 5 in lab operations or management.
• Led at least one greenfield lab build or major expansion end to end: site, construction, procurement and compliance.
• Deep familiarity with US lab EHS requirements and permitting.
• Has managed a cross-disciplinary team of 10+ and a high budget project.

Responsibilities

• Own the facility build end to end, from site to operational lab.
• Establish the lab's EHS program and obtain required related permits.
• Hire a team of roughly 17–21 people in phases.
• Co-build the work-order system with the AI and engineering teams, and ensure every experiment runs on AI-generated work orders and SOPs.
• Establishing an SOP for each experiment type and validating its reproducibility.
• Capturing raw data in real time, including failed and anomalous results.
• Keeping all data comparable and traceable.
• Manage an annual budget in the tens of millions of USD. Increase instrument utilization and throughput.
• Collaborate with scientific and customer project teams to support validation work for customer lab projects.

Skills

Lab operations management

Team leadership

Budget management

EHS compliance

Education

MS or PhD in life sciences, chemistry, materials science or a related field

Tools

LIMS

ELN

Job description

• Lab build-out: Own the facility build end to end, from site to operational lab.
• Compliance: Establish the lab's EHS program and obtain required related permits.
• Team building: Hire a team of roughly 17–21 people in phases.
• Closed-loop operations and data quality: Co-build the work-order system with the AI and engineering teams, and ensure every experiment runs on AI-generated work orders and SOPs. This includes:
• Establishing an SOP for each experiment type and validating its reproducibility;
• Capturing raw data in real time, including failed and anomalous results;
• Keeping all data comparable and traceable.
• Efficiency and cost: Manage an annual budget in the tens of millions of USD. Increase instrument utilization and throughput. Manage outsourced services such as animal studies.
• Collaboration: Partner with scientific and customer project teams to support validation work for customer lab projects.

Required Qualifications

• MS or PhD in life sciences, chemistry, materials science or a related field;
• 10+ years of laboratory experience, including at least 5 in lab operations or management;
• Has led at least one greenfield lab build or major expansion end to end: site, construction, procurement and compliance;
• Deep familiarity with US lab EHS requirements and permitting;
• Has managed a cross-disciplinary team of 10+ and a high budget project

Preferred Qualifications

• Has run both biology and chemistry/materials labs;
• Experience with lab automation, LIMS, ELN or data-driven R&D;
• Has built labs, with a network of design, construction and equipment vendors;
• Startup or high-growth company experience; Embraces AI-designed experiments and a data-first way of working.