Lab Manager

Syenex, Inc; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Syenex, Inc. is a biotech startup focusing on cell-engineering delivery platforms, with a growing Evanston lab. The Laboratory Operations Specialist will run day-to-day lab safety, purchasing, inventory, and equipment management to keep science moving.

In this hands-on role you will build systems that allow scientists to focus on research, partner with leadership on growth plans, and support core techniques used in mammalian cell culture and molecular biology.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in biology, chemistry, bioengineering or related life-science field.
• At least 4 years of hands-on lab experience, including 2+ years managing lab operations.
• Strong understanding of laboratory safety practices and regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing purchasing, inventory, and vendor/equipment service relationships.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated, proactive and accountable; able to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of Evanston lab, keeping spaces, equipment, and workflows organized.
• Serve as primary contact for lab/facility needs, coordinating with management, contractors, and vendors.
• Own EHS responsibilities including biosafety training, waste management, and inspections.
• Manage procurement, installation, calibration, maintenance, and service records for equipment.
• Build and maintain lab systems: inventory tracking, sample/cell-line mgmt, SOPs, onboarding.
• Support experimental work as needed and assist leadership with buildout and growth planning.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Written and verbal communication

Self-motivated

Proactive

Independent work

Adaptable

Education

BS or MS in biology, chemistry, bioengineering

Job description

Syenex is an open-science biotechnology company building the delivery technologies that unlock the future of genetic medicine. We engineer cell-specific delivery platforms—including enveloped vectors such as extracellular vesicles and viral vectors—that give cell and gene therapy developers best-in-class, plug-and-play tools spanning discovery through GMP manufacturing.

Founded in 2022 and based in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, Syenex operates on an Open Science model: we make a continuously improving catalog of cell-engineering and delivery technologies universally accessible to academia and biopharma, freeing our partners to focus on their therapeutic insight. Through a growing network of partnerships and CDMO integrations, we help developers move from idea to clinical impact faster, at lower cost, and with higher delivery efficiency.

We are a small, multidisciplinary team that pairs rigorous synthetic biology with a build-fast, collaborate-openly culture. This role is central to how we scale that science.

About the role

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a strong scientific background and experience in laboratory and project management to help run the day-to-day operations of our laboratory and keep our science moving.

In this role, you will own lab safety and compliance, purchasing and inventory, equipment management and maintenance, and work to build systems and processes that enable our scientists to focus on research and development.

This is a hands-on role for an organized, proactive operator who enjoys building processes in a growing, early-stage lab and who can support experimental work when needed.

What you'll do

• Oversee daily operations of our Evanston lab, keeping shared spaces, equipment, and workflows organized and running smoothly.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for laboratory and facility-related needs, coordinating with building management, contractors, and external vendors to resolve issues.
• Own laboratory Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), including biosafety compliance, safety training, hazardous waste management, laboratory inspections, and adherence to applicable safety regulations and institutional requirements.
• Manage laboratory equipment, including procurement, installation, calibration, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, repairs, and service records, while coordinating with scientists and vendors to ensure equipment needs are met and downtime is minimized.
• Build and maintain lab systems, including inventory tracking, sample and cell-line management, SOPs, and onboarding training for new team members.
• Partner with scientists and leadership on lab buildout and growth planning, and support experimental work (e.g., cell culture, molecular biology) as needed.

Qualifications

• A BS or MS in biology, chemistry, bioengineering, or a related life-science field.
• At least 4 years of hands-on lab experience in biotech, pharma, or academic research, including 2+ years managing lab operations.
• Strong understanding of laboratory safety practices and regulatory requirements, including biosafety, chemical safety, and hazardous waste management.
• Experience managing purchasing, inventory, and vendor and equipment service relationships.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and resourceful, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple responsibilities, and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced, growing biotechnology environment.
• Hands-on experience with core techniques such as mammalian cell culture and molecular biology; experience with viral vectors or extracellular vesicles is a plus.

Why Join Syenex

You will help build the operational foundation of a company whose delivery technologies enable more cures to reach more people. Your work will directly shape how our lab operates as we grow, with the autonomy and ownership of an early-stage team and the opportunity to support innovative technologies already trusted by partners across biopharma and academia.