Lab Operations Manager

Stanford University School of Medicine; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 196,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford University School of Medicine seeks a Laboratory Operations Manager to oversee nano@stanford's Nano Patterning and Flexible Cleanroom Fabrication facilities. You will support researchers in turning ideas into real structures while advancing educational initiatives and ensuring hands-on experience with fabrication tools.

You will manage tool maintenance, consumables, vendor relations, and documentation, fostering a strong safety culture and collaboration across teams to deliver

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Advanced degree may be required.
• Experience leading scientific, engineering, or technical projects or programs.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies, trends, methodologies, and resource management principles.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic planning for own work group; participate with senior managers in higher level strategic planning. Communicate operational objectives and assignments and delegate to staff.
• Manage the daily operations of an assigned area(s) including recruiting, hiring, training, developing, evaluating and setting priorities of staff; coordinate business, technical, and educational activities for direct reports.
• Oversee interdepartmental activities, projects and efforts by applying advanced technical and professional knowledge. Serve as the initial managerial escalation point for problems from clients and other staff.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and resources. Oversee preparation of periodic financial and technical reports and operating plans.
• Interface with clients to determine project requirements. Establish service level agreements with clients.
• Monitor scientific, engineering and/or technology trends and evaluate emerging technologies to recommend for adoption and implementation.
• Communicate and implement policies, procedures, best practices, recommendations and guidelines in compliance with established University administrative policies and procedures.

Skills

Staff management

Strategic planning

Budget management

Vendor relations

Communication

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

None

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Work Schedule: On-site work arrangement; employee is expected to work on-site full-time.

Work Schedule

Work Schedule: On-site work arrangement; employee is expected to work on-site full-time.

Budgeted Salary

$150,197 - $196,000

School/Unit Description

nano@stanford is Stanford University's largest shared experimental research facility, providing access to world-leading expertise and capabilities in nanoscale science and engineering. We serve over 1,400 researchers from Stanford and leading academic, industrial, and government institutions across the US and globally—spanning fields from medicine and biology to fundamental physics and astronomy. Our nearly 40,000 sq ft of cleanrooms and satellite laboratories house 300+ state-of-the-art instruments for fabricating and characterizing materials and devices. But beyond the equipment, nano@stanford is a vibrant, collaborative research community where innovation thrives.

Position Summary

We’re seeking a Laboratory Operations Manager to lead technical coordination and oversight of nano@stanford's Nano Patterning and Flexible Cleanroom Fabrication facilities. In this role, you’ll support our world-class researchers in transforming innovative ideas into real structures and devices, while championing educational initiatives that make advanced fabrication accessible to innovators everywhere. You will bring hands‑on experience with physical vapor deposition systems, electron‑beam lithography, plasma etch tools, or similar equipment, and a proven track record in micro‑or nano‑device fabrication. You will have deep familiarity with research fabrication environments, including tool maintenance and repairs, consumables management, vendor relations, documentation, and—most importantly—fostering a strong safety culture. You have excellent communication skills, with demonstrated success coordinating technical working groups, cross‑functional projects, and diverse teams. You excel at translating complex technical concepts and building consensus across stakeholders. You are a collaborative team player who thrives on developing creative, practical solutions—whether addressing daily lab challenges or making the case for strategic equipment investments. And most of all, you’re passionate about enabling the next generation of scientists and engineers and genuinely believe in the power of accessible, world‑class research facilities.

Responsibilities

Core Duties

• Provide strategic planning for own work group; participate with senior managers in higher level strategic planning. Communicate operational objectives and assignments and delegate to staff.
• Manage the daily operations of a assigned area(s) which include recruiting, hiring, training, developing, evaluating and setting priorities of staff; coordinate business, technical, and educational activities for direct reports.
• Oversee interdepartmental activities, projects and efforts by applying advanced technical and professional knowledge. Serve as the initial managerial escalation point for problems from clients and other staff.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and resources. Oversee preparation of periodic financial and technical reports and operating plans.
• Interface with clients to determine project requirements. Establish service level agreements with clients.
• Monitor scientific, engineering and/or technology trends and evaluate emerging technologies to recommend for adoption and implementation.
• Communicate and implement policies, procedures, best practices, recommendations and guidelines in compliance with established University administrative policies and procedures.

Minimum Education And Experience

Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience. Advanced degree may be required.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Experience leading or overseeing the work of technical staff.
• Understanding of relevant scientific, engineering, or technical disciplines.
• Ability to problem solve.
• Ability to synthesize and articulate technical and scientific methodologies, specifications, and information.
• Experience leading scientific, engineering, or technical research projects or programs.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies, trends, methodologies, and resource management principles.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with others.
• Strong customer relationship and consensus building skills.
• Ability to influence and establish effective working relationships in a diverse environment.
• Ability to resolve issues quickly and make decisions that meet university objectives in a collaborative culture.

About Us

At Stanford, every employee plays a part in our mission for a better tomorrow—from researchers to operations and from food services to educators. Join our team to work towards a future you believe in.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classifications and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a help ticket .

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. See Admin Guide 1.7.4: Equal Employment Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and affirmative action policy Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal .