Lab Operations Specialist

Calico Life Sciences; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Calico Life Sciences is seeking an experienced Lab Operations Specialist to join the Facilities and Operations group. The role involves working closely with research teams and other functions to ensure efficient lab operations, equipment readiness, and compliant processes.

The candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree in a scientific field and have 3+ years of experience in laboratory operations, including people management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific field or equivalent.
• 3+ years of experience in laboratory operations, with prior people management preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and strong teamwork.
• Must be willing to work onsite 5 days a week.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Personnel management: train and mentor the Operations team and coordinate external contractors.
• Lab management: oversee shared lab areas and equipment.
• Lab equipment management: troubleshoot, coordinate repairs, install equipment, and manage service contracts.
• Lab services management: coordinate onsite stockrooms, check lab area needs, and improve processes.
• Strategic planning for future needs and cross-functional collaboration within Facilities and Lab Operations.
• Intellectual property management: maintain laboratory notebook processes.
• Project management: assist in tracking ongoing and new projects within the team and with other functions.

Skills

Communication skills

Team player

People management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a scientific field

Job description

Who We Are

Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies and model systems to increase our understanding of the biology that controls human aging. Calico will use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives. Calico’s highly innovative technology labs, its commitment to curiosity-driven discovery science and, with academic and industry partners, its vibrant drug-development pipeline, together create an inspiring and exciting place to catalyze and enable medical breakthroughs.

Position Description

Calico is seeking an exceptional and experienced Lab Operations Specialist who will work within the Facilities and Operations group. The candidate will also work closely with the research groups and scientists and with other functional groups at Calico.

Responsibilities Will Include

• Personnel management
  • Train and mentor personnel on the Operations team, including Lab Assistants
  • Coordinate external Operations contractors and determine resources needed
• Lab management, including oversight of shared lab areas and equipment
• Lab equipment management
  • Troubleshoot lab equipment per manufacturer recommendations
  • Coordinate repairs and preventative maintenance with vendors
  • Schedule installation of new lab equipment
  • Assist with purchasing service contracts
  • Maintain asset tag system of new/existing lab equipment
  • Coordinate onsite pipette calibrations
  • Schedule routine incubator decontaminations and freezer defrosts
  • Assist with lab monitoring notification system for alerts and maintenance, including material transfer of samples in the event of a freezer or cryostorage failure
• Lab services management
  • Coordination of onsite stockrooms (including vendor management)
  • Routine checking of shared lab areas to ensure equipment and/or lab needs are met via requests from end users
  • Maintain and improve lab organizational processes
• Strategic planning for future needs and processes
• Involvement in cross-functional roles within facilities and lab operations department
• Intellectual property management
  • Maintenance of the laboratory notebook processes and systems
• Project management
  • Assist in managing and tracking ongoing and new projects within the Facilities and Operations team and cross-team projects with other functional groups

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific field (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry) or equivalent
• 3+ years of experience in Operations in a laboratory environment, prior people/team management preferred
• Great communication skills (written and oral) and strong team player
• Ability to balance a broad range of organizational needs with appropriate attention to detail and focus on assigned tasks
• Ability to handle Operations issues in a fast-paced environment with a customer-focused attitude
• Must be willing to work onsite 5 days a week

The estimated base salary range for this role is $105,000 - $115,000. Actual pay will be based on a number of factors including experience and qualifications. This position is also eligible for two annual cash bonuses.