Laboratory Management Leader

Novonesis; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with up to 9% companytribution

Vacation + holidays + Wellness Time

Health, Dental, Vision & Lifeinsurance

Health savings account option

Employee assistance program

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Novonesis in Davis, CA is seeking a Lab Management Leader to oversee day-to-day laboratory operations, EH&S programs, and regulatory compliance at the Davis site. You will partner with researchers and cross-functional teams to keep labs safe, compliant, and efficient.

In this role you will manage equipment programs, supplier relationships, and lab services while fostering an environment of continuous improvement and operational excellence that enables scientists to focus on discovery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Environmental Health & Safety, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience supporting laboratory operations, EH&S, compliance, or research support organizations.
• Experience managing safety and regulatory compliance programs.
• Working knowledge of laboratory safety, chemical safety, biosafety, emergency preparedness, and occupational health and safety principles.
• Experience conducting risk assessments, inspections, incident investigations, and corrective-action management.
• Experience with purchasing, inventory management, and vendor relationships.
• Strong project management, organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently while building strong partnerships across multiple functions.
• Strong commitment to safety, compliance, operational excellence, and customer service.
• Proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities in a dynamic R&D environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day laboratory operations and support activities across research laboratories and shared laboratory spaces.
• Drive a strong EH&S culture by ensuring compliance with OSHA, Cal/OSHA, environmental, biosafety, and company requirements.
• Manage laboratory equipment programs, including maintenance, calibration, certification, asset tracking, and lifecycle planning.
• Conduct risk assessments, inspections, audits, incident investigations, and corrective action follow-up to maintain a safe and compliant environment.
• Partner with researchers, Quality, Facilities, Procurement, IT, and Site Leadership to improve laboratory effectiveness, operational efficiency, and compliance.
• Manage laboratory purchasing activities, including consumables, chemicals, laboratory supplies, equipment, and service contracts.

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Communication

Stakeholder management

Independent work

Safety compliance

Regulatory compliance

Vendor relationships

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field

Job description

Interested in a career that matters?

Are you passionate about creating safe, efficient, and compliant laboratory environments that enable scientific innovation? At Novonesis, we are looking for a Lab Management Leader to play a critical role in supporting our Davis R&D site and the talented scientists who are helping create biological answers to some of the world’s biggest challenges.

You will join a collaborative team responsible for Facilities, Maintenance, Safety, Quality, Lab Services, and Administrative support functions. As a trusted operational partner across the site, you will help ensure our laboratories, facilities, and support services operate safely and effectively, allowing researchers to focus on innovation and discovery. Working closely with colleagues across multiple functions, you’ll contribute directly to an environment where science can thrive and where continuous improvement is part of everyday work.

The Role & Your Impact

This is a highly visible role with a combination of operational, tactical, and continuous improvement responsibilities. The Lab Management Leader is responsible for overseeing laboratory operations, leading environmental health and safety programs, supporting regulatory compliance, and ensuring the overall effectiveness of laboratory support services across the Davis site.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead day-to-day laboratory operations and support activities across research laboratories and shared laboratory spaces.
• Drive a strong EH&S culture by ensuring compliance with OSHA, Cal/OSHA, environmental, biosafety, and company requirements.
• Manage laboratory equipment programs, including maintenance, calibration, certification, asset tracking, and lifecycle planning.
• Conduct risk assessments, inspections, audits, incident investigations, and corrective action follow-up to maintain a safe and compliant environment.
• Partner with researchers, Quality, Facilities, Procurement, IT, and Site Leadership to improve laboratory effectiveness, operational efficiency, and compliance.
• Manage laboratory purchasing activities, including consumables, chemicals, laboratory supplies, equipment, and service contracts.

What You’ll Need to Be Successful

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience supporting laboratory operations, EH&S, compliance, or research support organizations.
• Experience managing safety and regulatory compliance programs.
• Working knowledge of laboratory safety, chemical safety, biosafety, emergency preparedness, and occupational health and safety principles.
• Experience conducting risk assessments, inspections, incident investigations, and corrective-action management.
• Experience with purchasing, inventory management, and vendor relationships.
• Strong project management, organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently while building strong partnerships across multiple functions.
• Strong commitment to safety, compliance, operational excellence, and customer service.
• Proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities in a dynamic R&D environment.

Additional Skills & Interests We Value

• Experience within biotechnology, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, fermentation, or research environments.
• Knowledge of Cal/OSHA regulations, California workplace violence prevention requirements, hazardous materials management, biosafety principles, and laboratory compliance requirements.
• Experience managing laboratory equipment programs and service contracts.
• Professional certifications such as ASP, CSP, CHMM, CIH, OSHA 30, or similar.
• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience.
• A continuous improvement mindset combined with strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.

What We Offer

At Novonesis, you’ll have the opportunity to support groundbreaking research and make a meaningful impact on how our scientists work every day. You’ll collaborate with a diverse group of professionals, contribute to operational excellence initiatives, and help shape the future of laboratory management and safety at the Davis site.

We offer an environment built on collaboration, trust, and continuous learning, where employees are encouraged to bring ideas forward, develop professionally, and contribute to sustainable innovation. As the laboratory management function evolves, this role also offers the opportunity to help shape future processes and potentially lead a small Lab Services team.

Ways of Working / Working Conditions

• This is primarily an on-site position based in Davis, California. Regular on-site presence is essential to support laboratory operations, employees, equipment, and facilities.
• The team works a full-time Monday through Friday schedule. Some flexibility may be required to respond to urgent laboratory, safety, equipment, or site operational needs.
• The role may occasionally involve handling or moving laboratory supplies, equipment, or materials, using appropriate assistance or material-handling equipment when needed.
• Travel requirements are limited and generally include occasional training events, conferences, vendor meetings, regional meetings, or visits to other Novonesis locations. Expected travel is typically less than 10% of working time.

Compensation & Benefits

• Starting pay: $100,000-$120,000 based on experience
• 401(k) with up to a 9% company contribution
• Minimum of 3 weeksofvacation plus 12 holidays and 2 weeks of Wellness Time
• Health, Dental, Vision & Life insurance
• Healthcare savings accountoption
• Employeeassistanceprogram
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• All benefits begin on your first day

Relevant Information

Application deadline: 11/6/26

Our purpose guides the way

In Novonesis, we know that solutions rooted in biology can help solve humanity’s biggest challenges. Since we began more than a century ago, this has been our guide. It’s how we’ve gotten so far. And it’s how we’ll impact the future. Now, more than ever, the world needs change. And with biosolutions, the possibilities for transformation are endless. If our purpose resonates with you, we encourage you to apply.

Opportunities for everyone

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and equal opportunity for all applicants. Therefore we ask you to apply without a cover letter or photo and instead include a few sentences in your CV explaining your motivation for applying.

We make all employment decisions based on business needs and welcome candidates with a wide range of backgrounds, including ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.