Laboratory Manager

Walker Cole International; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Walker Cole International is recruiting a Lab Manager in San Francisco to run the day‑to‑day lab operations and help scale the setup as the patient program grows. This is an early hire where you’ll shape how the lab works and directly influence patient outcomes.

You’ll own equipment, safety, SOPs, sample tracking, and work closely with scientists, manufacturing and regulatory teams to build a compliant, efficient lab in a fast‑moving biotech environment.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or related field.
• Hands-on biotech/pharma lab experience with leadership or running a lab.
• Experience with RNA/mRNA workflows and molecular biology lab work.
• Strong grasp of lab safety, biosafety, and good documentation practice.
• Able to thrive in a fast-moving, early-stage environment.

Responsibilities

• Run day-to-day lab operations: equipment, maintenance, calibration, inventory, ordering and vendor relationships.
• Help set up and scale the San Francisco lab as the team and patient numbers grow.
• Own lab safety, biosafety and EHS compliance.
• Write and maintain SOPs, documentation and sample tracking systems.
• Support scientists with molecular workflows and QC.
• Collaborate with scientific, manufacturing and regulatory colleagues on lab operations.

Skills

Lab operations

SOP writing

Documentation & QC

Safety & biosafety

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS or MS in biology/molecular biology/biochemistry or related field

Tools

LIMS

Electronic lab notebook

Job description

Our client is a stealth-stage San Francisco biotech who is now building out their San Francisco lab and are hiring a Lab Manager to run it.

The role

You’ll own the day-to-day running of the lab and help scale it as the patient program grows. This is an early hire, so you’ll shape how the lab works rather than inherit someone else’s setup. The work done in this lab connects directly to individual patients.

What you’ll do

• Run daily lab operations: equipment, maintenance and calibration, inventory, ordering and vendor relationships
• Help set up and scale the San Francisco lab as the team and patient numbers grow
• Own lab safety, biosafety and EHS compliance
• Write and maintain SOPs, documentation and sample tracking systems
• Support scientists with molecular workflows such as RNA work, sample processing and QC
• Act as the go-to person for how the lab runs, working closely with scientific, manufacturing and regulatory colleagues

What you’ll bring

• BS or MS in biology, molecular biology, biochemistry or a related field
• Several years of hands‑on lab experience in biotech or pharma, including time managing or running a lab
• Experience with RNA, mRNA, vaccine or molecular biology lab work
• A strong grasp of lab safety, biosafety and good documentation practice
• Organized, practical and comfortable in a fast‑moving, early‑stage environment

Nice to have

• Experience setting up a new lab or scaling one at a startup
• Exposure to GMP, GLP or CLIA environments
• LIMS or electronic lab notebook experience