Laboratory Operations and Vivarium Manager

black.ai; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare, dental, and vision

401(k) with company match

20 days PTO/year + federal holidays

Daily meals and snacks on-site

Professional development support

A chance to work on impactful, life‑g…

Job summary

Coherence Neuro is building an integrated biology laboratory, rodent vivarium, and engineering workshop in San Francisco. The Laboratory Operations and Vivarium Manager will set up equipment, create stock systems, and establish safety and regulatory controls to run a compliant, scalable facility.

The role covers animal husbandry coordination, procurement, vendor management, and maintenance across biology, vivarium, and engineering spaces in a fast-paced startup.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in biology, animal science, or related field.
• Experience in laboratory or vivarium operations in biotech/R&D.
• Familiarity with IACUC-regulated animal research environments.

Responsibilities

• Install and commission equipment across biology lab and vivarium; establish initial stock and consumables inventory.
• Design and implement safety procedures, SOPs, and regulatory requirements for housing and working with animals; support IACUC development.
• Plan space allocation and access control as the facility scales across biology, engineering, and research teams.
• Maintain animal care standards; serve as operational contact for IACUC compliance.
• Coordinate animal ordering, housing, and record keeping; coordinate with veterinarians and external vivarium partners.
• Establish and maintain inventory systems for lab, vivarium, and engineering supplies; manage purchasing.
• Maintain service records for equipment; oversee maintenance, calibration, and repair.
• Support engineering lab space bring-up with tool inventory and equipment upkeep.
• Design and implement biosafety programs and lab safety protocols.

Skills

Organization

Documentation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology/animal science/engineering

Tools

LIMS

Inventory software

Job description

Job Title: Laboratory Operations and Vivarium Manager

Location: San Francisco, CA

Type: Full-Time (on-site)

Coherence Neuro is a highly interdisciplinary neurotechnology company solving some of the most challenging biological and medical problems that remain unmet. Our goal is to develop technologies that significantly increase the quality and length of life for those with debilitating and deadly cancers in the brain and body. We are backed by the best global venture capital firms, and are scaling our team across multiple sites to bring our products to those who need it as quickly and safely as possible. If you're driven to push the boundaries of engineering and science and want to help build something that genuinely changes lives, we want to hear from you. We value diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to join us in our mission. Learn about our team

We are establishing an integrated biology laboratory, rodent vivarium, and engineering workshop space and are looking for a detail-oriented, hands-on Laboratory Operations and Vivarium Manager to bring them fully into operation. This person will set up equipment, establish stock and inventory systems, and design and implement all safety procedures and legal/regulatory requirements needed to house animals and run a compliant lab and workshop — then own the day-to-day operational infrastructure going forward: animal husbandry coordination, laboratory and workshop safety, inventory and procurement, equipment maintenance, vendor management, and documentation. This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys building systems from the ground up in a fast-paced startup environment, and who is equally comfortable in a vivarium, a BSL-2 lab, and a machine shop.

Key Responsibilities

• Install and commission equipment across the biology laboratory and rodent vivarium and establish initial stock and consumables inventory
• Design and implement all safety procedures, SOPs, and legal/regulatory requirements needed to house and work with research animals, including supporting IACUC protocol development and approval
• Plan space allocation and access control across biology, engineering, and research teams as the facility scales
• Ensure appropriate standards of animal care and husbandry; serve as the operational point of contact for IACUC-related compliance
• Coordinate animal ordering, receipt, housing, and associated record keeping
• Coordinate with contract veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other external vivarium partners
• Establish and maintain inventory systems for biolaboratory, vivarium, and engineering lab supplies and consumables
• Manage purchasing across lab and workshop stock, ensuring critical supplies remain stocked
• Maintain service records for lab equipment and workshop/machine shop tools; oversee preventative maintenance, calibration, and repair across both
• Support engineering lab space bring-up, including tool inventory and equipment upkeep
• Design and implement BSL-2 laboratory safety and biosafety programs
• Design and implement laboratory safety protocols, training, and PPE programs for engineering staff
• Establish and maintain chemical inventory and hazardous/biohazardous/e-waste disposal programs across all three facilities
• Track required safety, animal-use, biosafety, and occupational health training/certifications for all lab and workshop personnel
• Coordinate occupational health requirements for animal research personnel
• Support inspection readiness and maintain audit-ready records and facilities
• Maintain centralized records of permits, registrations, certifications, inspections, and renewal dates
• Identify operational gaps across all facility areas and proactively develop practical solutions
• Help establish effective organizational systems as the lab and workshop grow

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in biology, animal science, biomedical/mechanical engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience
• Prior experience in laboratory operations, vivarium operations, or facilities/lab operations at a biotech, medtech, or similar R&D environment
• Experience with rodent husbandry and vivarium operations
• Familiarity with IACUC-regulated animal research environments and laboratory animal welfare requirements, including protocol development
• Experience coordinating with contract veterinarians, IACUC resources, occupational health providers, and external EHS consultants
• Experience supporting BSL-2 laboratory operations
• Experience with lab/workshop inventory, purchasing, equipment maintenance, and vendor coordination
• Working knowledge of bio and engineering lab safety practices: chemical handling, hazardous waste, biological safety, and engineering lab safety
• Strong organizational and documentation skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple operational priorities independently across biology, vivarium, and engineering spaces
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable working hands-on in vivarium, lab, and workshop/shop-floor environments

Bonus Skills

• Experience setting up a new lab, vivarium, or engineering/prototyping space from scratch
• Familiarity with LIMS, inventory/purchasing, or compliance software
• AALAS certification (ALAT, LAT, LATG) or other relevant laboratory animal science training
• Experience maintaining equipment traceability and lifecycle records to support design controls and regulatory submissions
• Prior experience in an early-stage biotech/medtech/hardware startup

Benefits

• Healthcare, dental, and vision
• 401(k) with company match
• 20 days PTO/year + federal holidays
• Daily meals and snacks on-site
• Professional development support
• A chance to work on impactful, life-changing technologies in a dynamic, innovative environment.