Laboratory Operations Shift Manager

emeraldcloudlab; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Emerald Cloud Laboratory is seeking a Shift Manager to lead a 15-20 person shift in our Austin facility. You will set high standards, ensure performance metrics are met on time and within cost, and partner with operations leadership to drive efficiency.

This fast-paced startup environment requires resilience, servant leadership, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining safety and quality.

Qualifications

• Must possess servant leadership mindset and ability to lead 15-20 person shift.
• Excellent communication with all levels of management and staff.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Able to follow detailed written instructions and maintain safety/compliance.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a shift of 15-20 people and meet performance metrics.
• Plan, direct, supervise and control lab operations and fiscal functions.
• Manage daily work, monitor experiment queue, ensure protocols are followed.
• Maintain safety, cleanliness and adherence to policies; staff scheduling and timecards.

Skills

Servant leadership

Communication

Project management

Attention to detail

Team leadership

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in industrial engineering or Operations Management

Job description

The Team

The Laboratory Operations (LabOps) team is charged with executing the logistical aspects of our laboratory processes. All scientifically relevant aspects of each experiment are executed using robotics and automation, and it is the job of LabOps to set up and maintain the robotic instrumentation on which the entire lab runs. The LabOps team relentlessly clears the queue of customer and internal experiments and keeps the automated instrumentation running at all times while focusing on precision and efficiency. The entire CMU Cloud Lab facility is run in a systematic way and the team's purview encompasses all experiments that enable this, from maintenance and control of instruments to inventory intake and receiving. The LabOps team interfaces with many teams at the CMU Cloud Lab which rely on the Operations team to be the voice of high-quality feedback as they seek to streamline the internal systems on which the Cloud Lab runs.

The Position

As a Shift Manager, you will be responsible for managing a shift of approximately 15-20 individuals. As the leader of this team, you will be responsible for setting high standards for your shift while ensuring all performance metrics are met on time and within cost. In this role you’ll act as a key business partner to operations leadership and cross‑functional partners, assisting with driving efficiency and implementing scalable processes. This position requires a results‑oriented, high‑energy individual with the stamina and mental agility to thrive in a fast‑paced startup environment.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise a shift consisting of approximately 15-20 people while ensuring all company performance metrics are met.
• Plan, direct, supervise and control the execution of all business, technical, and fiscal functions of the Lab Operations department as deemed necessary by senior leadership.
• Manage daily work in the facility and monitor the queue of experiments to ensure that all protocols are addressed in a timely manner.
• Ensure that work produced by shift members is in accordance with company standards.
• Track and manage operator performance, attendance, training, and career development.
• Serve as the point person for any questions that arise on shift.
• Enforce facility policies and procedures including those involving safety and compliance.
• Staffing, scheduling, and approving timecards.
• Maintaining a safe and clean workspace
• Effectively work with other Shift Managers to ensure a smooth transition of shifts in a 24/7 environment.
• All other duties as deemed necessary.

About You

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills:

• A servant leadership mindset
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced fulfillment, production, or manufacturing environment with defined success metrics
• A demonstrated history of success as leader of small and mid‑sized teams
• Exceptional project management skills
• Ability to follow detailed written instructions.
• Excellent communication skills with all levels of management and staff
• Keen attention to detail, highly organized, and diligent
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including weekends, nights, and holidays.
• The ability to take the initiative in problem‑solving with minimal supervision.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• 1-4 years of leadership experience working in either:
• A fast‑paced fulfillment center environment (Warehouse, Third Party Logistics, etc)
• A regulated manufacturing industry (Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, Biotechnology, Automotive, etc)
• Clinical testing labs or hospital
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in industrial engineering or Operations Management
• Six Sigma Certification (Green or Black Belt)
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing or Toyota Production System principles

About ECL

The Emerald Cloud Laboratory (ECL) enables life scientists to move out of the lab, and to conduct research entirely from a computer. Stepping away from manual completion of experiments at the bench, scientists on the ECL leverage the remote, automated execution of all standard biology and chemistry experiments in Emerald’s industrial lab facilities, working within a software platform for all stages of research workflows, from experimental design to data analysis.

www.emeraldcloudlab.com