Laboratory Operations Technician

Activate; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Concerto Biosciences is seeking a Laboratory Operations Technician to support and optimize our lab infrastructure during move-in and ongoing operations in the Cambridge/Boston area. You will work closely with leadership and scientists to enforce rigorous, standardized practices across microbiology, molecular biology, and manufacturing workflows.

You will implement tracking systems, manage supplies, and help scale our lab capabilities as an early team member.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline (e.g. Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering).
• Strong interpersonal skills and strong written and verbal communication; ability to communicate clearly within a multifaceted community.
• Experience or familiarity with standard laboratory processes and protocols to maintain a highly functional lab environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for laboratory operations and maintenance.
• Build an understanding of laboratory resources, infrastructure, and personnel to troubleshoot operational needs.
• Coordinate with personnel to assess upcoming consumables and equipment needs.
• Manage and maintain a system for tracking equipment usage and maintenance schedules.
• Implement tracking and record-keeping for microbial assets, chemicals, equipment, and others.
• Manage procurement systems for uninterrupted availability of consumables (growth media, pipettes, disposables, glassware).
• Lead and support production of materials for experiments (growth media, kChip microwell arrays) with bespoke training.
• Ship and receive packages and communicate with collaborators.
• Contribute to team success; provide and receive feedback.
• Foster a clean, professional, and safe laboratory culture.
• Be prepared to wear many hats, including GMP manufacturing workflows for cosmetics and food.

Skills

Bookkeeping

Organizational skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline

Job description

Explore jobs at Activate and our cohort companies.

Employment status: Potential for contract position (est. 40 hours per week) or Full-Time

Concerto Biosciences pioneers science-first human health products powered by the most comprehensive and accurate map of the microbial world ever achieved. Enabled by our MIT-developed combinatorial screening platform kChip , our map incorporates 50+ million experimental measurements of microbial community behavior. These data train our proprietary AI, kAI , to expand the map further still. From this unique avenue, hundreds of robust, synergistic, and multifunctional microbe-based ingredient hits stand out in plain view. The first was ENS-002, a three-strain biotherapeutic that successfully completed Phase 1 clinical testing for atopic dermatitis. We’re now unleashing the full might of our platform and data in consumer skin, vaginal health, and nutrition. Our R&D rigor and our proprietary ingredients pipeline fuels strategic partnerships with global leaders and innovative brands across categories, bringing our discoveries to consumers worldwide.

We believe the best human communities, much like microbial communities, are diverse—composed of individuals with different backgrounds, cultures, genders, and beliefs. We are committed to building a company where you belong and where your voice is heard.

Role Description

As Concerto’s laboratory operations technician, you will maintain a smoothly operating laboratory infrastructure and support the needs of laboratory personnel. Initially, you will assist with the move to and set up of Concerto’s new lab, which includes two distinct spaces for discovery science and product manufacturing. Working closely with Concerto’s leadership and scientists, one of your primary responsibilities will be to maximize the efficiency of our science through refinement, continual optimization, and enforcement of rigorous, standardized laboratory practices. These practices span all aspects of Concerto’s experimental needs, including (1) microbiology and molecular biology experiments, (2) screening endeavors for the discovery of new microbial products (3) manufacturing of our microbially-derived products.

Anticipating and minimizing operational hurdles, your role will require diligent management of all laboratory operations: laboratory safety, vendor interfacing, inventory and biobank planning/tracking, and proactive assessments of laboratory equipment. We don’t expect you to have experience performing all of the responsibilities listed below. Indeed, just as you help Concerto grow, we hope to contribute to your intellectual and professional growth. You’ll have the opportunity to gain new skills by working with our world-class team, and you’ll also have the opportunity to advance within the company by taking on higher responsibility roles. As an early member of Concerto’s expanding team, you’ll play a critical role in developing Concerto’s culture and translating our core values into practice.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for laboratory operations and maintenance
• Build an extensive understanding of Concerto’s laboratory resources, infrastructure, and personnel to anticipate and troubleshoot operational needs within the laboratory
• Coordinate with laboratory personnel to assess upcoming consumables and equipment needs
• Manage and maintain a system for the tracking of equipment usage and their maintenance schedules
• Implement (and, as needed, help design)tracking and record-keeping systems of microbial assets, chemicals, equipment, and others
• Manage and maintain preparation and procurement systems for the uninterrupted availability of laboratory consumables such as growth media, pipettes/disposables, and clean glassware
• Lead and support the production of materials necessary for experiments, such as growth media and kChip microwell arrays (which will involve bespoke training upon joining)
• Ship and receive packages and communicate with collaborators
• Contribute to individual and team success; frequently give and receive feedback to and from the team
• Foster a clean, professional, and safe laboratory culture
• Be prepared to wear many hats assisting laboratory personnel in experiment prep-work and execution, including GMP manufacturing workflows for cosmetics and food
• A Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline (e.g. Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering)
• Ability to work on site at Concerto’s laboratory in the Cambridge/Boston, MA area
• Demonstrated excellence in meticulous bookkeeping and organizational skills
• A strong understanding of standard laboratory processes and protocols required to maintain a highly functional laboratory environment
• Ability to manage simultaneous responsibilities in a fast-paced environment, which often requires prioritization and exercising discretion
• Eagerness to learn and improve, e.g. by adopting new software or updated industry standards
• Strong interpersonal skills and strong written and verbal communication; an ability to communicate simply and clearly within a multifaceted community including expert and non-expert audiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a microbiology-specific wet research laboratory, including a mastery of aseptic technique
• Experience supporting a laboratory operations team
• Experience in creating and maintaining workplace standards (e.g. training manuals and laboratory organizational policies)
• cGMP manufacturing experience
• Clear understanding and familiarity with applicable Massachusetts and Federal regulations (e.g. OSHA, EPA, DOT)