Lead Instructor

BioversityMA; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Bioversity, a Boston-based nonprofit, seeks a Lead Instructor to deliver hands-on biotech lab training and job-search readiness across Boston cohorts. You will own the student experience, from lab skills to mock interviews, with MCPHS providing curriculum support; this role is predominantly on-site in Dorchester, with collaboration across the Bioversity team.

Ideal candidates bring 5–7+ years in biotech labs or manufacturing, teaching or workforce development experience, and Spanish language

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years hands-on biotech lab or manufacturing experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or equivalent.
• Strong office, LMS (Blackboard), and AI tool proficiency.
• Willingness to teach in-person cohorts in Boston.

Responsibilities

• Lead hands-on lab skill instruction and SOP basics.
• Guide career readiness, resumes, interviews, and networking.
• Manage curriculum updates with MCPHS support.
• Coordinate with local employers and Boston‑based team.

Skills

Lab operations

Biotech manufacturing

Teaching / training

Curriculum development

Coaching

Communication

LMS Blackboard

Office suite

AI tools

Spanish (preferred)

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences

Tools

Blackboard

Job description

Bioversity is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs free, stipend-supported eight-week training programs, preparing un- and underemployed adults from low-income households for entry-level roles in the life sciences industry. Our graduates go on to work in lab operations, facilities, supply chain, and biomanufacturing roles across Massachusetts' biotech ecosystem. We believe our students are untapped talent — adults ready to enter the industry through non-traditional pathways.

Bioversity is seeking a Lead Instructor to serve as the primary educator for our Boston-based cohorts. This is a rare role for someone who wants to bring their real-world biotech lab experience directly into the classroom — teaching hands-on technical lab skills alongside job search readiness and professional development content. Bioversity’s curriculum is already developed by our academic partner at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and has been taught for the past three years. MCPHS will continue to provide administrative and academic support to the Lead Instructor.

You will teach every Boston cohort (5 cohorts/year, 8 weeks each), owning the full arc of the student experience from lab skill development through mock interviews and career fair prep. You will also spend time outside the classroom refining the program, supporting the Bioversity team, and planning for future cohorts.

This is a mostly in-person role, with a requirement to be on-site Monday through Thursday at our training lab in Dorchester each week class is in session.

Key Responsibilities

Lab & Technical Skill Instruction

• Lab inventory management, shipping, and receiving
• Basic lab maintenance (e.g. defrost freezers, calibrate pH meters, sterilize incubators, clean vacuum traps)
• Volume conversions, solutions, and buffer preparation
• Tissue culture and aseptic technique basics
• Standard Operating Procedures
• GMP and GDP basics

Career & Job Search Readiness Instruction

• Cover letter and resume writing (multiple draft cycles with 1:1 feedback)
• Networking fundamentals, elevator pitches, thank-you note writing
• Career fair preparation and follow-up
• Job tracker/job board use and real-world application strategy

Professional & Workplace Skills

• Professional email writing (including responsible use of AI tools)
• Workplace fundamentals: navigating change, SMART goals, personal SWOT analysis, good work habits for a new job

Additional Responsibilities

• Curriculum ownership: Conduct regular reviews and updates of the training curriculum to keep pace with evolving employer needs, hiring trends, and student outcomes data.
• Employer engagement: Work closely with the Manager of Student Success to understand the specific skills and competencies hiring employers are seeking in entry-level candidates, and translate that feedback into curriculum updates.
• Student support: Deliver 1:1 coaching and feedback as built into the current schedule.
• Cross-team coordination: Partner with Bioversity's Boston team on scheduling, guest speakers/employer visits, and cohort logistics.

Who You Are

• Worked in a biotech company, ideally in lab operations, facilities, or biomanufacturing, and know what skills are needed to succeed on Day 1 and beyond in these roles
• Equally comfortable running a hands-on pH lab, coaching someone through their first professional interview, or building lesson plans
• Brings industry expertise alongside industry connections to further Bioversity’s mission
• Likes moving quickly, working on a small team, and wants to try new things
• Eager to support a small, mission-driven non-profit that is making a real impact on underserved communities
• Happy to work every day in-person, directly supporting the success of each Bioversity student

Required Qualifications

• 5-7+ years of hands-on experience in a biotech/life sciences lab, operations, and/or manufacturing environment
• High-level ability with entry-level lab & manufacturing competencies (solution prep, aseptic technique, cold chain handling, SOP-based work)
• Strong skills with the Office suite, LMS platforms (we use Blackboard), and AI productivity tools
• Bachelor's degree in a life sciences field or equivalent practical experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience in workforce development, adult education, or career services
• Prior teaching, training, or mentoring experience
• Experience working with underrepresented and low-income populations
• Fluent in Spanish

Why Join Bioversity?

Our small team makes a huge impact each day by connecting people who want to work with the training they need to pursue a new biotech career path. In this role, you will have the ability to change lives and see the impact of your work immediately. We are a nimble, fast-moving organization that seeks hard workers who bring new ideas and are always looking for a better way to do something.

We embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do at Bioversity. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills and views to best serve our students and employers.

Bioversity offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits.