Research Laboratory Operation Manager - 141985

San Diego Supercomputer Center; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 98,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego Health Sciences seeks a Research Laboratory Operations Manager to oversee multiple ophthalmology labs, ensure safety compliance, and coordinate equipment and staff. You will train personnel, support grant writing, and act as a department-wide safety and operations resource.

Under supervision, you will supervise Daneman Lab staff, develop standardized procedures, and liaise with Facilities Management on space changes and equipment setup. This is a 100% appointment at career status.

Qualifications

• Nine years of related experience or a Bachelor’s plus five years in a relevant field.
• Advanced knowledge of a wide variety of specialized laboratory equipment.
• Strong leadership and communication skills for supervising staff.

Responsibilities

• Oversee management of basic science research facilities across multiple labs.
• Serve as Lab Manager to the Research Director and large laboratories.
• Act as department safety officer and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
• Coordinate equipment purchasing and inventory across labs and shared spaces.
• Train laboratory personnel and provide onboarding support for new managers.

Skills

Laboratory management

Safety compliance

Staff supervision

Data analysis

Grant writing

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in related area

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Payroll Title LAB RSCH SUPV 2

Department OPHTHALMOLOGY

Hiring Pay Scale $98,150.00 - $147,800.00 / Yr.

Worksite Shiley Eye Institute

Appointment Type Career

Appointment Percent 100%

Union Uncovered

Total Openings 1

Work Schedule 8 hrs/day, Monday-Friday

#141985 Research Laboratory Operation Manager

Filing Deadline Mon 11/9/2026

Description

The Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego is the only academic eye center in the region offering the most advanced treatments across all areas of eye care. Our world class clinicians, surgeons, scientists and staff are dedicated to excellence, and providing the best possible patient care to prevent, treat and cure eye diseases. Our research is at the forefront of developing new methods for diagnosis and treatments of eye diseases and disorders. In addition to educating the leaders of tomorrow, we are committed to serving the San Diego and global community. Under general supervision of the Operations Director, the Research Laboratory Operations Manager will oversee the management of basic science research facilities within the Department of Ophthalmology, including the Viterbi, Jacobs, and Hamilton laboratory spaces. This role will serve as Lab Manager to the Research Director and the department's largest laboratory (the Daneman Lab), with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Principal Investigator of the Daneman Lab, who provides programmatic and scientific direction to the unit and to the Operations Manager. This role will act as primary safety officer for the department, responsible for compliance with UC San Diego safety regulations, and will ensure laboratory activities are performed in accordance with best practices, including instrument operation, general safety protocols, and results documentation. Works with the Principal Investigator of the Daneman Lab to oversee daily activities and staff, including execution of research projects and provision of instructional support to lab personnel. Serves as supervisor for lab personnel within the Daneman Lab. Creates an inclusive and welcoming laboratory environment and cultivates a culture of continuous process improvement by recommending changes to department and laboratory policies and procedures. Serves as a department-wide resource and training lead for incoming lab managers across all department laboratories (including Viterbi, Jacobs, and Hamilton), providing onboarding support, ongoing guidance, and serving on interview committees as needed. Develops and standardizes lab procedures and protocols and ensures appropriate documentation practices are maintained across labs. Assists with grant writing in support of the Daneman Lab and, as capacity allows other department labs. Communicates department-wide laboratory updates, including scheduled shutdowns and related operational notices. Represents the department in laboratory inventory audits. Manages equipment purchasing for all labs within the department. Oversees placement and organization of equipment in shared spaces, including corridors and the freezer farm. Trains department personnel on the use of shared laboratory equipment. Coordinates with the logistics team on the receipt and setup of incoming equipment. Serves as the department's laboratory safety officer, acting as the primary representative for all safety audits and inspections. Maintains oversight of departmental chemical inventory and ensures proper storage practices, including appropriate anchoring and containment, in accordance with UC San Diego safety standards. Assists individual labs in coordinating with Facilities Management on laboratory space changes, modifications, and related infrastructure needs. Provides technical training to doctoral students, M.D. and Ph.D. postdoctoral fellows, and laboratory technicians. Receives assignments in the form of objectives, with defined goals and latitude in determining the process for achieving them. Oversees the activities and staff of a laboratory, including supervision of research and instructional associates and laboratory support staff across a large, multi-lab environment. Supervises the development and execution of major or multidisciplinary research projects, as well as instructional and experimental design. Recommends changes to department policies and practices and identifies and responds to operational risks. Additional duties as assigned by department leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

• Nine (9) years of related experience, education/training, OR an Bachelor’s degree in related area plus five (5) years of related experience/training.
• Advanced knowledge of a wide variety of specialized laboratory equipment.
• Advanced knowledge of necessary lab safety procedures and requirements, as well as chemical disposal guidelines.
• Focus of knowledge and skills dependent on area of specialty (laboratory research or instructional / experimental design). Advanced and highly specific knowledge and expertise associated with conducting and reporting on scientific research experiments and findings.
• Solid leadership skills associated with planning work assignments, establishing priorities, scheduling instructional space, and ensuring completion of multiple projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty and staff.
• Solid knowledge of data acquisition and analysis techniques.
• Advanced knowledge of research discipline or instructional design to collaborate effectively with faculty and function as a resource to research and instructional associates.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills to effectively supervise all levels of staff.
• Strong abilities to conduct and report on scientific experiments and findings.
• Proficiency with Medical Terminology.
• Knowledge of clinical research.
• Demonstrated ability to respond and adapt to new and changing situation.
• Experience with tissue culture and various laboratory assays (e.g., PCR, Western Blot, immunohistochemistry).
• Demonstrated ability to find original and effective solutions to problems.

Preferred Qualification

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Healthcare professional experience.
• Knowledge of UC San Diego mission, policies and procedures.
• Demonstration of intellectual productivity through prior authorship or co-authorship in significant scientific publications.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $81,600 - $147,800 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $39.08 - $70.79

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role includes experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health Sciences is comprised of our School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and our Student Health and Well-Being Department. We have long been at the forefront of translational - or "bench-to-bedside" - research, transforming patient care through discovery and innovation leading to new drugs and technologies. Translational research is carried out every day in the hundreds of clinical trials of promising new therapies offered through UC San Diego Health, and in the drive of our researchers and clinician-scientists who are committed to having a significant impact on patient care. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

• \"Misconduct\" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace