Director, Lab Operations

AstraZeneca • Cambridge, MA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

This role is a chance to lead the end-to-end delivery of essential laboratory support services at AstraZeneca's Boston R&D Site, starting in Waltham and transitioning to a new Kendall Square location. The goal is to enable research teams to move faster with quality, safety, and compliance. The Director will lead a multidisciplinary team and a vendor ecosystem to design and deliver services, set standards, drive governance, and create clarity of ownership in a complex, matrixed environment. The role begins by ensuring excellence at the Waltham site while preparing for operational readiness and lab move activities for the transition to Kendall Square without loss of productivity or quality.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific field
• Minimum of 5 years' prior experience managing laboratory operations, preferably in biotech or pharmaceutical R&D.
• Minimum of 3 years' prior experience in people management; preferably in a matrixed environment.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management skills.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Ability to plan and organize using an in-depth working knowledge of how R&D operates.
• Ability to evaluate service requests and develop collaborative solutions.
• Knowledge of laboratory techniques, instrumentation, and scientific methodologies.
• Experience working in a multi-team environment within a global framework.
• Good understanding of building readiness and handover in relation to lab services.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex vendor ecosystems and operating within formal governance models.
• Proven track record to lead through change, navigate challenge constructively, and engage senior scientific team members.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience and knowledge with applying Six Sigma to R&D
• Experience working in a LEAN environment.
• Experience with procurement and financial tracking systems such as Coupa and SAP

Responsibilities

• Supervise delivery of Laboratory Operations services through internal staff and external service providers in key areas: lab support services, consumables and equipment life cycle management, and coordination of lab move activities.
• Apply in-depth technical and management expertise while leveraging applicable global R&D standards and ways of working.
• Ensure consistent delivery of essential lab support services by developing the team’s response to customer requests.
• Coordinate and optimize workflows for efficient and timely results.
• Direct mitigation activities during unplanned building system outages and ensure integrated scheduling of building system shutdowns.
• Develop and maintain long-term business relationships with key service providers and consumables vendors.
• Influence and promote deployment of new services and improvements.
• Coordinate staffing needs.
• Communicate regularly with all team members responsible for service delivery to provide guidance, mentoring, and training.
• Coordinate work flows & projects and build KPIs into new and existing services to ensure focus on measurable outcomes and contractual compliance.
• Mentor people, processes, and organizational needs cross-functionally.
• Collaborate with Procurement to obtain competitive bids for service contracts.
• Lead the Lab Operations cost base, including budget planning, forecasting, and variance management across internal teams and external suppliers.
• Ensure transparency with team members, including clear alignment between scope, cost, service levels, and value delivered.
• Lead customer communications initiatives, develop key messages, set expectations, and monitor satisfaction levels of collaborators.
• Provide problem identification, root cause analysis, expedited resolution, and appropriate follow-up.
• Collect voice of customer data from Research and Development scientists and leaders regarding current and potential new services as well as performance against expectations.
• Build strong relationships with other AZ R&D sites to provide input to and implement global ways of working.
• Champion a culture of effective communication, knowledge sharing, and partnership.
• Establish and run formal governance forums (operational, tactical, and strategic) for Lab Operations services.
• Ensure service changes, scope adjustments, and exceptions are reviewed through agreed governance pathways.
• Provide clear escalation paths and timely decision support to Site Operations leadership.

Benefits

• AstraZeneca is dedicated to being a Great Place to Work.
• Empowerment to push the boundaries of science, challenge convention and unleash entrepreneurial spirit.
• Commitment to lifelong learning, growth and development for all.
• An inclusive and equitable environment where people belong.
• Opportunity to realize the full breadth of your potential.
• Work that has the potential to change your life and improve countless others.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director