Director of Facilities and Laboratory Operations

Olema Oncology•San Francisco, CA

2d•$210,000 - $220,000•Onsite

About The Position

As the Director of Facilities, Laboratory Operations reporting to the VP of IT, Real Estate, and Facilities Lab Operations, you will play a critical leadership role in shaping and scaling the environments that power Olema’s science and innovation. You will lead the strategy, operations, and long-term planning for Olema’s facilities and laboratory infrastructure across multiple sites, ensuring our spaces evolve alongside the company’s ambitious growth trajectory. In this role, you will own the full lifecycle of facilities and laboratory operations — from driving day-to-day operational excellence to leading complex, high-impact initiatives including laboratory buildouts, expansions, and office and lab relocations. You will oversee three Olema locations spanning BSL-2 laboratory environments and corporate office space, creating safe, efficient, and collaborative environments where teams can do their best work. As a trusted cross-functional partner to Research, IT, Real Estate, Finance and Executive Leadership, you will help build the operational foundation that enables Olema to scale with agility, support groundbreaking science, and foster a culture of innovation, safety, and continuous improvement. This role is based in our San Francisco office and will require 15% travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required
Strategic Facilities Manager (SFM) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certifications required
Proven track record of successful facilities leadership experience
Expert-level knowledge of facilities, laboratory operations, and EHS in biotech or life sciences
Strong project management, planning, organization, and time management skills
Minimum of 10+ years of experience with a minimum of 5 years of facilities management experience, including oversight of lab environments
Created and ran an EHS program for a BSL2 Lab a must have
Demonstrated ownership of lab buildouts relocations, and real estate execution
Hands-on facilities, lab operations, and leadership experience who can move seamlessly between strategic planning and tactical execution, particularly in challenging laboratory settings that require sound judgment, calm decision-making, and rigorous operational discipline
Demonstrated experience working in a demanding and fast-paced lab environment where uptime, safety, compliance, and responsiveness are critical, and where competing priorities and situational ambiguity are the norm rather than the exception
Highly organized with strong attention to detail, clarity, and accuracy
Solutions-oriented with a meticulous eye for detail and thrives in a fast-paced, problem-solving environment
Proactive, self-motivated, and results-oriented with a "bias for action"
Collaborative team player who thrives in a cross-functional environment
Flexible and adaptable to evolving business needs and technology trends
Excellent written verbal and interpersonal communication skills and ability to adapt communication styles to varied internal and external partners

Responsibilities

Lead and execute all facilities operations and physical infrastructure activities across Olema’s locations
Own the execution of Real Estate strategy, including site readiness, lease transitions, expansions, consolidations, and exits
Lead office and laboratory moves and building relocations, with full accountability for planning, execution, risk management, and stabilization
Direct laboratory and office buildouts end-to-end, from programming and design through permitting, construction, commissioning, and occupancy
Execute capital projects in active lab environments while maintaining safety, compliance, and continuity of scientific operations
Develop and enforce facilities standards, policies, procedures, and SOPs
Own physical security programs, including access control, badging, alarms, vendor oversight, and incident response
Control facilities operating and capital budgets, including forecasting, spend management, and cost accountability
Lead emergency planning and response across all facilities
Direct shipping and receiving operations, including Hazardous Materials and Dangerous Goods compliance
Own all workplace services across all locations, including office supplies, beverage and food programs, janitorial services, and waste management, with accountability for vendor performance, cost control, and service quality
Support the research team with all infrastructure needs, including vendor relationships and management, service and maintenance of scientific equipment, hazardous waste management, and cell culture support
Monitor critical systems and provide 24-hour on-call support in case of system failure
Develop and maintain awareness of health and safety issues within the company, ensure compliance with company policies through appropriate training of employees, and manage safety consultants effectively.
Manage and Maintain Cryo storage, liquid nitrogen, compressed gas system, emergency generator system, vacuum and compressed air systems
Manage critical laboratory systems, including but not limited to HVAC, monitoring, systems and equipment maintenance, to ensure uninterrupted functionality and optimal performance
Oversee all aspects of shipping and receiving operations, including inventory management, packaging, and transportation logistics, to facilitate efficient and timely movement of goods
Lead and execute laboratory operations to ensure uninterrupted, compliant research support
Accountable owner of Olema’s Environmental Health and Safety program
Design, implement, enforce, and continuously improve EHS policies, procedures, training, and compliance programs
Lead all regulatory inspections, audits, and agency interactions
Own hazardous waste permitting, reporting, corrective actions, and compliance documentation
Embed EHS requirements into lab design, construction, moves, and daily operations
Direct EHS consultants and contractors with clear accountability for outcomes
Maintain, train and scale EHS programs supporting BSL-2 laboratory environments