Lab Operations Associate

Flagship Pioneering, Inc.•Cambridge, MA

3d•$88,000 - $121,000•Onsite

About The Position

Flagship Pioneering is a platform innovation company that invents and builds companies that change the world. We bring together the greatest scientific minds with entrepreneurial company builders and assemble the capital to allow them to take courageous leaps. Those big leaps in human health, sustainability and beyond exponentially accelerate scientific progress in areas ranging from disease detection and treatment and nature-positive agriculture to novel applications of AI that are driving the creation of new technologies. What sets Flagship apart is our ability to advance science and technology by uniting innovation, company creation, and capital investment under one roof in a way that is largely without precedent. Our scientific founders, entrepreneurial leaders, and professional capital managers are each aligned around an institutionalized process that enables us to innovate and transform for the benefit of people and planet. Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture. Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. We are seeking a highly motivated, proactive, and detail-oriented Laboratory Operations Associate to join our rapidly growing team. This role will support our research team by assisting with laboratory operations and safety, managing day-to-day needs, and implementing best practices in the lab. The candidate will help optimize R&D operations, support R&D purchasing, and provide support for ongoing projects. The successful candidate is highly organized, comfortable working in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment, and an integral part of a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary team. Excellent communication, record-keeping, and teamwork will be critical.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in sciences or related fields with at least 5 years’ experience or master’s with 3 years’ experience. Co-Ops and internships count toward years of experience
Must be available for onsite employment in Cambridge, MA
Initiative and ability to manage multiple, competing priorities, to think strategically and execute methodically
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to independently drive initiatives in a fast-paced environment
Demonstrated ability to take ownership of operational domains or projects, with accountability for outcomes across multiple workstreams
Experience with LIMS, ELNs, and other lab operations software
Knowledge on regulations relating to lab safety, specifically on biohazard and biological and chemical material handling
Experience managing or coordinating laboratory safety training programs and maintaining compliance documentation
Hands-on experience with bacterial culture techniques and maintaining reproducible growth conditions for protein expression
Commitment to quality and a team player mentality

Nice To Haves

Experience with molecular biology techniques a plus
Experience with biological and chemical permitting or RCRA certification a plus

Responsibilities

Own laboratory operations which would include ordering, receiving, shipping and inventory management
Support laboratory operations by cleaning and sanitizing, organizing, and maintaining laboratory space and supplies
Maintain and execute routine bacterial culture workflows to support consistent protein production, including media preparation, culture scaling, and basic monitoring
Contribute to formulation workflows by supporting safe handling, preparation, and evaluation of biological materials
Define and own biological and chemical waste disposal
Be a role model for a strong laboratory safety culture, including proactive ownership of training, compliance, and continuous improvement of safety practices
Own laboratory safety training programs, including onboarding of new hires and contractors, and ensure all certifications, documentation, and compliance requirements are current and audit-ready
Maintain and track safety certifications, training records, and compliance workflows to ensure adherence to both internal standards and regulatory requirements
Act as an operational leader for lab activities, coordinating logistics, and experimental readiness, including timelines, stakeholders, and execution
Enforce lab procedures and help manage lab-related documentation and organizational processes such as laboratory cleanouts and equipment calibrations
Anticipate, troubleshoot, and resolve problems associated with work within the laboratory setting, including occasional off-hours responses to laboratory emergencies
Other duties as assigned