Lab Research Manager

University of California San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

22h

About The Position

The Lab Manager is responsible for managing the research lab operations through organizing and delegating subordinate research associates and laboratory staff to support research projects. Manages administrative and laboratory procedures and activities, including contract and grants proposals, budget operations. Contributes to research projects including authorship, or co-authorship. The Lab Manager oversees the scientific, technical, and operational functions of a multi-project, multi-PI wet laboratory focused on infectious diseases. Receives objectives from faculty leadership and exercises independent judgment to determine the methods, priorities, staffing, and resources needed to meet them. Achieves research objectives primarily through the coordinated work of research staff by planning workloads, setting priorities, establishing performance expectations, and ensuring accountability for quality, safety, and timelines across concurrent studies. Serves as technical authority for high-throughput molecular workflows including qPCR, next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation, DNA extraction. Leads the development, validation, and laboratory-wide implementation of experimental methods, workflows, and operational standards. Establishes consistent documentation, data integrity, and quality control practices using electronic laboratory notebooks (Benchling) and sample tracking systems (Sample DB); integrates routine performance monitoring and analytics into laboratory operations; and implements continuous improvements to enhance reproducibility, efficiency, and reliability. The Lab Manager functions as the primary operational liaison among investigators, laboratory staff, collaborators, and institutional partners. Oversees the activities and staff of the laboratory including supervision of staff research associates, visiting scholars, and new laboratory trainees (e.g., postdoctoral fellows). Anticipates operational and technical risks, implements mitigation strategies within established policies, and recommends changes to laboratory procedures, systems, and infrastructure. Oversees shared laboratory space, equipment, and physical organization of the space; coordinates procurement and vendor relationships; and aligns operational plans, budgets, and timelines with program goals. Contributes to scientific deliverables, including protocols, reports, and presentations, and supports grant- and publication-aligned milestones. The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy. Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement. The salary range for this position is $98,300 - $210,300 (Annual Rate). To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in life sciences field
Minimum 7 years of experience planning, executing, and troubleshooting complex molecular biology workflows, including qPCR, NGS library preparation, DNA isolation, and optimization for low-input or inhibitor-rich samples
Minimum 5 years of supervisory or lead experience directing laboratory staff, setting priorities, assigning workloads, ensuring quality standards, and managing performance
Experience (5+ years) integrating run-level quality control metrics (e.g., qPCR metric performance, fragment size analysis, library yield thresholds) into workflow decisions, performance monitoring, and go/no-go determinations
Demonstrated experience (5+ years) developing, standardizing, and implementing laboratory SOPs, documentation standards, QC practices, and training programs to ensure reproducibility and compliance across staff and collaborators
Experience (5+ years) translating research objectives and program goals into operational staffing plans, resource allocations, workflow sequencing, and laboratory timelines, supporting multiple investigators and multi-project laboratories
Academic 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
Advanced knowledge of necessary lab safety procedures and requirements, as well as chemical or biological disposal guidelines
Advanced knowledge of a wide variety of specialized laboratory equipment
Leadership skills in employee supervision and HR administration to effectively lead and motivate others
Conflict resolution skills to resolve personnel issues and counsel assigned staff to develop cooperative working relationships
Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a complex, challenging environment
Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility, anticipates and effectively handles change
Ability to organize division operations in an efficient and effective manner through improving processes, procedures, and systems
Advanced knowledge of research discipline or instructional design to collaborate effectively with faculty and function as a resource to research and instructional associates
Proven analytical abilities and problem solving skills to quickly evaluate complex issues and identify options for resolution. Demonstrates sound judgement
Advanced interpersonal communication skills to effectively supervise staff
Advanced interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty and staff

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in life sciences field
Post-doctoral training in related area
10+ years experience in research, laboratory management, or multi-project operations in a research or clinical laboratory environment
Experience (3+ years) designing and delivering staff training programs, skills assessments, and cross-training
Experience coordinating multi-site or multi-institutional collaborations, including harmonizing metadata schemas, identifiers, documentation standards, and submission requirements
Experience validating or implementing laboratory automation platforms (e.g., liquid-handling systems, automated NGS library prep instruments) and leading lab-wide adoption
Experience participating in or preparing for regulatory inspections, biosafety audits, EH&S reviews, or compliance assessments, including documentation control and corrective action follow-through
Basic scripting capability (R or Python) to summarize QC metrics, automate reporting, or support compatibility with downstream analysis pipelines

Responsibilities

managing the research lab operations through organizing and delegating subordinate research associates and laboratory staff to support research projects
Manages administrative and laboratory procedures and activities, including contract and grants proposals, budget operations
Contributes to research projects including authorship, or co-authorship
oversees the scientific, technical, and operational functions of a multi-project, multi-PI wet laboratory focused on infectious diseases
Receives objectives from faculty leadership and exercises independent judgment to determine the methods, priorities, staffing, and resources needed to meet them
Achieves research objectives primarily through the coordinated work of research staff by planning workloads, setting priorities, establishing performance expectations, and ensuring accountability for quality, safety, and timelines across concurrent studies
Serves as technical authority for high-throughput molecular workflows including qPCR, next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation, DNA extraction
Leads the development, validation, and laboratory-wide implementation of experimental methods, workflows, and operational standards
Establishes consistent documentation, data integrity, and quality control practices using electronic laboratory notebooks (Benchling) and sample tracking systems (Sample DB); integrates routine performance monitoring and analytics into laboratory operations; and implements continuous improvements to enhance reproducibility, efficiency, and reliability
functions as the primary operational liaison among investigators, laboratory staff, collaborators, and institutional partners
Oversees the activities and staff of the laboratory including supervision of staff research associates, visiting scholars, and new laboratory trainees (e.g., postdoctoral fellows)
Anticipates operational and technical risks, implements mitigation strategies within established policies, and recommends changes to laboratory procedures, systems, and infrastructure
Oversees shared laboratory space, equipment, and physical organization of the space; coordinates procurement and vendor relationships; and aligns operational plans, budgets, and timelines with program goals
Contributes to scientific deliverables, including protocols, reports, and presentations, and supports grant- and publication-aligned milestones