Sample Management Supervisor

Avantor•Cambridge, MA

1d•$89,000 - $100,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Opportunity: In this role, you will report to the Territory Area Manager and will work closely with the Avantor’s Advanced Laboratory Services professionals to serve our customers by performing customized, mission-based lab work and research protocols that help return time back to science. Location: Cambridge, MA Shift: Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM–4:00 PM Salary range: $89,000–$100,000, with eligibility for a 5% annual ICP bonus Benefits: Health & Wellness Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage Wellness programs Eligible for medical coverage starting Day 1 Time Off Paid Time Off (PTO) Company-paid holidays Choice holidays Financial Well-Being Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) Commuter benefits 401(k) retirement plan Tuition assistance Employee Stock Purchase Plan discount What we’re looking for Education: Associate or Bachelor’s degree in a science or business-related field preferred. Experience: 4–5+ years of experience in laboratory operations and/or sample/compound management/automation and digital workflow systems. 3–5 years of experience in a regulated environment (GxP, GLP, GMP, CLIA). Previous supervisory or team leadership experience in a laboratory setting. Technical Skills: Advanced knowledge of sample handling, storage, shipping, and inventory management. Experience with ERP/LIMS systems; Titian Mosaic required. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams. DOT and IATA certifications required; IMDG, Hazwoper, OSHA, CPR, and spill containment training desired. Knowledge of SAP, Oracle, Power BI, and other inventory management systems Laboratory Automation & Digital Workflow Proficiency Required Core Competencies Strong leadership, mentoring, and team development capabilities. Excellent customer service and stakeholder management skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Close attention to detail, organization, and data accuracy. Ability to prioritize, multitask, and adapt in a fast‑paced environment. Confident decision-making and troubleshooting skills. Ability to lift 50 lbs and meet all required safety and background requirements. How you will thrive and create an impact Avantor’s Advanced Laboratory Services team is a crucial part of the Avantor Services group serving over 500 customers in biopharma, pharmaceutical, educational, industrial, and high-tech industries with customizable, flexible solutions and end-to-end laboratory operations support. In this role you will: Serve as the primary onsite point of contact for the customer, managing daily communication, reporting, issue resolution, and service delivery in alignment with contractual requirements. Lead, supervise, coach, and mentor a team of Sample Management Specialists and laboratory technicians while maintaining accountability for performance, quality, and compliance. Set daily priorities and allocate resources to ensure efficient execution of sample and compound management workflows, balancing supervisory responsibilities with hands‑on laboratory support. Oversee the end‑to-end management of high‑value samples and compounds, including receipt, handling, storage, tracking, preparation, shipping, and disposition in a regulated (GxP/GLP/GMP/CLIA) environment. Ensure strict adherence to SOPs, SOWs, safety standards, and customer-documented instructions, maintaining full regulatory compliance and data integrity. Manage and optimize laboratory automation workflows, including automated sample storage systems, liquid handling platforms, robotics-enabled processes, and digital tracking tools to improve throughput and reduce error rates. Utilize LIMS/ERP and sample management systems (e.g., Titian Mosaic or equivalent) to support automated inventory control, chain-of-custody tracking, KPI reporting, and workflow optimization. Train laboratory personnel on the proper use of automated equipment, digital systems, and technology-enabled workflows, ensuring documented competency and compliance. Conduct routine audits of automated and manual sample storage locations to verify accuracy, labeling, traceability, and environmental conditions. Lead continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to replace or enhance manual processes through automation, standardized workflows, and system enhancements. Analyze operational data and automation metrics to track productivity, quality, timeliness, and service-level performance, implementing corrective actions when needed. Develop, update, and maintain SOPs, KPIs, SPIs, training records, and quality documentation, including automation-related procedures. Act as the first point of escalation for deviations related to sample handling, automation failures, quality events, or safety concerns. Prepare for and support customer and regulatory audits, serving as the onsite lead for audit response, documentation, and corrective action planning. Oversee routine equipment maintenance, calibration, and validation for both manual and automated laboratory instruments. Perform hands-on laboratory duties during staffing gaps or high-volume periods to maintain operational continuity. Drive cost savings and cost-avoidance initiatives through process automation, workflow standardization, and operational efficiency improvements. Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Why Avantor? Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science. The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor. We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world. Apply today! Pay Transparency: The expected pre-tax pay for this position is $86,000.00 - $138,000.00 Actual pay may differ depending on relevant factors such as prior experience and geographic location. EEO Statement: We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the Know Your Rights poster. Privacy Policy: We will use the personal information that you have submitted to us in order to consider your application for the relevant role. Your privacy is important to us. Please click here for our Privacy Policy which explains the purposes for which we will use your personal information and the ways in which we will handle and retain your information. It also explains the rights you have in relation to your information, and how to contact us with any queries or requests. 3rd Party Non-Solicitation Policy: By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation. Avantor®, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries we serve. One of our greatest strengths comes from having a global infrastructure that is strategically located to support the needs of our customers. Our global footprint enables us to serve more than 225,000 customer locations and gives us extensive access to research laboratories and scientists in more than 180 countries. We set science in motion to create a better world.

Requirements

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in a science or business-related field preferred.
4–5+ years of experience in laboratory operations and/or sample/compound management/automation and digital workflow systems.
3–5 years of experience in a regulated environment (GxP, GLP, GMP, CLIA).
Previous supervisory or team leadership experience in a laboratory setting.
Advanced knowledge of sample handling, storage, shipping, and inventory management.
Experience with ERP/LIMS systems; Titian Mosaic required.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams.
DOT and IATA certifications required; IMDG, Hazwoper, OSHA, CPR, and spill containment training desired.
Knowledge of SAP, Oracle, Power BI, and other inventory management systems
Laboratory Automation & Digital Workflow Proficiency Required
Strong leadership, mentoring, and team development capabilities.
Excellent customer service and stakeholder management skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Close attention to detail, organization, and data accuracy.
Ability to prioritize, multitask, and adapt in a fast‑paced environment.
Confident decision-making and troubleshooting skills.
Ability to lift 50 lbs and meet all required safety and background requirements.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary onsite point of contact for the customer, managing daily communication, reporting, issue resolution, and service delivery in alignment with contractual requirements.
Lead, supervise, coach, and mentor a team of Sample Management Specialists and laboratory technicians while maintaining accountability for performance, quality, and compliance.
Set daily priorities and allocate resources to ensure efficient execution of sample and compound management workflows, balancing supervisory responsibilities with hands‑on laboratory support.
Oversee the end‑to-end management of high‑value samples and compounds, including receipt, handling, storage, tracking, preparation, shipping, and disposition in a regulated (GxP/GLP/GMP/CLIA) environment.
Ensure strict adherence to SOPs, SOWs, safety standards, and customer-documented instructions, maintaining full regulatory compliance and data integrity.
Manage and optimize laboratory automation workflows, including automated sample storage systems, liquid handling platforms, robotics-enabled processes, and digital tracking tools to improve throughput and reduce error rates.
Utilize LIMS/ERP and sample management systems (e.g., Titian Mosaic or equivalent) to support automated inventory control, chain-of-custody tracking, KPI reporting, and workflow optimization.
Train laboratory personnel on the proper use of automated equipment, digital systems, and technology-enabled workflows, ensuring documented competency and compliance.
Conduct routine audits of automated and manual sample storage locations to verify accuracy, labeling, traceability, and environmental conditions.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to replace or enhance manual processes through automation, standardized workflows, and system enhancements.
Analyze operational data and automation metrics to track productivity, quality, timeliness, and service-level performance, implementing corrective actions when needed.
Develop, update, and maintain SOPs, KPIs, SPIs, training records, and quality documentation, including automation-related procedures.
Act as the first point of escalation for deviations related to sample handling, automation failures, quality events, or safety concerns.
Prepare for and support customer and regulatory audits, serving as the onsite lead for audit response, documentation, and corrective action planning.
Oversee routine equipment maintenance, calibration, and validation for both manual and automated laboratory instruments.
Perform hands-on laboratory duties during staffing gaps or high-volume periods to maintain operational continuity.
Drive cost savings and cost-avoidance initiatives through process automation, workflow standardization, and operational efficiency improvements.