Senior Lab Operations Associate

Manifold Bio•Boston, MA

18h•Onsite

About The Position

Manifold Bio is a platform biotechnology company pioneering AI-guided protein design and massively multiplexed in vivo screening to unlock tissue-targeted medicines and organism-scale models of living systems. Using proprietary molecular barcoding technology, we screen hundreds of thousands of protein designs simultaneously in living systems, producing in vivo-validated datasets at a scale no one else can match. The datasets power our computational models, which leads to better drug designs, creating a flywheel that gets stronger with every campaign. Our team of protein engineers, biologists, and computational scientists works across this full stack to pursue programs both internally and with leading pharma companies. Position Manifold Bio is seeking a highly organized and proactive Senior Lab Operations Associate to support the day-to-day operations of our laboratory and facility. Reporting to the Associate Director of Operations, you will serve as a critical operational partner to our scientific teams by coordinating laboratory support activities, managing vendors and service providers, maintaining operational systems and records, and ensuring that routine laboratory operations run efficiently and reliably. This is a highly visible, hands-on role where your effectiveness will directly impact the productivity of our scientific teams and the reliability of our research infrastructure. You will serve as the primary point of coordination for routine laboratory operations, helping scientists stay focused on advancing research while ensuring the facility, equipment, inventories, vendors, and compliance programs that support their work operate seamlessly in the background. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys solving problems, and takes pride in building systems that scale. You are highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, with a strong sense of ownership and a willingness to jump into whatever is needed to keep the laboratory running smoothly. Whether coordinating an equipment repair, supporting a new hire's onboarding, managing a vendor visit, or improving an operational process, you approach challenges with urgency, professionalism, and a service-oriented mindset.

Requirements

H.S. Diploma or equivalent
3+ years of laboratory operations, facilities, research support, or related experience in a biotechnology, pharmaceutical, academic research, or laboratory environment
Experience coordinating vendors, contractors, equipment service providers, and facility-related activities
Experience maintaining laboratory inventories, equipment records, and operational documentation
Strong organizational and project coordination skills with exceptional attention to detail
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with scientists, vendors, and cross-functional teams
Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a high level of accuracy and responsiveness
Self-motivated, highly organized, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision
Demonstrated problem-solving skills and a proactive, service-oriented approach to operational challenges
Strong sense of ownership and accountability with a track record of following projects and tasks through to completion
Proficiency with common productivity software including Google Workspace
Ability to lift 40 lbs without assistance
Ability to participate in an on-call rotation to receive, assess, and respond to facility alarms outside normal business hours, including arriving on-site when critically necessary

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, engineering, or a related scientific discipline
Experience supporting laboratory operations within a high-growth biotechnology company
Experience with EHS programs, chemical inventory systems, hazardous waste management, or laboratory compliance programs
Experience with project management platforms, ticketing systems, or inventory management software
Experience using Prendio
Experience using Adobe Acrobat or Lucid Chart
Familiarity with laboratory equipment lifecycle management, preventive maintenance programs, and service contract administration
Experience supervising, training, or coordinating the work of laboratory support personnel
Knowledge of laboratory safety practices and regulatory requirements applicable to biotechnology research environments
Experience supporting laboratory moves, expansions, facility projects, or laboratory build-outs

Responsibilities

Own and manage the Lab Operations ticket queue, ensuring timely resolution or escalation of requests
Coordinate day-to-day laboratory support activities and operational priorities
Facilitate Lab Operations meetings and track follow-up actions to completion
Maintain operational documentation, inventories, department records, and laboratory operating procedures
Support onboarding and offboarding activities, including workspace setup, laboratory access, equipment coordination, and operational training
Own consumable inventory management and replenishment processes to ensure uninterrupted laboratory operations
Identify operational improvement opportunities and recommend practical, scalable solutions
Serve as the primary point of contact for routine operational support requests from scientific staff
Partner closely with scientists to identify operational needs and coordinate solutions that minimize disruption to research activities
Participate in cross-functional planning and coordination activities
Escalate competing priorities, resource constraints, and unresolved operational issues to the Associate Director of Operations
Coordinate routine facility maintenance, contractor activities, and service provider visits
Own vendor scheduling and preventive maintenance planning for laboratory and facility equipment
Coordinate equipment installations, repairs, calibrations, certifications, and service appointments
Obtain quotes and coordinate purchasing activities as requested
Track facility and infrastructure issues and escalate risks or unresolved concerns appropriately
Coordinate day-to-day EHS activities and support laboratory compliance programs
Own chemical inventory management and associated recordkeeping
Coordinate hazardous waste management activities and vendor services
Maintain safety records, permits, inspections, training documentation, and compliance records
Partner with external EHS consultants and support implementation of corrective and preventive actions
Escalate compliance concerns and operational risks as appropriate
Own equipment inventory records and associated lifecycle documentation
Coordinate equipment lifecycle activities including installation, maintenance, calibration, repair, and retirement
Track equipment performance issues and identify replacement or capital planning needs
Support shared equipment scheduling and utilization across scientific teams
Coordinate daily activities and work assignments for the Lab Technician
Delegate routine operational tasks as appropriate
Provide training, guidance, and operational support to Lab Technician
Support execution of departmental priorities established by the Associate Director of Operations
Escalate unresolved resource conflicts, prioritization decisions, and policy exceptions to the Associate Director of Operations
Execution of additional tasks as needed to support operations