Senior Manager, Lab Operations

Takeda•Boston, MA

1d•$137,000 - $215,270

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Lab Operations manages the operational delivery of laboratory asset maintenance and service coverage across Takeda’s U.S. R&D sites, within priorities established by Lab Asset Management leadership. The role oversees an on-site third-party asset management vendor coordinating preventative maintenance, calibrations, corrective repairs, and break/fix services for laboratory equipment. The Senior Manager works with scientific, Finance, Procurement, and operational teams to monitor vendor performance, implement approved service coverage plans, manage assigned budgets, and deliver measurable cost savings. The role uses equipment criticality, service data, and scientific needs to recommend improvements; resolves operational issues within delegated authority; and escalates significant risks, budget exceptions, and strategic decisions to leadership. The position is based in Boston, Massachusetts, and supports laboratory operations across U.S. R&D sites.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, pharmacy, engineering, or a related pharmaceutical science and 12 or more years of relevant industry experience; alternatively, a master’s degree in one of these fields and 8 or more years of relevant industry experience; or a Ph.D. in one of these fields and 4 or more years of relevant industry experience.
Relevant experience managing laboratory operations, lab asset services, scientific equipment maintenance (vendor or customer side), vendor delivery, or related operational activities; ideally in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or another highly regulated environment.
Strong working knowledge of laboratory equipment service models, including preventative maintenance, calibration, break/fix support, service contracts, vendor coordination, and performance management.
Demonstrated ability to use data, metrics, and operational insights to drive cost savings, improve service quality, increase efficiency, and support informed business decisions.
Experience partnering with Procurement, Finance, scientific teams, and business stakeholders on service contract reviews, pricing negotiations, spend analysis, sourcing support, assigned budgets, and supplier performance.
Excellent communication, influencing, stakeholder management, and escalation management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across scientific, operational, technical, and business audiences.
Ability to translate established lab asset management priorities into operational plans; manage vendor delivery and assigned budgets; use service and financial data to recommend improvements; influence cross-functional partners without direct authority; and escalate material risks, budget exceptions, and decisions beyond delegated authority.
Ability to work independently within defined responsibilities, coordinate cross-functional solutions, hold vendors accountable for agreed outcomes, and recognize when issues require leadership decisions.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day oversight of the on-site third-party lab asset management vendor coordinating preventative maintenance, calibrations, corrective repairs, and break/fix services across U.S. R&D sites.
Implement agreed service expectations, governance routines, escalation pathways, and performance standards; recommend adjustments to leadership based on service results.
Monitor vendor performance against service-level agreements and key performance indicators, including response times, completion rates, customer satisfaction, documentation quality, and financial expectations.
Resolve operational service issues, equipment downtime, and vendor performance concerns within delegated authority; escalate significant risks and unresolved cross-functional issues to leadership.
Monitor OEM and third-party service providers against agreed performance goals across contracted and time-and-materials service models, and follow through on corrective actions.
Assess asset criticality, utilization, risk, warranty status, age, service history, and scientific need to recommend maintenance coverage and implement approved plans.
Evaluate OEM contracts, third-party coverage, time-and-materials support, preventative maintenance plans, and other service options with stakeholders; recommend fit-for-purpose solutions within established guidelines and approval processes.
Ensure accurate tracking of maintenance coverage, calibration requirements, service history, repair activity, and asset status.
Identify opportunities to reduce downtime, improve equipment reliability, standardize workflows, and enhance the scientist experience.
Identify, quantify, and deliver approved cost savings through right-sized service coverage, contract optimization, vendor consolidation, warranty utilization, and repair-versus-replace analysis; negotiate pricing and service terms with Procurement within delegated authority.
Provide budget and forecast inputs to Finance and leadership; manage approved budgets for maintenance, calibrations, preventative maintenance programs, service contracts, and repairs; escalate variances requiring approval.
Review service spend, quotes, invoices, entitlements, contract terms, and vendor recommendations to ensure appropriate value and avoid unnecessary spending.
Prepare dashboards, reports, and business case inputs summarizing service performance, budget status, spend trends, financial impact, risks, and savings opportunities for leadership review.
Partner with scientists, Lab Operations, Facilities, EHS, IT, Finance, Procurement, and site leadership to ensure maintenance practices support business continuity and research priorities.
Coordinate implementation and adoption of approved processes, vendor operating models, system enhancements, reporting routines, and service coverage plans, including stakeholder communication and issue resolution.
Apply established governance routines and promote consistent processes and clear operational accountability across U.S. R&D sites.
Support continuous improvement initiatives that simplify service request pathways, improve data quality, strengthen compliance, and enhance customer experience.