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University of Washington · 2 weeks ago

Program Operations Specialist

Greater Seattle Area

Full-time

Onsite

Entry Level

$54K/yr - $81K/yr

1+ years exp

The University of Washington is a leading institution committed to innovation and excellence. They are seeking a Lab Manager to support the daily operations of the Institute for Protein Design, overseeing inventory management, equipment coordination, and supervision of undergraduate staff to maintain a safe and efficient research environment.

EducationHigher EducationUniversities

Responsibilities

Track and order lab consumables, reagents, and supplies to ensure uninterrupted research workflows

Proactively monitor backorders and identify acceptable alternatives to prevent delays in experiments

Maintain organized stockrooms and cold storage areas, ensuring critical materials are readily available and properly stored

Anticipate supply shortages and communicate with vendors to secure timely delivery of essential items

Travel between 330 Yale and MolES/NanoES locations as needed (by UCAR) to move critical supplies and shipments around as needed

Organize and maintain cold storage units and common-use spaces to promote equitable, efficient and safe laboratory operations

Coordinate preventive maintenance and service contracts for equipment, ensuring compliance with manufacturer and institutional standards

Assist with installation, calibration, and troubleshooting of laboratory instruments, working closely with trainees, technical staff and vendors

Maintain records of equipment service history and collaborate with stakeholders to plan upgrades or replacements

Negotiation with biotech companies with prices for services and equipment

This role includes direct responsibility for large equipment maintenance management (e.g. service contracts) and distributed collaborative support among other stakeholders in the lab

Complex negotiation and oversight of large buy and hold vendor contracts, oversight of supply chain management, direct oversight of multiple lab spaces

Supervise daily activities of approximately 10 undergraduate lab assistants, ensuring tasks are completed accurately and on time

Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and training of new support staff, providing clear guidance on laboratory protocols and safety practices

Assign tasks based on operational priorities and monitor performance, offering feedback and coaching as needed

Maintain and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training materials to reflect current best practices

Respond promptly to lab management tickets and requests from IPD members, ensuring timely resolution of operational issues

Grant access to instrument calendars, sequencing platforms, and synthesis accounts, maintaining accurate user permissions

Serve as a resource for basic safety and operational questions, escalating complex issues to appropriate personnel when necessary

Facilitate connections between lab members and institutional resources or technical experts for specialized support

Support onboarding of new lab members by coordinating safety training, account setup, and lab orientation activities

Ensure new users are familiar with laboratory policies, equipment usage guidelines, and shared resource management

Communicate with vendors regarding quotes, orders, and service needs, ensuring competitive pricing and timely delivery

Assist with negotiating purchasing agreements and managing supply chain logistics in collaboration with senior staff

Track vendor performance and maintain positive working relationships to support long-term operational needs

Qualification

Inventory ManagementLab Space CoordinationEquipment MaintenanceSupervisionWet-lab ExperienceBSL1/BSL2 FamiliarityCustomer ServiceCommunication SkillsOrganizational Skills