Lab Manager

About the Company

We envision a world where we continuously, sustainably, and affordably improve human life with synthetic biology. Our proprietary set of enzymes and our manufacturing approach enables the production of thousands of amino acids that were previously too difficult and expensive to make. These “noncanonical” amino acids that we make are already catalyzing the creation of revolutionary and innovative products that are good for people and the planet. 

Our technology outperforms traditional manufacturing approaches by 10–100x across the board. We already sell products to Big 10 Pharmaceutical companies, and our product family includes the key components of multi-billion dollar blockbuster drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.

We are a diverse, passionate, interdisciplinary team that finds joy in building something new that leaves the world better than we found it. We strive to always learn and improve and have a deep desire to capitalize on our creativity and be exceptional at what we do.

Job Summary  

We are seeking a Lab Manager to oversee and manage all aspects of our laboratory operations, ensuring a strong emphasis on safety, efficiency, and compliance. This role will be pivotal in managing both the physical and operational infrastructure of the lab, including safety protocols, equipment maintenance, procurement processes, and vendor relationships.

This is an on-site role working Monday through Friday in Berkeley, CA.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with scientific staff and EH&S consultants to promote a positive safety culture.
• Oversee all lab infrastructure, including facilities, equipment, shipping/receiving, inventories, and vendor relationships.
• Own equipment procurement, maintenance, calibration, and repair across departments.
• Manage the procurement, inventory, storage, and disposal of laboratory chemicals and consumables. Participate in assessing and building a broader manufacturing supply chain. 
• Support company-wide quality efforts under ISO-9001, including documentation and internal audits.
• Participate in building new systems and infrastructure that streamline the company’s operations during a time of high growth.

Qualifications

Required:

• 5+ years of broad experience managing a chemistry or biology laboratory (wet lab).
• Experience handling and troubleshooting scientific equipment, especially analytical (HPLC) and automation (Biomek, Colony picker).
• Working knowledge of EHS and OSHA requirements, with a focus on building a robust safety culture.
• Ability to maintain great relationships with external stakeholders, such as vendors and EH&S consultants.
• Thorough knowledge and experience in best practices with lab materials, including procurement, inventory management and forecasting, and disposal.
• Proven experience running complex projects and proactively managing concurrent tasks. 
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of critical lab functions to free up bandwidth of other team members. Our Lab Manager needs to be self-directed, organized, and disciplined with high attention to detail
• Adaptability and problem solving: We face rapid changes, unexpected challenges, and a high degree of uncertainty. This person must be able to quickly adapt to new priorities, troubleshoot issues on the fly, and pivot when unforeseen obstacles arise, such as equipment failures, project delays, or regulatory hurdles.
   

Preferred:

• Experience shipping internationally.
• Experience working under ISO-9001 OR cGMP, with a solid background in industry best practices.
• Hands-on experience with minor utilities issues (e.g. plumbing, electrical) within safe practices.
• Experience running complex projects to overhaul operations, such as inventory.
• Prior experience managing lab technicians or other operational staff.
• Ability to proactively manage projects and implement organization and workflow improvements (e.g. 5S methodology).
• Experience in a pilot-scale or manufacturing environment.

Essential traits:

• Clear communication: The ability to read and write clearly are necessary, but so is the ability to listen to stakeholders, as is the ability to know when and how to communicate information to the best effect.
• Disciplined with high attention to detail: The person in this role will take ownership of critical functions to free up bandwidth of other team members. That means they need to be self-motivated, organized, get things done right, and get things done on time. If something isn’t going according to plan then revert to clear communication!
• No ego: This role will require working with internal and external stakeholders of all backgrounds, levels of experience, and areas of expertise. This role requires the ability to encourage a positive culture and seamless collaboration with everyone.

Compensation

Aralez Bio’s salary range for this position is $85,000–$140,000 per year, based on your performance and experience. In addition, your total rewards package will include equity and benefits.

Benefits at Aralez Bio

• Medical / Dental / Vision coverage
• 401k
• Flexible Spending Account
• Unlimited time off policy
• Weekly catered lunch
• Professional Development opportunities
• Annual company retreat

Equal Employment Opportunity

Aralez Bio is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, sex, and any other group protected under federal, state, or local laws. 

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Please reach out if an accommodation is needed. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.