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Lead, Culture Collection and R&D Operations

San Francisco, East Bay

About Oath: 

Oath is a leading microbial sciences company that utilizes microbes and plants to offer innovative solutions to some of the most critical challenges facing our planet - the climate crisis and the shift to sustainable agriculture. We imagine a world where these crises are not just alleviated, but reversed, replenishing Earth's microbiomes. By leveraging the latest science-based insights, Oath provides natural soil inoculant solutions that foster a healthier and more sustainable world for future generations.

When you join Oath, you become part of a collaborative network that prioritizes conducting high-quality scientific research to develop and launch effective global solutions. You will have access to a team of highly trained scientists, study directors, and a wide network of collaborators, enabling you to integrate and enhance your existing skill set.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a Senior Scientist or Senior R&D Manager to join our dynamic, fast-paced, and supportive R&D team. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in creating high-quality microbial cell banks and working stocks, coordinating fit-for-purpose technology and QC infrastructure development, and orchestrating an R&D product development pipeline, with a focus on innovative methodologies for testing and launching novel microbial consortia products. 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Optimize methods and lead production of high-quality frozen stocks of diverse bacteria and fungi from environmental sources (i.e., non-model organisms); includes archival stocks and working cell banks for manufacturing and lab assays
  • Ensure clonal purity, viability, and vitality of all stocks, banks, and source material
  • Implement methods to monitor, mitigate, and prevent contamination events
  • Design PCR primers, optimize protocols, and operationalize methods for assessing clonal purity and genomic integrity
  • Identify and manage contract research organizations (CROs) and service providers for R&D
  • Add DNA barcodes and fluorescent reporters to selected microbial strains
  • Implement automation and sample tracking solutions as needed (e.g., capper/decapper, barcoded vials and plates, ViaFlow, collaboration with automation engineer for liquid handling solutions, etc.)
  • Help guide development of LIMS (laboratory information management systems); thoroughly document sample tracking, processes, procedures, and operations
  • Engage as a key thought leader in strategic development of R&D platform & pipeline
  • Manage projects for infrastructure development & pipeline operations
  • Collaborate with colleagues in bioinformatics, data science, laboratory and greenhouse testing, production/manufacturing, BD, regulatory, and field science
  • Manage one or more direct reports

Qualifications: 

Required Background:

  • PhD degree (or equivalent experience) in Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Plant Biology, or related field
  • Experience with testing and optimizing microbial metabolism, interactions, phenotypes, and genotypes of diverse environmental isolates
  • 4+ years leading a team in industrial or agricultural biotechnology and developing microbe-based products in a corporate R&D environment

Required Skills & Expertise:

  • Extensive experience in cultivating diverse microbes, including Actinobacteria
  • Demonstrated ability to deploy molecular biology fundamentals for design and build
  • Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
  • Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate the scientific literature and bring key innovations and insights in-house
  • Track record of crafting and contributing to high-quality project plans
  • Successful prior people management and hiring experience
  • Proficiency in LIMS systems (e.g., Benchling), standard statistical analysis and data visualization software (e.g., R, Spotfire, Tableau, JMP), and project management software (e.g., Asana, Jira)
  • Experience using SQL queries and relational databases
  • Effective communication of technical and organizational topics with colleagues across multiple disciplines
  • Tech-savvy with a passion for learning and applying new technologies
  • Highly responsive and proactive with a strong sense of initiative and independence
  • Strong interpersonal skills and collaboration skills
  • Flexible and adaptable to changing project needs and priorities

Beneficial Skills & Expertise:

  • Expertise in microbe-host interaction mechanisms and assays, particularly plant-microbe interactions and/or pathogen-microbe interactions
  • Strong understanding of microbial physiology and metabolism, particularly with respect to biochemistry, genomics, biosynthetic gene clusters, microbiome dynamics, symbioses, and pathogen resistance
  • Experience in assessing and engineering microbiomes and their underlying interactions and dynamics
  • Track record of building alignment and cooperation across diverse stakeholders to craft and operate a structured R&D pipeline requiring complex coordination, handoffs, and stage-gate decisions

Location: 

This position requires spending >80% of the workweek at a laboratory location in the San Francisco East Bay region. The first few weeks of employment might require regular work at a Vacaville, CA location. May require occasional work travel outside California.

Job Type: Full-time, exempt position in the United States.  At this time, Oath, Inc. is not able to provide visa sponsorship or work authorization support.

Compensation: 

$130,000-$160,000

Benefits:

  • Health, vision, and dental insurance
  • Paid time off and sick leave
  • 401k matching contributions
  • Stock options

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