ASSOCIATE RESEARCH LABORATORY MANAGER

About the Role

The Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) is a multidisciplinary research organization within the Duke University School of Medicine dedicated to advancing basic, translational, and clinical research aimed at developing innovative vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic tools for infectious diseases that affect global health. The Duke Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL), a division of DHVI, provides secure Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory facilities and support services for infectious disease research conducted on both Duke’s main research campus and its Research Triangle Park (RTP) campus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain efficient day-to-day operations of the assigned laboratory facility, coordinate research activities of multiple laboratories, resource scheduling, and billing.
• Direct supervision of four DHVI Lab Assistants.
• Compliance monitoring of annual training and health screening requirements for all facility users.
• Periodic auditing of research staff to ensure SOP compliance.
• Train and instruct research staff utilizing the RBL facility (BSL-3/ABSL-3), including various Duke research laboratories needing BSL-3 facility access for safety.
• Direct day-to-day activities of staff and manage project management goals of the facility.
• Utilize effective project and resource management for successful operation and service.
• Control and maintain GHRB training and access request workflows in Smartsheet to coordinate security and biosafety activities; perform periodic audits to ensure concordance with Duke Security Lenel system.
• Source and maintain an inventory of required safety supplies and laboratory equipment to ensure full compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and meet end user and Core Manager research needs.
• Track inventory and locations of capital equipment within the RBL; reconcile inventory with Duke Procurement when requested.
• Purchase and maintain a list of equipment service contracts and coordinate with staff and vendors when service is needed.
• Manage routine maintenance, monitoring, and emergency response for RBL freezers.
• Ensure required safety checks and waste removal are fully compliant with relevant SOPs.
• Coordinate laboratory and equipment decontamination and maintenance with relevant Duke offices/departments (e.g., Engineering and Operations).
• Participate in meetings of the Facility Operations and Core support teams; participate in cost model development, use projections, and budgeting for compliant cost recovery.
• Coordinate incoming/outgoing material transfers with facility leadership, the Duke Biological Safety Officer/Responsible Official, and the Duke Office of Export Controls to ensure full compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.
• Work to improve/optimize existing SOPs; develop and implement new SOPs.
• Lead development, optimization, qualification, and validation efforts for assays and procedures as requested by the research sponsor/Facility Director/Core Manager.
• Prepare use reports, Institutional Biosafety Committee registrations, CDC compliance documents, and grant report inputs as needed.
• Participate as a member of the Duke Select Agent Team; participate in training personnel who conduct Select Agent research to assure compliance with the Select Agent Final Rule and all written Select Agent Plans (Incident Response, Safety, and Security).
• Provide administrative support to RBL Leadership.
• Assist RBL Leadership and Team Leads in managing research projects, developing and administering budgets, schedules, and performance metrics.
• Schedule and coordinate arrangements for seminars, conferences, meetings, and speaking engagements as needed.
• Assist with scheduling visitor access, maintaining visitor instruction guides, and managing parking passes.
• Manage and consult on RBL budgets and assist with the development of new budget proposals for grants and other funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with Duke RBL laboratories and other RBL network laboratories.
• Maintain office supplies and equipment.
• Assist with onboarding of new employees.
• Maintain GHRB Email Listservs.
• Place orders in Buy@Duke to support RBL Operations; review shopping carts to ensure compliance with Buy@Duke and Duke Procurement policies.
• Serve as onsite resource for RBL staff on instruction and guidance for proper use of Buy@Duke.
• Prepare travel and expense reports for reimbursement for RBL Leadership.
• Screen and route mail and documents; assist RBL staff with outgoing commercial shipments as needed; notify RBL staff of package deliveries.
• Attend program and operations meetings to take minutes and monitor action items.
• Assist in the preparation and monitoring of budgets based on program activities and departmental operations.
• Conduct routine inspections of all DHVI assigned space and verify occupancy; work closely with DHVI Facilities Director and DHVI Chief Administrative Officer to identify space assignment changes.
• Work closely with DHVI Finance to ensure all WebCentral updates are completed by required deadlines (5 times per year); track all assigned DHVI space; update WebCentral immediately when staff exit the DHVI.
• Serve as a member of the call-tree for all water detection alarms for DHVI laboratories and support spaces during both normal business hours and after-hours.
• Monitor and manage the DHVI back-up freezer pool in Minus80 software portal and coordinate routine PM for each unit with the proper vendor, responding to alarms as needed.
• Support freezer alarm set-up process for all DHVI labs and serve as back-up responder to alarms during both normal business hours and after-hours.
• Work closely with DHVI laboratory teams and the DHVI Facility Director to coordinate laboratory and equipment moves as needed.
• Develop and maintain DHVI emergency contact list in SmartSheet or other reliable software.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related scientific discipline. A Master’s degree or PhD is preferred.
• Minimum of five years of related experience.
• Must have previous experience managing projects.
• Experience must include a minimum of one year in a lead/supervisory/managerial role.
• Or an equivalent combination of relevant education/experience.

The successful applicant must be eligible for and willing to:

• Work with hazardous biological agents handled at BSL-2 and BSL-3.
• Work with small animals handled at ABSL-2 and ABSL-3.
• Comply with vaccination requirements when necessary.
• Successfully complete and maintain US Department of Justice screening for Select Agent registration.
• Achieve external certification for independent work at BSL-3.

Qualifications

• Strong background in biosafety, previous BSL-3 compliance monitoring, supply chain and logistics management, and facilities management.
• Master’s degree or PhD in Biology, Microbiology, Virology, or related scientific field preferred.
• Biological safety credential (RBP, CBSP) preferred.
• Proficient in technical writing and safety training development and delivery.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience working with researchers with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Benefits

• Health insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off.
• Retirement programs with employer contributions.
• Tuition assistance for employees and their children.
• Comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs.
• Wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs.

Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Pay

Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $85,718.00 to USD $138,507.00. Factors considered include scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, and market/organizational considerations when extending an offer.