Lab Operations Coordinator

Location: Cambridge, MA • Duration: 12 months • Fully onsite • Paid parking required • Possible extension • Open to candidates willing to relocate at their own expense

About the role

The Neurology Therapeutic Area (TA) is seeking a highly organized and proactive Laboratory Operations Contractor to support research teams at our Cambridge Crossing (CX) facility. This individual will play a key role in ensuring efficient laboratory operations, enabling scientists to focus on advancing innovative research programs. The successful candidate will serve as a central operational resource across the TA, coordinating laboratory infrastructure, equipment management, vendor interactions, facilities support, biosample logistics, and research operations. The position reports to a Neurological Diseases TA scientist and works collaboratively across multiple functions to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Laboratory Operations
  • Serve as a point of contact for day-to-day laboratory operations within the Therapeutic Area, providing concierge or end-to-end support as needed.
  • Coordinate and lead laboratory startup, ongoing maintenance, and operational support activities.
  • Identify operational bottlenecks and implement process improvements to enhance laboratory efficiency and productivity.
  • Maintain visibility of operational issues, drive resolution, and partner with R&D Operations and Workplace Experience to mitigate risks and ensure business continuity.
• Laboratory Equipment Management
  • Act as a point of contact for laboratory asset management services.
  • Maintain accurate equipment inventories and asset records.
  • Coordinate installation, qualification registration, relocation, and retirement of laboratory equipment.
  • Ensure compliance with metrology, calibration, preventative maintenance, and temperature-monitoring requirements.
  • Coordinate equipment service, repairs, maintenance activities, and vendor interactions.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for laboratory equipment emergencies, coordinating rapid response, troubleshooting, vendor engagement, and recovery activities to minimize operational downtime.
  • Coordinate and maintain equipment data infrastructure, partnering with Digital teams as needed.
  • Liaise with scientists to organize and coordinate equipment training, updates, or other technical support.
• Facilities and Laboratory Support
  • Partner with Cambridge Crossing facilities teams and support service providers to ensure smooth laboratory operations.
  • Coordinate laboratory consumables, chemical inventories, buffer preparation services, waste management, and shared resource utilization.
  • Facilitate facilities repair requests and monitor issue resolution.
  • Help maintain laboratory organization, safety, and compliance standards.
• Procurement, Materials Management, and Logistics
  • Serve as a subject matter resource for procurement and materials management processes.
  • Resolve issues and questions regarding procurement workflows as an expert user.
  • Support scientists in purchasing activities and shipments coordination, including receiving, inventory management, and vendor communications.
  • Facilitate laboratory supply management to ensure uninterrupted research activities.
  • Assist with operational budgeting, purchase order tracking, and invoice reconciliation.
  • Assist with license and contract process support (biological material, digital software, etc.).
• Biosample and Freezer Management
  • Serve as point of contact and knowledge resource on best practices for biosample and cell line management and inventories.
  • Support biosample logistics and ensure adherence to established handling, storage, and shipping procedures.
  • Assist with coordination and compliance of licenses for cell licensing, including tracking usage agreements, material transfer agreements (MTAs), and ensuring adherence to vendor and institutional requirements.
  • Assist with management of on-site and off-site freezer capacity, space allocation, maintenance, monitoring, and contingency planning.
  • Serve as daytime primary responder for monitored freezer units.
• Animal Research Operations
  • Serve as a liaison with the animal research facility and related operational teams.
  • Coordinate activities related to animal usage tracking, licensing, and operational planning.
  • Support management of animal-related licenses and compliance documentation.
• Cross-Functional Support
  • Act as an "expert user" for key operational systems and processes, including:
    • Procurement and purchasing systems (Source to Pay)
    • Materials management
    • Shipping and receiving
    • Facilities services
    • Laboratory asset management
    • IT support services
    • Office and laboratory equipment support
    • Health and Safety
    • Workplace Experience
  • Build strong partnerships across scientific, operational, and administrative functions.
  • Support onboarding and offboarding of new employees, contractors, and interns within the group, including lab orientation walkthrough, IT support, and other facilities/office equipment needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, Neuroscience, Life Sciences, or a related scientific discipline (MS/PhD welcome).
• Minimum of 4 years of experience working in a laboratory or research environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting laboratory operations, laboratory management, project coordination, or related operational functions.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, building effective relationships with scientists and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a dynamic research environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and laboratory management systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry experience within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or research organizations.
• Experience with laboratory startup, space management, equipment asset management, or facilities coordination.
• Functional knowledge and understanding of laboratory equipment, including operation principles, functionality, and applications across standard lab workflows.
• Familiarity with biosample management, laboratory compliance requirements, and animal research operations.
• Experience implementing process improvements and driving operational efficiencies.
• Experience working in a BSL2 or BSL2 wet lab, with understanding of health, safety, and best practices operations within a laboratory environment.
• Benchling experience, including biosample management.

Skills

• Highly organized, communicative, and self-motivated.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Customer-service mindset with a collaborative approach.
• Ability to work in a highly matrixed environment and build relationships across multiple groups and departments.
• Ability to work independently while effectively influencing across teams.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Commitment to operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement.