Lab Operations Specialist / Facilities Operations Specialist

About the role

An American biotechnology company that develops cancer immunotherapy products with a primary focus on genetically engineered autologous CAR T cell therapy - a cell-based therapy which relies on chimeric antigen receptors and T cells. Established in the Year 2000, VARITE is an award-winning minority business enterprise providing global consulting & staffing services to Fortune 1000 companies and government agencies. With 850+ global consultants, VARITE is committed to delivering excellence to its customers by leveraging its global experience and expertise in providing comprehensive scientific, engineering, technical, and non-technical staff augmentation and talent acquisition services. Location: Philadelphia, PA 19104 (Onsite). Contract Duration: 12 months with possible extension.

Responsibilities

• Maintain equipment inventory, ensuring the information is accurate and updated promptly.
• Regularly evaluate fixed lab equipment (fume hoods, exhaust fans, biosafety cabinet, etc) are functioning properly.
• Manage all laboratory vendor service contracts ensuring that preventative maintenance visits are executed on schedule
• Manage and coordinate timelines across laboratories for certifications and calibrations on critical equipment
• Help resolve and/or coordinate equipment repair visit between the service provider and the laboratory team.
• Review cold storage monitoring software to minimize the risk of freezer failure.
• Escalate issues internally and troubleshoot as needed.
• Participate in laboratory emergency planning/management - e.g. power outages and infrastructure projects
• Work with all parties involved (technicians, users, IT, and leadership) to ensure that both the equipment and operational needs are met.
• Chaperone technicians from external suppliers and ensure they are adhering to company policies while onsite.
• Oversee delivery logistics by coordinating the receipt of packages, gas deliveries, or installation of laboratory equipment.
• Support the procurement of laboratory consumables and supplies as needed.
• Perform general troubleshooting of laboratory operation issues as they arise.
• Support the development and maintenance of procedures to ensure compliant lab operations.
• Work with lab safety officer to manage the safety systems/compliance and ensure the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is current and available.
• Provide miscellaneous laboratory maintenance tasks as needed e.g. supply stocking, eye wash/safety shower flushing, removal of waste, etc

Requirements

• A.S. or B.S. in Life Sciences or Facilities Management with management/technical emphasis.
• Minimum 1 year of pharmaceutical, life sciences, or biotech experience in an academic or industry setting.
• Minimum 2 years of experience implementing maintenance and repair programs in a Research & Development (R&D) facility.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively with member of cross-functional team
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to solve problems while anticipating the downstream impacts
• Highly organized with a strong attention to detail, clarity, accuracy, and conciseness.

Qualifications

• Experience with project management activities and vendor management preferred
• Experience working within an R&D team while establishing and enforcing best practices in laboratory operations preferred
• Experience training/teaching new employees specific relevant technical and conceptual skills is a plus
• Experience with lab supplies procurement.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to solve problems while anticipating the downstream impacts
• Highly organized with a strong attention to detail, clarity, accuracy, and conciseness

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement Plans: Participation in a company-sponsored retirement savings plan.
• Legal Service Plans: Offering access to attorneys for legal advice and representation.

Pay

Pay Rate Range: $35.97 - $41.00/hr. on W2.