BioEPIC Lab Manager

Berkeley Lab’s (LBNL) Biosciences Area Office (BSAO) has an opening for a Lab Manager to manage the Biological and Environmental Program Integration Center (BioEPIC)!

In this exciting role, you will be responsible for all lab space activities and provide multifunctional technical support and consultation to all principal investigators (PIs) and staff. In concert with the BioEPIC Leadership Team, you will be responsible for short and long-term strategic lab space planning, coordination, and implementation of all lab equipment installations and/or space modifications. 

This position will provide complex technical support for sophisticated biotech-laboratory equipment, including maintenance, calibration, repair, and troubleshooting of instrumentation, control systems, experimental apparatuses, computers, and peripheral equipment, as well as coordinating and scheduling vendor-related maintenance and repairs. You will manage all aspects of BioEPIC freezer activities including space allocations, preventative maintenance, and alarm systems (KLATU and BMS) to help ensure programs meet all scientific and operational mission goals. Your expertise will resolve complex technical problems where analysis of data requires an in-depth evaluation of various factors, and interactions with scientists, research associates, engineers, and operations personnel.

This position has an anticipated start date of March 3, 2025.

What You Will Do:

• Manage the short and long-term strategic planning and organization of all operational aspects of BioEPIC laboratories.
• Contribute significantly to the development of new scientific methods through planning, organizing, and conducting novel engineering and process improvement projects to help advance the research mission of the scientific programs.
• Develop resolutions to complex technical problems to ensure equipment capabilities and availability. This includes documenting standard operating/repair/maintenance procedures, scheduling preventative maintenance, training staff, calibrating instruments, scheduling vendor field service, managing spare parts, and maintaining equipment inventory.
• Lead efforts to select new equipment and installation of purchased equipment including overseeing the receipt and setup of equipment, coordinating with field installation staff, and liaising with BioEPIC safety, facilities, procurement, and production staff.  
• Provide reports and metrics to the BioEPIC Leadership Team on the status of work queues. 
• Conduct research into cutting-edge technologies, which may involve the design and fabrication of components through the Lab’s machine and electrical shops, as well as the use of computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) for all instrumentation aspects in the lab and technical areas and coordinate all support efforts with internal customers to provide efficient and effective service.
• Troubleshoot complex instrument problems, including assisting with the design of experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and proposing solutions.
• Prepare instructional guides for repairing, calibrating, and maintaining lab equipment.
• Partner seamlessly and effectively with colleagues in Environment, Health, and Safety (EH&S), Facilities, and Procurement.
• Serve as the primary lab space planning lead regarding the purchase process for capital equipment, service contracts and acceptance testing.
• Investigate and recommend technical instrumentation/automation solutions to researchers.
• Lead and coordinate laboratory technician activities to optimize laboratory organization and operations.
• Manage all lab space allocations for both laboratory benches and equipment rooms to maximize the productivity of research teams.
• Serve as the lead for all laboratory move events and coordinate lab setups, expansion, relocation and closure activities.
• Develop and implement Visual Basic programs as required to manipulate data or interface with instrumentation.

What is Required:

• A Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent training/knowledge) in Electronics, Engineering, or related scientific discipline and a minimum of 6 years of professional technical experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Experience troubleshooting and resolving complex technical problems where analysis of data requires an in-depth evaluation of various factors.
• Experience performing electro-mechanical instrument troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair in a laboratory environment.
• Experience with computer-controlled automated instruments.
• Demonstrated expertise in electronics and/or laboratory technology.
• Demonstrated ability to apply engineering and/or scientific concepts and practices to fabricate, install, maintain, calibrate, and operate a variety of electronic components, devices, instruments, circuits, equipment, or research systems.
• Significant experience using a variety of cloud-based software platforms and applications, including MS Office Suite, Google Applications Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and Zoom video conferencing on a Mac or PC computer.
• Excellent organizational skills, including experience handling competing priorities, meeting deadlines, assuming responsibility, taking initiative, and responding quickly to changing work priorities.
• Demonstrated customer service-oriented interpersonal skills, including experience collaborating with all levels of personnel, both internal and external to an organization.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including experience organizing technical/scientific information and presenting to a variety of audiences.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with database applications.
• Relevant technical certification.
• Industrial training and/or production line experience.
• Familiarity with automated high-throughput and biotech instrumentation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of laboratory and general molecular biology techniques.
• Some knowledge of Visual Basic programming for data manipulation & instrument integration, and database applications.

Notes:

• Application Deadline: For full consideration, please apply with a resume and cover letter describing your interest by February 19, 2025.
• Appointment Type: This is a full-time career appointment, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
• Salary Information: The full salary range of this position is $119,988 - $202,488 annually for job code N50.3. However, it is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, and certifications, and will be aligned with the internal peer group.
• Background Check: This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Work Modality: This position will be performed onsite at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. In support of our rich community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.