Job Description

SUMMARY

No recruiter or agency inquiries, please

University Lab Partners, established in 2019 and headquartered in Irvine, CA, is the premier co-working space for life science startups in Orange County, CA. Our collaborative lab space model is uniquely designed for scientific entrepreneurs to test, develop, grow and commercialize their game-changing ideas by being paired with premium, fully equipped and supported laboratory and office spaces alongside unparalleled access to capital and industry partners. 

ULP is an independent non-profit organization that offers co-working environments at two Orange County, CA locations. Our primary space is in Irvine and located at UCI Research Park. We have 3 additional large private lab suites for graduation space on the Soka University campus in Aliso Viejo. 

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Head of Laboratory will be responsible for overall site (incubator lab) operations and building/leading a collaborative team tasked with incubating life science innovators and running the day-to-day operations of the Irvine and Aliso Viejo sites, and providing optimal experiences, education, support and service to our resident members. The position will also be responsible for managing, overseeing and/or supporting marketing / sales / operational / process improvement projects for our lab incubator business.

The Head of Laboratory will work with life science entrepreneurs, research scientists, and Resident company employees to accomplish ULP’s mission to accelerate the growth and success of life science companies in Orange County. These efforts will include optimizing operational efficiencies for the shared laboratory and related space to advance technology development and commercialization of Resident companies. The position will manage interactions between current and prospective company personnel, Soka Facilities, Soka Environment, Health & Safety, and service providers as related to the scope of shared use facilities and services provided. Similar interactions with our Irvine building landlord and facility operations are also included.

The Head of Laboratory must be customer-service oriented, as s/he will serve as a key point of contact for the Resident companies. The role’s primary objective is to provide ULP residents with an excellent experience with the facility and related regional resources. The ideal candidate must have the ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities.

The Head of Laboratory Site Position: Characteristics, Duties, and Responsibilities

• Serve as general manager for the site, overseeing the experience of resident members,
• team leadership, equipment, vendor relationships, risk mitigation, and facilities operations
• while upholding ULP culture and brand.
• Hire, lead, and mentor a high-performing, diverse team across lab, office, and facilities
• functions to deliver excellent client service.
• Ensure a welcoming, inclusive, and proactive culture aligned with ULP values.
• Work with ULP’s Controller to manage site budgets, forecasts, and financial performance
• targets.
• Oversee lab and office safety procedures and ensure compliance with all regulatory
• requirements.
• Maintain and track lab equipment, site SOPs, and key performance metrics.
• Work with ULP’s Director of Development to build relationships with sponsors, partners,
• and advisors to support resident entrepreneurs and site development.
• Engage with resident companies to understand their work and needs, and serve as a key
• liaison with HQ, sponsors, and partners.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative and
• proactive approach.
• Proficiency in IT systems and experience in client service environments strongly preferred.

Qualifications:

• Experience in managing or working in a laboratory facility
• Demonstrated ability to lead/manage and work in teams and independently and to set
• priorities that accurately reflect the importance of job responsibilities.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in a laboratory setting and familiarity with EHS
• regulations.
• Demonstrated customer service skills to respond to requests professionally, effectively,
• courteously and quickly from customers and clients, including co-workers, Residents, and
• Soka University Personnel.
• Skill in analyzing information, problems, situations, practices and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing, in person and by phone to convey ideas and
• resolve problems.
• Qualities:
• Personable and articulate with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Self-starter with excellent work ethics and optimistic attitude
• Detail-oriented with astute attention to quality control and getting things right
• Desire to be part of a team-focused environment and derive pleasure and satisfaction in
• helping others

Requirements:

• A minimum of a Bachelor/Master's degree in life sciences
• Outstanding organizational skills and ability to prioritize multiple tasks and/or projects.
• 5+ years industry or academic research experience in the biotechnology / medtech
• sector that encompasses solving biomedical problems, understanding the fundamentals
• of molecular cell biology, and practices on biotechnology product development.
• Applicant must possess practical experience with laboratory techniques (pipetting,
• dilution factors, aseptic techniques), experimental design, microbiology techniques
• (SDS‐PAGE, ELISA, genomic DNA/RNA isolation, restriction, and ligation), western
• blotting, PCR, cell culture, transfections, immunofluorescence staining, and/or
• knowledge of HPLC and flow cytometry is desirable.
• Experience managing direct reports.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY LAB PARTNERS:

University Lab Partners is a non-profit, independent, wet facility incubator located in UCI Research Park. ULP is 17,105 square feet of professionally managed and equipped wet facility space along with the benefits of peer-to-peer interactions among a biomedical focused entrepreneurial community. ULP offers exceptional value to entrepreneurs looking to launch and grow their business in the biomedical/medtech industry with no IP or equity claims.

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