Senior Laboratory Research Operations Associate

Berkeley Lab's (LBNL) Biosciences Area Office (BSAO) has an opening for a Senior Laboratory Research Operations Associate to join their Laboratory Operations (LabOps) Team at the Emery Station East (ESE) location, a satellite facility, which houses the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit (ABPDU), Agile BioFoundry (ABF), and other complimentary research programs.

In this exciting role, you will concentrate your efforts on laboratory support to ensure efficient research operations and safety takes priority. Additionally, you will support the day to day operations and goals of the ESE microbial strain archive.

This position has an anticipated start date of May 12, 2024.

What You Will Do:

• Work with the operations team and support onboarding at ESE which may involve lab tours, orientation presentations, as well as assigning and tracking desks, lab, and other space assignments.
• Resolve issues related to research operations and safety in the laboratory, communicating progress as appropriate, tracking work orders using JIRA Service Management (JSM).
• Assist with the operation and regular maintenance of laboratory resources. Manage equipment service agreements and work with vendors to procure items as needed. Organize onsite activities by service providers, ensuring they comply with applicable safety policies.
• Work with the Laboratory Operations (LabOps) team to maintain Service Agreement, Certificate of Insurance (COI), and Subcontractor Job Hazards Analysis (SJHA) databases ensuring requirements are met for LBNL and Wareham.
• Act as one of several delegates maintaining the chemical inventory management system for ESE 4th floor. Ensure hazardous chemicals are appropriately tagged, recorded in the CMS database, removed and/or transferred as needed and upon departures/lab checkouts.
• Act as custodian of the JBEI/ABF Strain Archive, a collection of approximately 30,000 microbial strains and plasmids unique to these programs.
• Follow standard operating procedures to retrieve, grow, and deliver a high volume of microbial strain samples from the archive as requested for research. Prepare long-term storage stocks for deposition into the JBEI/ABF archives and ensure each newly archived strain is documented in the ICE Registry or other database with updated publication and intellectual property information.
• Work to develop, improve, and implement protocols for microbial strain storage, distribution, and documentation.
• Communicate with LBNL and UC Berkeley legal staff to prepare and distribute relevant Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) pertaining to the Strain Archive for outside institutions.

What is Required:

• A Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent knowledge/training) in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or a related discipline and a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in lab operations or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience with workplace safety procedures, regulations, requirements and/or hazardous chemical management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of classical microbiology skills including aseptic technique, bacterial and yeast strain storage protocols, preparation of media with antibiotics, streaking for isolation, and use of life science laboratory equipment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills including the ability to prioritize tasks, manage time, and achieve outstanding productivity.
• Excellent analytical skills including the ability to identify issues, problem solve, troubleshoot, and use critical thinking to devise solutions.
• Demonstrated proficiency with a variety of web-based data and office software including MS Office Suite, Google Workspace, Adobe Suite, etc.
• Strong oral and written communication skills including experience maintaining detailed and accurate laboratory records and documents.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills including experience to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary laboratory environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• A Master's Degree (or equivalent knowledge/training) in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or a related discipline.
• Experience working in a leadership role within a laboratory operations environment.
• Experience with JIRA Service Management (JSM).

Notes:

• Application Deadline: For full consideration, please apply with a curriculum vitae (CV) or resume and a cover letter describing your interest by April 16, 2025.
• Appointment Type: This is a full-time career appointment, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
• Salary Information: This position is expected to pay $64,056 - $81,600 annually for job code 381.2 and is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary for this position will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications, and 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 the Emeryville Station East Operations Center (ESE) - Bldg. 978, located at 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA 94608. Work schedules are dependent on business needs. This position will typically operate Monday-Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm or as needed while researchers are onsite.
• Relocation Assistance: This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.
• Eligibility: This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, STEM OPT, etc.).

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

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.

Berkeley Lab is a University of California employer. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.