Senior Laboratory Technician, Research & Development - Biomatrica Inc.

Summary of Major Responsibilities:

The Senior Laboratory Technician supports laboratory management for activities executed in research and development (R&D) labs.  This position provides administrative, operational, and technical support to R&D personnel to ensure continuous lab workflows and processes are supported and maintained.  This position will be a direct contact for external vendors conducting business directly with R&D and will coordinate work in R&D labs by Exact Sciences functions; including, but not limited to, facilities, metrology, environmental health and safety (EHS) and information technology (IT).  Additionally, this position will maintain the responsibility of inventory management and procurement of supplies and consumables critical for R&D lab activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage an inventory of R&D lab consumables; including, but not limited to, warehouse and stockroom organization. Oversee offsite storage inventory of R&D materials and request distribution of items, as needed. 
• Maintain a master consumables list and applicable vendor information and contacts.
• Procure necessary items in a timely manner preventing lab down time.
• Work with R&D teams to follow up on missing items, backorders, or product information inquiries and communicate relevant information to lab personnel.
• Coordinate high volume reagent and consumables needs for large studies with the appropriate R&D team.
• Assist lab personnel with locating fit for purpose consumables, reagents, and small equipment from approved vendors.
• Coordinate and monitor delivery of consumables and services by external vendors to meet the R&D lab needs; including, but not limited to, dry ice, liquid nitrogen, medical waste disposal, e-waste and metal disposal, lab coats, and purified water systems. Adjust the schedule to meet demand, as needed.
• Coordinate and monitor delivery of blood donor tubes by external phlebotomist sites to meet the R&D lab needs. Adjust the schedule to meet demand, as needed.
• Act as primary point of contact for lab label printing training, information, and troubleshooting.
• Utilize a facility and instrument monitoring system.
• Work with operations and serve as a primary day schedule contact for alarms.
• Perform monitoring system hardware installation and troubleshooting, as needed.
• Assist with the management of R&D cold storage; including, but not limited to, defrost freezers and allocate storage space for teams, as needed.
• Maintain administrative responsibilities in a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). Update, re-locate, or on-board equipment, as needed.  Submit corrective maintenance for equipment.  Assist lab personnel with administrative aspects of CMMS.
• Complete scheduled equipment maintenance and calibration, and appropriately document the process in CMMS.
• Hold regular meetings with operations and maintain an action tracker to make certain R&D lab requirements are met.
• Notify lab personnel of issues or maintenance needs that could potentially impact lab activities; including, but not limited to, lab closures, planned maintenance, HVAC, and equipment issues and maintenance.
• Partner with EHS to promote safety in R&D laboratories. Generate chemical inventories, conduct safety inspections, and coordinate reagent waste disposal.  Maintain necessary certifications.
• Support the lab workflow and make certain policies are followed to prevent DNA contamination.
• Coordinate instrument calibration and repair, and a pipette calibration schedule with metrology.
• Conduct regular lab walk-throughs to check and maintain lab safety, cleanliness, and consumables stock.
• Perform lab protocols and reagent/sample preparation, as needed.
• Troubleshoot lab equipment and computer issues.
• Lead or assist with R&D lab improvement projects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Apply knowledge of good documentation practices.
• Apply problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work independently.
• Uphold company mission and values through accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork.
• Support and comply with the company’s Quality Management System policies and procedures.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Ability to work designated schedule.
• Ability to work overtime, as needed.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds for approximately 10% of a typical working day.
• Ability to work on a mobile device, tablet, or in front of a computer screen and/or perform typing for approximately 75% of a typical working day.
• Ability to grasp with both hands; pinch with thumb and forefinger; turn with hand/arm; reach above shoulder height.
• Ability to utilize step stools and ladders.
• Ability to safely utilize a pallet jack and hand truck.
• Ability to comply with any applicable personal protective equipment requirements.
• Ability to safely work with hazardous chemicals.
• Use of various chemicals may be used to perform duties.
• May be exposed to hazardous materials, tissue specimens and instruments with moving parts, lasers, heating and freezing elements, and high-speed centrifugation.
• Ability to travel 5% of working time away from work location, may include overnight/weekend travel.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology or related field as outlined in the essential duties; or High School Diploma/General Education Degree and 4 years of relevant experience as outlined in the essential duties in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree.
• 2+ years of relevant experience as outlined in the essential duties.
• Familiarity with common laboratory and scientific instrumentation terminology.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office to include Excel macros and pivot tables and Word mail merge.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the Essential Duties of the position with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience as outlined in the essential duties.
• Experience in hands-on lab management.
• Experience with inventory systems; including, but not limited to, Kanban and inventory management software.
• Hands-on experience with lab instrumentation; including, but not limited to, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platforms, centrifuges, and robotics platforms.
• Experience using facilities and instrument monitoring systems.
• Extensive knowledge of common chemicals utilized in a laboratory setting.
• High mechanical aptitude.

 

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EEO Disclosure:

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and any other status protected by applicable local, state or federal law. Applicable portions of the Company’s affirmative action program are available to any applicant or employee for inspection upon request.