Lab Manager

Lab Manager Switch Bioworks | San Carlos, CA | Full-Time, On-Site | Operations & R&D About Switch Bioworks Switch Bioworks is a deep tech biotech company engineering microbes to replace energy-intensive, fossil fuel-dependent industrial processes. Our initial focus is transformational sustainable agriculture, enabling biological nitrogen fertilizer production directly at plant roots rather than through industrial chemical manufacturing. Using proprietary genetic switches that separate cell growth from bio-production, we are building a scalable platform for biological manufacturing starting with agriculture and expanding into broader industrial applications. The Role We are looking for an experienced, industry-savvy, proactive, collaborative, and highly organized Lab Manager to lead our laboratory operations and maintain world-class facility infrastructure in San Carlos, CA. In this role, you will be the backbone of our operational excellence ensuring a safe, efficient, and seamlessly functioning laboratory environment for our fast-paced research teams. As Lab Manager, you will oversee daily lab operations, environmental health & safety (EHS), equipment lifecycles, purchasing and procurement, vendor relationships, and lab IT, while directly managing and mentoring a Lab Technician. This is a hands-on leadership role with real ownership. Success means our scientists can stay focused on science: the lab is well supplied, safe, clean, and uncluttered; equipment is maintained and calibrated; lab computers have the software and licenses they need; and purchasing is never a bottleneck. Key Responsibilities Laboratory Operations & Infrastructure Run daily laboratory operations across molecular biology, microbiology, bioprocessing, growth rooms, and glasswasher/autoclave areas. Oversee workspace design, bench allocation, workflow optimization, and physical facility expansion or reconfigurations as the R&D team scales. Standardize and implement digital tools (LIMS, ELN, electronic inventory tracking, equipment booking) to streamline operations. Own lab purchasing and procurement, working with Finance and Ops, from requisition to receipt and payment, for reagents, chemicals, consumables, and equipment; manage vendor relations, pricing agreements, procurement software integrations, and inventory replenishment, with clear turnaround times to minimize bottlenecks and delays for research. Maintain inventory for general consumables, reagents, chemicals, and media components, setting reorder points so the lab is always well supplied and critical items never run out. Manage shipping and receiving, including hazardous materials and cold-chain shipments, and coordinate dry ice, liquid nitrogen, and compressed gas supply. Manage the lab operations budget (consumables, service contracts, and equipment), track spend, and find cost savings through vendor negotiation, consolidation, and startup pricing programs. Set and enforce lab housekeeping standards so the lab stays clean, organized, and clutter-free, including shared benches, common equipment areas, cold storage, freezers, and storage spaces; lead periodic clean-outs and disposal of expired or unused materials. Able and willing to respond in case of a lab safety emergency. Oversee monthly laboratory floor cleaning and maintenance. Support R&D project work as required during crunch time. Equipment & Asset Management Oversee installation, commissioning, preventative maintenance, calibration, and repair for all lab equipment (autoclaves, centrifuges, bioreactors, growth chambers, BSCs, thermal cyclers, liquid and gas chromatography). Service contract negotiation, service technician coordination, and emergency troubleshooting. Develop SOPs for equipment usage, cleaning, and maintenance. Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) & Compliance Serve as the company’s EHS lead, including Chemical Hygiene Officer and Biosafety Officer, and own the EHS program for the San Carlos site. Ensure ongoing complia…

View the full posting and apply