Senior Scientific Platform and Laboratory Operations Manager at University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Senior Scientific Platform and Laboratory Operations Manager

Med-Trivedi Institute - Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh - (26001207)

The Senior Scientific Platform and Laboratory Operations Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership for the establishment, integration, and management of advanced bioengineering, organoid, and multi-organ-on-chip platforms within the Center for Space Biomanufacturing, Synthetic Biology, and Digital Health at the Trivedi Institute for Space and Global Medicine. This role supports multidisciplinary investigators and oversees laboratory infrastructure, personnel, and specialized research environments.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide input to the development of goals, strategic plans, and operational priorities for the assigned laboratory and shared research platforms.
• Assist in the preparation and administration of laboratory budgets to support agreed upon scientific and operational objectives.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and administration of technical policies, procedures, and standards.
• Communicate sectional, departmental, institutional, and hospital policies to laboratory personnel and ensure full compliance with regulatory, safety, and quality requirements.
• Provide human resource management and day to day operational leadership for the laboratory, including supervision, mentoring, and performance oversight of students, research associates, and technical staff.
• Provide professional advice and technical direction to laboratory personnel on complex or sensitive experimental procedures and operational challenges; adapt methods, workflows, and equipment as needed to resolve technical issues.
• Lead the setup, integration, and operation of a multi investigator organoid and multi organ on chip research platform.
• Oversee procurement, installation, validation, operation, and maintenance of advanced laboratory equipment and specialized environmental systems, including controlled environmental chambers, animal research facilities, and vacuum or space hardware testing chambers.
• Assist with laboratory purchasing, inventory management, vendor interactions, and evaluation of new and improved equipment, technologies, products, and services.
• Oversee routine and preventative maintenance of laboratory instrumentation to ensure optimal operational efficiency, reliability, and data quality.
• Assist in the development, evaluation, and implementation of new laboratory methods, tests, and techniques, considering scientific rigor, cost, throughput, and accuracy prior to recommendation for institutional use.
• Participate in the development and continuous improvement of laboratory standards and procedures supporting shared platform operations.
• Oversee and coordinate educational and training activities for laboratory personnel, ensuring appropriate onboarding, technical competency, and compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements.
• Remain current with advances in organoid systems, 3D cell culture, bioprinting, microfluidics, and related technologies, and apply emerging best practices to platform development and laboratory operations.
• Maintain records related to laboratory performance, operational efficiency, expenditures, and resource utilization; prepare or assist in the preparation of reports and participate in the analysis and resolution of operational challenges.
• Ensure adherence to mandatory reporting requirements for any incident or serious event that did affect, or could potentially have affected, research integrity, safety, or clinical care.

Job Summary

Directs day-to-day laboratory operations while ensuring compliance with safety regulations and best practices. Works with, adapts, and installs scientific equipment in research laboratories. Develops complex projects and procedures independently. Manages inventory and equipment and performs budget functions. Writes grant applications and manuscripts independently.

Essential Functions

Ability to operate effectively in an academic research environment with strong translational and technology development components.

Demonstrated analytical and organizational skills to develop, implement, and update laboratory standards, protocols, and operating procedures across complex experimental platforms.

Strong interpersonal and leadership skills to coordinate activities among faculty investigators, students, research associates, and external partners.

Technical expertise in organoid and 3D cell culture systems, microfluidics, immunocytochemistry, gene editing, advanced microscopy, environmental and bioreactor chambers, and multi-omics workflows.

Physical Effort

Moderate physical effort required.

May be required to stand/move for several hours at a time.

May be required to move objects up to 50 pounds with or without assistance of equipment.

Assignment Category: Full-time regular

Job Classification: Staff.Laboratory Manager IV

Job Family: Research

Job Sub Family: Laboratory

Campus: Pittsburgh

Minimum Education Level Required: Bachelor's Degree

Minimum Years of Experience Required: 7

Will this position accept substitution in lieu of education or experience: Combination of education and relevant experience will be considered in lieu of education and/ or experience requirement.

Additional details about Required Licensure/Certification: Masters or Doctorate degree preferred. Experience in bioengineering, cell biology, synthetic biology, biomedical engineering, or a related discipline required. Demonstrated experience in advanced cell culture systems, organoids, microfluidics, or tissue-on-chip platforms required. Prior experience in laboratory operations, platform development, or scientific project coordination strongly preferred. Supervisory and/or lab management experience required.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Work Arrangement: On-Campus: Teams that work on campus, in an office, or in a lab.

Hiring Range: $71,364 - $101,100 annually

Relocation_Offered: No

Visa Sponsorship Provided: Yes

Background Check: For position finalists, employment with the University will require successful completion of a background check

Child Protection Clearances: Not Applicable

Required Documents: Resume

Optional Documents: Cover Letter