Associate, Laboratory Operations

Position Summary

The Associate, Laboratory Operations is responsible for supporting the day-to-day operational effectiveness, readiness, and compliance of the Process Sciences and Analytical Technologies (PSAT) laboratory spaces in Gaithersburg while serving as a key link between scientific users, laboratory operations, site services, vendors, and cross-functional stakeholders. This role ensures laboratories are safe, well-stocked, organized, functional, and equipped to support scientific work efficiently. The position also partners with laboratory users on instrument coordination, reagent and supply management, onboarding and training support, and communication of lab operational priorities and issues. The role combines hands-on laboratory support responsibilities with internal coordination and continuous improvement activities that are currently split across outsourced lab support and scientist-led lab operations activities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Laboratory Operations & Site Support

• Serve as a primary point of contact for day-to-day laboratory operations needs for lab users in Gaithersburg, coordinating support activities and helping resolve routine operational issues in a timely manner.

• Help maintain an organized, safe, and efficient working laboratory environment, including oversight of common-use supplies, PPE, lab coats, glassware, consumables, and other operational stock items in and around laboratory spaces.

• Support routine laboratory readiness activities, including stock replenishment, workspace organization, cold storage coordination, and general operational follow-through to minimize interruptions to scientific work.

• Assist with freezer, refrigerator, and cold room cleanouts, and support communication and coordination during cold storage outages or repairs, including tracking inventory moves and notifying impacted users.

• Provide operational support during equipment or infrastructure issues, including coordination of backup storage actions and documentation for temperature-sensitive units when needed.

2. Instrument & Vendor Coordination

• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external service providers to support laboratory instrumentation uptime, maintenance visits, repairs, and service scheduling. This includes acting as a liaison for vendor access and ensuring laboratory users are informed of service timing and status.

• Partner with scientists and lab users to help determine and manage appropriate allocation of laboratory space for instruments, reagents, and shared resources.

• Ensure instrument usage and operational activities are tracked accurately in partnership with Facilities Management and Laboratory Operations teams, as well as laboratory personnel and equipment end users.

3. Inventory, Reagents & Materials Management

• Maintain and help manage inventories for common laboratory reagents, consumables, and selected critical reagents used by scientific teams, including monitoring stock levels and coordinating replenishment as needed.

• Support stewardship of shared laboratory materials and inventory systems to improve visibility, readiness, and continuity of lab operations.

4. Training, Communication & User Support

• Support onboarding and orientation of new laboratory users, staff, and visitors by providing general laboratory inductions and guidance on operational practices, shared resources, and site expectations.

• Provide training support for common lab operational workflows and, where applicable, assist with assay or instrument-related user training in partnership with scientific subject matter experts.

• Communicate updates to lab users regarding operational requests, equipment service events, cold storage issues, and other relevant lab activities in a clear and timely manner.

• Facilitate or support meetings with stakeholders to identify, review, and resolve laboratory support issues, escalating when necessary.

5. Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Partner with laboratory users, line safety representatives, and support teams to maintain a high standard of laboratory safety, compliance, and housekeeping.

• Complete documentation in accordance with Good Documentation Practice and maintain required training and compliance in health and safety, security, environmental, and operational procedures.

• Support 5S and other continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen laboratory organization, standardization, and service delivery.

6. Cross-Functional Partnership & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with scientists, lab operations colleagues, facilities, ser