Laboratory Operations Manager

Sarika Bio Inc. is a growing life sciences company built on a strong scientific foundation and dedicated to developing innovative medicines for diseases affecting large patient populations. Headquartered in New York, the company combines scientific rigor, operational excellence, and collaborative problem-solving to translate laboratory discoveries into meaningful therapeutic applications and advance promising candidates toward clinical trials. Our team works closely across disciplines, takes ownership of laboratory processes, and builds scalable systems that support scientific progress and the company’s long-term growth. Sarika Bio is committed to fostering an inclusive, ethical, and safety-conscious workplace where laboratory professionals can make a meaningful impact on the development of new treatments. Position Summary Sarika Bio is seeking an experienced and highly organized Lab Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of a laboratory focused on high-throughput antibody production and screening. This individual will ensure that the laboratory operates safely, efficiently, and reliably while supporting scientists in the rapid generation, purification, characterization, and screening of antibody candidates. The Lab Manager will combine hands-on scientific understanding with strong operational leadership. The successful candidate will establish and maintain scalable laboratory processes, coordinate equipment and automation platforms, manage inventory and vendors, support laboratory personnel, and promote high standards of data integrity, documentation, and experimental execution. This is an opportunity for a proactive laboratory professional to play a central role in building an efficient antibody discovery operation within a growing biotechnology company. Key Responsibilities Laboratory Operations Manage the daily operations of a high-throughput antibody production and screening laboratory. Ensure laboratory spaces, equipment, materials, and workflows are organized and ready to support ongoing research activities. Develop, implement, and continuously improve laboratory procedures, operational systems, and standard operating procedures. Coordinate laboratory schedules, shared resources, equipment use, and experimental priorities across multiple project teams. Identify operational bottlenecks and implement practical solutions that improve throughput, reproducibility, turnaround time, and laboratory capacity. Support the scale‑up of laboratory operations as programs, staffing, and screening volumes grow. Antibody Production and Screening Support Oversee workflows supporting recombinant antibody expression, production, purification, quality assessment, and high-throughput screening. Partner with scientists to maintain reliable and reproducible workflows across sample preparation, plate-based assays, cell-based assays, binding assays, and functional screening platforms. Support the implementation, maintenance, and optimization of automated liquid-handling systems and other high-throughput laboratory technologies. Monitor workflow performance and help establish operational metrics for production yield, assay success rates, cycle time, capacity, and sample quality. Coordinate the movement, labeling, storage, and tracking of antibody constructs, cell lines, proteins, reagents, plates, and experimental samples. Help evaluate and introduce new technologies, instruments, and workflows that improve antibody discovery capabilities. Equipment, Automation, and Facilities Manage laboratory equipment installation, qualification, calibration, preventive maintenance, repair, and service documentation. Serve as the primary point of contact for equipment vendors, service providers, building management, and laboratory support partners. Maintain accurate equipment inventories, service records, warranties, and maintenance schedules. Coordinate troubleshooting and minimize downtime for critical laboratory systems. Support the validation and routine operation of laboratory automation, including liquid handlers, plate readers, incubators, imagers, and related instrumentation. Assist with laboratory expansion, space planning, equipment purchases, and facility improvement projects. Inventory and Vendor Management Establish and maintain effective systems for reagent, consumable, sample, and supply inventory. Monitor stock levels, expiration dates, storage conditions, and usage trends to prevent experimental delays and unnecessary waste. Manage purchasing workflows, vendor relationships, service agreements, and laboratory operating budgets. Evaluate suppliers based on quality, reliability, cost, and delivery performance. Work with scientific teams to forecast material and equipment needs for planned studies and increased production volumes. Maintain organized records for purchase orders, invoices, service contracts, and laboratory expenses. Safety, Compliance, and Documentation Promote a strong culture of laboratory safety, quality, accountability, and responsible scientific conduct. Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable environmental health and safety requirements. Maintain laboratory safety documentation, training records, chemical inventories, safety data sheets, and waste‑disposal procedures. Coordinate required laboratory inspections, certifications, and safety training. Ensure proper handling, storage, and disposal of biological materials, chemicals, sharps, and laboratory waste. Support incident reporting, root‑cause investigations, corrective actions, and risk‑reduction initiatives. Reinforce expectations for complete, accurate, and timely laboratory documentation and data integrity. Team Collaboration Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and training plans for laboratory personnel. Coordinate onboarding and laboratory training for new employees. Foster a collaborative environment in which team members communicate effectively, share resources responsibly, and address problems constructively. Serve as a trusted operational partner who anticipates laboratory needs and follows issues through to resolution. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s or master’s degree in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioengineering, molecular biology, immunology, or a related scientific discipline. At least five years of relevant laboratory experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, antibody discovery, protein sciences, or a related environment. Previous experience managing laboratory operations, personnel, shared resources, or complex scientific workflows. Hands‑on knowledge of antibody or recombinant protein production, purification, characterization, or screening. Experience supporting high‑throughput, plate‑based, or automated laboratory workflows. Familiarity with mammalian cell culture, transient expression, protein purification, sample tracking, and assay execution. Experience managing laboratory equipment, service contracts, inventory, purchasing, and external vendors. Strong understanding of laboratory safety practices and documentation requirements. Demonstrated ability to organize multiple priorities, solve operational problems, and maintain attention to detail in a fast‑paced environment. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work effectively with scientists and colleagues across multiple technical disciplines. Preferred Qualifications Experience in an antibody discovery, therapeutic protein, biologics, or drug‑development organization. Experience with automated liquid‑handling systems, laboratory robotics, integrated screening workflows, or instrument scheduling software. Familiarity with antibody screening technologies such as ELISA, flow cytometry, biolayer interferometry, surface plasmon resonance, high‑content imaging, or cell‑based functional assays. Experience with laboratory information management systems, electronic laboratory notebooks, sample‑management systems, or laboratory inventory platforms. Experience establishing or scaling laboratory operations in a startup or rapidly growing biotechnology company. Familiarity with assay quality metrics, experimental controls, process improvement, and high‑throughput data workflows. Experience participating in laboratory buildouts, relocations, expansions, or major equipment installations. Knowledge of quality systems or regulated research environments is beneficial but not required. Attributes for Success The successful candidate will be: Highly organized, dependable, and attentive to detail. Comfortable balancing hands‑on laboratory needs with planning and administrative responsibilities. Proactive in identifying risks, inefficiencies, and future resource needs. Calm and solutions‑oriented when responding to equipment failures, shifting priorities, or operational challenges. Committed to scientific rigor, safety, data integrity, and ethical conduct. Collaborative and service‑minded while maintaining clear standards and accountability. Motivated by the opportunity to build scalable systems in a growing life sciences organization. Compensation and Benefits Sarika Bio offers a competitive compensation package designed to support employees professionally and personally. Benefits include: Competitive base salary and performance‑based compensation. Unlimited paid time off. Company 401(k) matching. Comprehensive, high‑quality health insurance. Opportunities for professional growth and increasing responsibility. A collaborative, mission‑driven environment with direct exposure to innovative therapeutic research. Equal Opportunity Sarika Bio Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We value diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to any status protected by applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr