Lab Equipment Manager, Research Office, NIIMBL

Pay Grade: 31E

Context of Job: 

Under general direction of the Laboratory Operations Manager the Laboratory Equipment Manager is responsible for ensuring the capital assets and equipment needed for the technical operations at the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) are in good working order. The work will involve a wide range of equipment including prototype and commercially available instrumentation. This individual will ensure the safe, organized, and efficient operation of these assets to ensure alignment with the needs of the laboratory staff.

The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is dedicated to supporting the manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. NIIMBL is established by a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a public/private consortium of member organizations, including industry, academia, non-profit organizations, state governments, and federal agencies, and is a member of the Manufacturing USA network of institutes funded by the federal government to advance United States competitiveness in advanced manufacturing innovation. Institutionally at the University of Delaware, NIIMBL reports to the Vice President for Research, Scholarship & Innovation.

The most high-profile activities that NIIMBL does are the execution of technical projects to advance the readiness levels of relevant technologies, assays, and methods. These projects include scopes of scientific work that generally include many organizations as partners and collaborators. For example, a project may involve experimental studies, at a level consistent with best practices found in the biopharmaceutical industry, and include scientists from several large and small companies, a scientist from a federal agency, and a scientist from a University. Many of these projects will be hosted at the University of Delaware in a state-of-the-art laboratory facility purpose-built for such studies. These projects will involve a diverse set of technologies and approaches and address drug substance, drug product, and analytical needs by the industry appropriate to several types of biopharmaceuticals: vaccines, therapeutic proteins and antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, gene therapy vectors, and cell therapies, among others.

Major Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates NIIMBL’s Core Values in daily conduct and ensures all decisions, actions, and teamwork practices align with the organization’s Business Principles.
• Manage and track laboratory equipment inventory, including delivery, storage, location, and asset tags to ensure safe operations and maximum operational capacity.
• Respond to building automation system alarms.
• Track and project equipment maintenance costs, including service contracts.
• Maintain, update, and archive working protocols, user manuals, and standard operating procedures, working with PIs and lab technical specialists.
• Develop equipment scheduling plan and manage scheduling calendar.
• Manage and log lab equipment maintenance, service, and repairs, including any remote monitoring services.
• Serve as primary contact for equipment vendors to solicit and/or schedule service contracts and routine preventative maintenance.
• Work with equipment manufacturers, or other vendors, for minor troubleshooting, repairs, and calibrations.
• Participate in decisions on repairs, upgrades, and replacements based on discussions with users and/or recurring problems with calibration checks or maintenance.
• Identify emerging challenges and gaps in equipment and services and make recommendations to the Lab Operations Manager and Director, Technical Operations.
• Support, coordinate, and participate in LIMS and ELN implementation, maintenance, and management.
• Respond to, and assess, equipment related alerts, notices, alarms, and service requests.
• Provide support and training when applicable.
• Coordinate and work with NIIMBL project teams, some of whom will be visiting researchers from member organizations.
• Perform other administrative or technical responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, or relevant life science discipline preferred with 5 years of relevant experience managing, fixing, maintaining, and calibrating specialized laboratory equipment, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Practical experience working with equipment in a laboratory-based environment with preference for experience in a GxP environment.
• Possess a contribution mindset fueled by an inner drive to take initiative without being directed.
• Ability to apply critical thinking and proactively problem-solve.
• Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Microsoft Project skills.
• Excellent organization and planning skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to adhere to standards procedures.
• Ability to function in a rapidly changing environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and managing skills with the desire to work collaboratively and effectively in a team environment
• Ability to demonstrate effective leadership through communication, respect, influence, persuasion, and trust.