Lab Manager

Job Description

Job Description

About Tiny Health

Tiny Health is advancing lifelong health, from the first 1,000 days to the last, and addressing chronic disease through precision microbiome science. Founded in 2020 and built by microbiome scientists and physicians, our testing platform reveals whether your microbiome is trending toward resilience or imbalances using shotgun metagenomics, proprietary AI, and one of the world's largest longitudinal datasets. Trusted by families and health practitioners alike, our research-backed gut and vaginal tests are redefining the microbiome as a cornerstone of personalized health through every life stage. Learn more at tinyhealth.com and poweredbytiny.com.

The Opportunity

As Lab Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day operations of Tiny Health's St. Louis laboratory while serving as a key contributor to our microbiome research and development efforts. This is a hands-on role for an experienced scientist who enjoys both bench work and laboratory leadership.

You will independently manage laboratory workflows including microbial culturing, DNA extraction, sequencing library preparation, sample processing, and protocol execution. Beyond maintaining efficient laboratory operations, you will help develop and optimize new protocols, design and execute experiments, analyze results, and contribute to advancing our microbiome science initiatives.

We are looking for someone who is highly organized, resourceful, and comfortable operating with significant autonomy. The ideal candidate enjoys solving problems, building systems, and taking ownership of both scientific and operational outcomes. This position reports directly to the Chief Science Officer and works closely with our broader science team.

What You’ll Do

• Manage day-to-day operations of Tiny Health's St. Louis laboratory

• Perform microbiology and molecular biology workflows, including bacterial culturing, DNA extraction, library preparation, and sample processing

• Develop, optimize, document, and implement laboratory protocols and standard operating procedures

• Design and execute experiments to support internal research and product development initiatives

• Analyze experimental results and communicate findings to cross-functional stakeholders

• Maintain laboratory inventory, supplies, equipment, and consumables

• Manage laboratory purchasing, shipping, vendor relationships, and budget tracking

• Ensure compliance with laboratory safety standards and quality control procedures

• Troubleshoot technical challenges and identify opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency

• Collaborate with scientists, bioinformaticians, and external partners to advance research objectives

• Maintain accurate laboratory records and experimental documentation

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's, Master's, or equivalent experience in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, or a related field

• 5+ years of hands-on laboratory experience in microbiology, molecular biology, or related disciplines

• Experience culturing and maintaining bacterial strains under sterile conditions

• Experience with DNA extraction, PCR, NGS library preparation, and related molecular biology techniques

• Demonstrated ability to develop, optimize, and implement laboratory protocols

• Experience independently designing and executing experiments

• Ability to perform basic statistical analysis and interpret experimental data

• Experience managing laboratory inventory, supplies, equipment, and operational workflows

• Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to work independently and prioritize competing responsibilities in a fast-paced environment

Preferred

• Experience working with microbiome, microbial ecology, or sequencing-based research programs

• Experience with shotgun metagenomic sequencing workflows

• Experience managing laboratory budgets, purchasing, and vendor relationships

• Previous experience in a startup, biotech, or early-stage company environment

• Familiarity with R, Python, or other tools for basic data analysis and visualization

• Experience supporting product development or translational research programs

• Work experience in DTC health, diagnostics, or wellness companies

• Experience working remotely, with proficiency in Slack

• Self-directed, proactive, and comfortable with ambiguity

How we work

• A mission that actually pulls people in
  We make the microbiome measurable and actionable at every life stage, and real people write in to say it's life-changing.

• Remote-first, real overlap
  Our FTEs are based in North America and work core hours from 9am–6pm CST, shiftable by up to two hours either way — start at 7am or 11am, wrap at 4pm or 8pm.

• Written first, huddle second, meet last
  Default to a clear Slack post, huddle when a thread stalls, and meet only to make a real decision.

• Fast, but never sloppy
  Do the two-month thing in two weeks, then check the work—shipping errors is rework, not speed.

• Shape what we build, not just how we build it
  There's no playbook waiting for you, so write it—and bring the alternative, not just the objection.

• Day One mentality
  Fewer titles and layers; process is a guardrail where it counts, never the reason something didn't ship.

• No hidden agendas
  Numbers, misses, and feedback are shared openly and in real time, so you always know where you stand.

• High standards, genuinely fun people
  Take the work seriously and ourselves much less—high-performing and fun to be around is the hiring bar.

• Is this pace for you?
  Venture-scaled and on a steep trajectory, with intensity in spikes, fiercely protected flexibility, and faster growth than anywhere else.

Our Values

1. Learn Fast, Get Better - Find the root cause, not just the fix, and get better every time

2. Be Relentlessly Resourceful - Dig for the answer, move fast, and know when to ask for help

3. Act Like an Owner, Be Hungry to Win - Act like it’s your company, and do whatever it takes to win

4. Act with Honesty and Empathy - Say what’s true, and say it with care

5. Delight People by Anticipating Their Needs - Solve the problem, then get two steps ahead of it