Connect Program Manager

Role Overview

Connect enables Covalent to extend its analytical services beyond its own laboratory by engaging a curated and vetted network of 500+ partner labs worldwide. The movement of samples, quotes, and results across our network requires constant monitoring and corrective action to ensure that customer timelines and analysis requirements are met.


The Connect Program Manager serves as the operational owner of the external partner lab workflow, combining hands-on project execution with strategic development of partner relationships, operational processes, and scalable systems. This role serves as the primary operational hub between customers, and Covalent Technical Leads, Project Managers, Operations, and partner laboratories, ensuring projects move efficiently from acceptance through final delivery while supporting continued growth of the Connect ecosystem.


The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment and brings strong ownership of project execution, supplier performance, workflow improvement, and partner communications.


Key Responsibilities

Job Tracking & Delivery Management
• Own day-to-day execution of external partner lab projects from acceptance through completion
• Track project milestones, commit dates, turnaround times, and delivery performance
• Maintain project dashboards, status updates, and operational visibility
• Escalate delivery risks and drive issues to resolution


Partner Lab Coordination & Supplier Management
• Serve as primary operational contact for partner laboratories
• Build and maintain strong partner relationships
• Coordinate RFQs, quote follow-up, submission forms, sample requirements, and project updates
• Monitor partner performance across responsiveness, quality, pricing, and turnaround time
• Support onboarding and qualification of new partner laboratories


Financial
• Issue purchase orders to partner labs and maintain Digital Traveler records
• Verify job revenue, cost, and margin both before and after analysis and escalate discrepancies
• Negotiate discounts with partner labs for large jobs


Sample Logistics & Administrative Operations
• Coordinate sample shipments, returns, and supporting documentation
• Ensure documentation packages are complete prior to shipment


Process Improvement & Marketplace Development
• Develop supplier scorecards and performance metrics
• Identify and implement workflow improvements
• Support automation and AI-enabled operational tools
• Improve operational visibility, scalability, and supplier utilization


Cross-Functional Support
• Partner with Tech Ops, Sales Ops, Operations, Technical Leads, Finance, and Project Managers


Qualifications

Required
• 4+ years of experience in operations, supplier management, project coordination, laboratory services, manufacturing operations, or related fields
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Experience coordinating external vendors or suppliers
• Excellent communication and follow-through
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, high attention to detail


Preferred
• Experience in laboratory services, analytical testing, scientific operations, or technical services
• Experience with supplier performance management and process development
• Familiarity with quoting workflows, purchase orders, vendor onboarding, and contract administration
• Experience in ISO-regulated or quality-driven environments
• Experience with CRM, LIMS, ERP, or workflow management systems


Success Metrics

• On-time delivery performance

• Accurate job, sample tracking, data accuracy and dashboard maintenance

• Responsiveness to customers and partner labs
• Timely escalation of operational risks

Why Join Covalent

At Covalent, you'll work alongside world-class scientists and engineers in a dynamic, collaborative environment. We empower our team members to take ownership of their work, innovate constantly, and engage directly with customers, shaping the future of technology.

About Covalent

Covalent is a modern analytical services and engineering consulting company based in the San Francisco Bay Area (Sunnyvale). Our mission is to accelerate materials science innovation by serving as a problem-solving partner for technology leaders of all sizes and providing access to outstanding data generated quickly and cost-effectively.

Covalent provides cutting-edge tools and expertise to equip our customers with the high-quality experimental data and insights they need to achieve their goals.

The pay range for this role is:

95,000 - 125,000 USD per year (Covalent Sunnyvale)