Lab Operations Associate - Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
CIC Offices – Lab Operations /
Full-time /
On-site
Are you excited to create an incredible environment and experience for users of a shared wet lab, care for a dynamic lab space every day including making changes and improvements, and work in a fast-paced and collaborative environment?
CIC seeks a highly capable, action-oriented and team-motivated individual to support the day-to-day operations of shared wet lab space and equipment on behalf of many users and projects. This is a great opportunity for you if you have at least one year of hands-on experience in a lab environment, offer solutions to the problems you see, like to test approaches to make continuous improvements, want to make a difference in an operational role with the opportunity for growth, and are motivated by exceeding the expectations of those around you.
ABOUT OUR SHARED WET LABS
Our shared wet labs provide science start ups a way to get to work and leave the operational details with us. With ample space, a wide range of equipment, basic lab supplies and inventory, and a dedicated team, our clients can keep their focus on the critical parts of their business while we do the rest.
We staff our shared wet lab space to support and consolidate purchasing and shipping/receiving, to enforce environmental health and safety protocols as well as hazardous waste management and removal, and to provide access, orientation and guidance on the proper handling of all our shared lab equipment lab equipment (such as: microscopes, centrifuges, plate readers, scales, PCR machines, cell counters and cell analysis equipment, flow cytometry, incubators, shakers, and fridges and freezers.)
YOUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK
You will join our shared wet lab team as one of our operations associates. Your work is a mix of managing operations, equipment, and facilities, as well as being responsible for our clients’ experience while partnering with our shared workspace teams.
Potential responsibilities will include, and may be done independently or part of a team effort:
• Maintenance of the lab’s cleanliness, order, and general environment and space.
• Regular, routine, and precise upkeep of lab equipment to ensure successful functioning (i.e. scheduled maintenance and care of lab equipment, routine daily checks on instruments and their function).
• Simple repair of lab equipment (troubleshoot routine maintenance issues, schedule and/or troubleshoot non-standard issues).
• Learn, understand, and assist with standard operating procedures for the start-up, use, and shutdown of shared equipment, and be available to all client users to help them with the same.
• Track and maintain stock inventory (consumables, reagents, and essential supplies).
• Assist the lab manager and other lab staff with special projects and initiatives; routine tasks; the handling and disposal of liquid and solid waste; and the standard appropriate handling, storing, and disposal of chemical biohazard waste.
• Support our amazing clients who are working on innovative and cutting-edge research projects.
ABOUT YOU
It’s not expected that you’ll know everything that we do on day one, but you should be ready to train with us, learn on the job, seek new information, and learn independently.
More specifically, as our ideal candidate, you are:
• Service-minded and lab focused.
• Reliable, clever, and able to work independently to connect the dots.
• Constantly looking around corners and anticipating potential hold-ups.
• Excited and eager to merge work that is lab/tech focused with relationship building and client-facing work.
• Willing, able, and happy to help.
• Driven to keep order around you.
• Experienced in performing in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to communicate creatively and effectively with your team and clients, in person and in writing.
• Highly attentive to detail and quality control.
• Willing to proactively seek out and master new skills.
• Someone who treats everyone as an equal and as important.
YOU HAVE
• A bachelor’s degree in laboratory science, chemistry, biology or another life science, or equivalent work experience.
• At least 1 year of hands-on lab experience.
• Strong understanding of GLP concepts and lab safety practices
• The ability to lift over 40 pounds and work on your feet for several hours at a time.
• Experience working with biohazardous material and/or working in a Biosafety Level 2 lab are a big plus
• An interest in a long-term role — we are a growing company, and we like folks to grow with us!
If you don't meet all the requirements or qualifications but bring some other unique skills and experience that would be valuable in this role, please apply and highlight those attributes for us in your cover letter.
OUR OFFER
• Starting compensation is $55,000.
• 100% company-paid premium healthcare and dental benefits.
• 100% company-paid long- and short-term disability, and life insurance.
• 401k (must be 21+).
• 18 days of PTO accrued annually (more with seniority), plus thirteen holidays from the start.
ATTRACTIONS OF THE JOB
In addition to helping our clients achieve great things, we work to ensure that our employees are healthy and supported. Some of the benefits of being here include:
• Fun people in a dynamic space. We pride ourselves on finding driven and bright collaborators who are eager to lend their own unique skills to the team, as well as to our inspiring clientele. The number one reason CICers say they like working here is because of their colleagues!
• Personal growth. This is a great opportunity to learn and develop skills within the epicenter of the innovation community at a growing company.
• Discounted services and memberships on resources to make your life happier/healthier such as gym memberships, tech and design support, hotel stays, and other fantastic options.
• Access to Venture Café Philadelphia, a weekly Thursday gathering involving high-impact programming designed to engage the broader entrepreneurial community.
• Did we mention a great environment? Expertly designed workspace that inspires innovation and community in a great neighborhood in Philly.
ABOUT CIC
CIC is a global leader in building and operating innovation communities. Founded in 1999 in Cambridge, MA, CIC is one of the first companies to offer flexible office space and coworking options, providing a platform for the world’s most impactful entrepreneurs to innovate better and faster.
We have locations in Boston, Cambridge, Philadelphia, Providence, Rotterdam, St. Louis, Warsaw, and Tokyo and are growing into other cities within the US and abroad. CIC has supported over 6,000 startups, growth companies, and branches of larger organizations, representing for-profit, mission-driven, and non-profit sectors across a wide array of industries.
CIC co-founded a number of mission-aligned organizations including Venture Café, CIC’s primary public benefit programming partner, and CIC Health, offering COVID-19 testing services to companies and the public.
ABOUT CIC PHILADELPHIA
CIC Philadelphia is located within uCity Square at 3675 Market Street, alongside our local partner, the University City Science Center. At 3675 Market, we offer world-class offices and one of the largest shared wet lab facilities in the nation, while the Science Center supports its nationally recognized technology commercialization programs, as well as new programs focused on mentoring, funding, strategy development and resources to accelerate businesses from idea to IPO and beyond.
Our shared wet labs provide science start-ups a way to get to work and leave the operational details with us. With ample space, a wide range of equipment, basic lab supplies and inventory, and a dedicated team, our clients can keep their focus on the critical parts of their business while we do the rest. We staff our shared wet lab space to support and consolidate logistics, to enforce environmental health and safety protocols, and to provide access, orientation and guidance on the proper handling of all our shared lab equipment.
Together with the University City Science Center, we serve Philadelphia’s startups and serial entrepreneurs, aiming to catalyze and accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in Greater Philadelphia. We are motivated by our amazing clients and aim to meet their needs every day.
CIC is committed to building teams that reflect the fabric of the cities we support. We welcome all candidates regardless of race, color, ancestry, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, Veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Any other human expressions and experiences not mentioned here are equally welcome. If you require an accommodation please let us know. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
