Lab Manager Jobs in Wakefield, MA (NOW HIRING)

Orum Therapeutics is a KOSDAQ-listed biotech pioneering degrader-antibody conjugate (DAC) therapies. Our Lexington lab is the operational core of our US R&D — and this role keeps it running. We're looking for a Lab Manager who walks in every morning asking 2018how can I help?2019 2014 and then goes and does it.

About the Role

This is a hands-on, high-ownership lab operations role supporting both the Chemistry and Biology teams. You'll oversee the day-to-day functioning of a ~9,000 sq ft research lab, manage a Lab Associate who you'll help hire, and be the connective tissue between scientists, vendors, facilities, and finance. Chemistry instrument fluency is non-negotiable — HPLC, LC-MS/MS, lyophilizers, and nitrogen generators are mission-critical to our research and need a dedicated owner who can troubleshoot, not just schedule PMs.

Key Responsibilities

Core Lab Operations & Equipment

• Oversee common area cleanliness, organization, and decontamination of high-touch surfaces
• Coordinate receipt of lab deliveries — open, inventory, and log incoming chemical and reagent shipments before distribution to scientists; maintain chemical inventory in the ELN
• Manage glasswash and autoclave cycles
• Order and stock consumables, PPE, and lab supplies in coordination with science team leads
• Own preventive maintenance scheduling for chemistry and biology instruments: LC-MS/MS, HPLC/UHPLC, lyophilizers, nitrogen generators, flow cytometers, CO2 incubators, plate readers, glassware washers, and cold storage
• Troubleshoot equipment issues directly — chemistry instrument knowledge is the priority
• Host service technician visits and manage service contract renewals
• Maintain chemical inventory and ELN coverage
• Willingness to learn LC-MS/MS monthly calibration (~4 hours/month) — not required at onboarding, but expected over time

Shipping & Receiving

• Manage all R&D outbound shipments including MSDS/CoA creation, shipping invoices, and international compliance — this is a high-volume task requiring dedicated oversight
• Coordinate inbound shipments in partnership with Inventory Control Associate
• Ensure DOT/IATA compliance including hazardous materials documentation and dry ice certification

Safety & Compliance

• Perform weekly safety inspections: safety showers, eyewashes, fire extinguishers
• Coordinate chemistry and biological waste disposal
• Manage DOT/hazmat compliance and dry ice (IATA) certifications for relevant staff
• Oversee EHS compliance and SOP maintenance in partnership with Safety Partners — Lab Manager coordinates scheduling, tracking, and DIA-approved pipeline completion
• Maintain fire warden accountability list and support pest control program decisions

Procurement & Finance

• Generate POs for lab materials and equipment
• Manage lab software license inventory and renewals
• Participate in quarterly budget activities and interface with the finance team on lab-related spend

Vendor & Facilities Coordination

• Serve as primary point of contact for external contractors: plumbers, electricians, fire department, and building management
• Coordinate facility-related issues (HVAC, thermostat, mechanical room, glass panel contingency) with building management and facility manager
• Support lab moves, buildouts, and facility improvements; potential to absorb facilities coordination currently shared with Operations

Systems & Knowledge Management

• Own and maintain the Ops ticketing system (Smartsheet) — full institutional knowledge handoff from outgoing Lab Manager required on day one
• Maintain the Confluence US Lab Operations Wiki as the living documentation home for lab procedures and SOPs
• Manage software license renewals for the lab team in coordination with IT

Team Leadership

• Hire, onboard, and directly supervise a Lab Associate; scope their role and co-design their responsibilities
• Mentor the Lab Associate and actively support their development — this is explicit, not optional
• Serve as the escalation point for lab ops issues across both chemistry and biology teams

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a closely related field — chemistry instrument fluency is the critical dependency for this role
• 3+ years of lab operations or lab management experience in a biotech or pharma setting
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with analytical chemistry instrumentation: HPLC, LC-MS/MS, lyophilizers, and nitrogen generators — must be comfortable troubleshooting, not just coordinating service calls
• Strong organizational skills; able to manage competing priorities across multiple simultaneous workstreams
• Service-oriented mindset — proactively identifies what's needed and acts without being asked
• Comfortable operating at all levels of the task spectrum: from managing a vendor contract to helping receive a shipment

Preferred

• Experience with ELN systems for chemical inventory entry and management
• Familiarity with DOT/IATA shipping compliance and hazardous materials handling
• Experience with Smartsheet or similar ops/ticketing tools
• Prior experience hiring or supervising junior lab staff

Work Environment & Logistics

• Full-time, on-site, Lexington MA
• Occasional after-hours availability expected for equipment failures or urgent facility issues — not 24/7 on-call, but responsiveness matters
• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs; comfortable working with laboratory chemicals and reagents

U.S. citizens and those authorized to work in the U.S. are encouraged to apply. We are unable to sponsor or transfer visas at this time. Candidates must be able to pass a background investigation. We are unable to work with third-party candidates or agencies.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Orum Therapeutics is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).