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Materials Lab Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Until

Lab Manager

Mundelein, IL

$100K - $130K/yr

Manage shipping and receiving of laboratory materials, equipment, and biological samples ... Build and maintain a comprehensive Lab Operations Handbook documenting laboratory procedures ...

Atkore Management, LLC

Lab Technician

Merrillville, IN

$18.75 - $24.75/hr

Reporting to the Lab Manager, this person will be responsible for testing each sample thoroughly ... Perform mechanical, physical, electrical, or material testing in accordance with approved ...

Scotsman Ice

ENGINEERING LAB TECH

Vernon Hills, IL · On-site

Job Title Laboratory Technician Function Engineering Reports to Product Engineer/Lab Manager ... IDENTIFIES necessary parts, materials, and supplies for lab facilities and INITIATES replenishment ...

Atkore Management, LLC

Lab Technician

Merrillville, IN

$18.75 - $24.75/hr

Reporting to the Lab Manager, this person will be responsible for testing each sample thoroughly ... Perform mechanical, physical, electrical, or material testing in accordance with approved ...

Scotsman Ice Systems

ENGINEERING LAB TECH

Vernon Hills, IL · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Job Title Laboratory Technician Function Engineering Reports to Product Engineer/Lab Manager ... IDENTIFIES necessary parts, materials, and supplies for lab facilities and INITIATES replenishment ...

Atkore International Group

Lab Technician

Merrillville, IN

$18.75 - $24.75/hr

Reporting to the Lab Manager, this person will be responsible for testing each sample thoroughly ... Perform mechanical, physical, electrical, or material testing in accordance with approved ...

Atkore

Lab Technician

Merrillville, IN · On-site

$18.75 - $24.75/hr

Reporting to the Lab Manager, this person will be responsible for testing each sample thoroughly ... Perform mechanical, physical, electrical, or material testing in accordance with approved ...

Vinci

Materials Coordinator M/F

Chicago, IL · On-site

$100K - $130K/yr

Experience in a similar role, e.g. lab manager, materials technician, etc.... and knowledge of the Buy America Build America requirements would be an asset. * Certified as a Quality professional, e.g.

Actalent

Lab Technician

Bloomingdale, IL

$23 - $30/hr

This role focuses on testing raw materials and finished goods, generating precise and reliable ... Strong interpersonal and organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and interact effectively ...

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All JobsMaterials Lab JobsMaterials Lab Manager JobsMaterials Lab Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Materials Lab Manager information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$33.5K

$94.7K

$153.5K

How much do materials lab manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for materials lab manager in Chicago, IL is $94,732.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,100.00 and $114,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Materials Lab Manager vs Materials Technician?

CriteriaMaterials Lab ManagerMaterials Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in materials science, engineering, or related field; often some management experienceAssociate's or bachelor's degree; technical training in materials testing
Work EnvironmentOversees laboratory operations, manages staff, and ensures compliancePerforms testing and analysis of materials under supervision
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in manufacturing, construction, aerospace industriesCommonly employed in labs for testing materials' properties

The Materials Lab Manager typically oversees laboratory operations, manages staff, and ensures quality standards, requiring more experience and management skills. In contrast, the Materials Technician focuses on conducting tests and analyzing materials, often with technical training. Both roles are essential in industries like manufacturing and construction, but the manager has broader responsibilities and leadership duties.

What are popular job titles related to Materials Lab Manager jobs in Chicago, IL? For Materials Lab Manager jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Materials Lab Manager jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Materials Lab Manager jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Materials Lab Manager jobs near you

Lab Manager

Until

Mundelein, IL

$100K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

About the Company 

Until is a moonshot company building a “pause button” for biology. Our near-term focus is organ-scale reversible cryopreservation: preserving donated organs at subzero temperatures without ice formation, then rewarming them uniformly for transplant. By solving this grand challenge, we’re laying the foundation for whole-body reversible cryopreservation, giving patients a bridge to future cures.

To achieve our goal, we are assembling an interdisciplinary team to develop perfusion systems, cryoprotectant formulations, and vitrification and rewarming hardware.

We envision a future where no transplantable organ is lost to logistics, and no terminal diagnosis is final because patients can safely wait for future medicine to arrive.

About the Role

We are seeking an organized, proactive, and highly reliable Lab Operations Manager to own the day-to-day operations of Until's research laboratories. This person will be responsible for ensuring the lab runs efficiently, safely, and smoothly so that scientists can focus on research.

You'll oversee laboratory logistics, facilities, inventory, equipment maintenance, vendor relationships, and operational improvements across our growing research organization. As the company scales, you'll help build the systems, documentation, and infrastructure that enable world-class scientific work.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys creating order from complexity, takes pride in operational excellence, and thrives in fast-paced startup environments.

What You'll Do
Laboratory Operations

  • Ensure the laboratory remains clean, organized, and fully operational on a daily basis.

  • Wash, sterilize, and organize laboratory glassware.

  • Prepare laboratory solutions and buffers according to established protocols.

  • Refill and distribute commonly used laboratory reagents and consumables.

  • Coordinate hazardous and biological waste handling and disposal.

  • Lead recurring lab organization efforts and establish high standards for shared laboratory spaces.

Equipment & Facilities

  • Perform routine maintenance and cleaning of laboratory equipment, including centrifuges and other shared instruments.

  • Coordinate preventative maintenance, repairs, calibrations, and vendor service visits.

  • Partner with scientific teams to optimize laboratory layouts, bench space, equipment placement, and shared infrastructure.

  • Support laboratory expansion projects, renovations, equipment moves, and space planning.

  • Manage offsite storage and warehouse operations, including equipment organization and inventory consolidation.

Inventory & Logistics

  • Own laboratory inventory, ensuring critical supplies remain stocked while minimizing waste.

  • Manage shipping and receiving of laboratory materials, equipment, and biological samples.

  • Establish recurring purchasing processes and identify opportunities for operational cost savings.

  • Coordinate with vendors and suppliers to ensure timely delivery of laboratory materials.

Documentation & Process Improvement

  • Build and maintain a comprehensive Lab Operations Handbook documenting laboratory procedures, contacts, permits, certifications, and operational workflows.

  • Develop and maintain SOPs for laboratory operations and logistics.

  • Create documentation for specialized operational workflows, including transplant logistics and other program-specific activities.

  • Continuously improve laboratory systems, workflows, and organizational processes as the company grows.

Cross-functional Support

  • Partner closely with research teams to anticipate operational needs and remove bottlenecks.

  • Coordinate laboratory onboarding for new employees, including laboratory orientation and best practices.

  • Support scheduling and shared resource planning across multiple scientific teams.

  • Lead recurring laboratory cleanups and continuous improvement initiatives.

As You Grow in the Role
You'll have the opportunity to shape the long-term operational strategy for Until's laboratory infrastructure, including:

  • Scaling laboratory operations to support a rapidly growing research organization.

  • Designing inventory management systems and equipment tracking.

  • Evaluating new storage and facilities solutions.

  • Standardizing laboratory organization across teams.

  • Building preventive maintenance programs for laboratory equipment.

  • Improving operational efficiency through automation, process improvements, and thoughtful facility planning.

 
About You

  • Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, engineering, or a related scientific discipline (or equivalent laboratory operations experience).

  • 3+ years of laboratory operations, laboratory management, or research support experience.

  • Experience working in a research laboratory, biotech, life sciences, or startup environment.

  • Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.

  • Comfortable managing multiple priorities and solving operational problems independently.

  • Experience coordinating vendors, equipment maintenance, purchasing, or laboratory logistics.

  • Excellent written documentation and communication skills.

  • Able to lift and transport laboratory materials (up to approximately 50 lbs).

Nice to Have

  • Experience supporting BSL-2 or similar laboratory environments.

  • Experience with laboratory safety, EHS, or chemical inventory management.

  • Experience supporting laboratory build-outs, moves, or facilities projects.

  • Familiarity with procurement systems or inventory management software.

  • Experience developing SOPs and operational documentation.

Potential to flex for exceptional experience.

Benefits

  • Generous medical, dental and vision insurance coverage

  • Flexible time off and paid holidays

  • Competitive compensation package, including salary and equity

  • Access to a 401(k) retirement savings plan

  • FSA and commuter benefits

  • Daily lunch and dinners, plus a variety of snacks 

  • Monthly learning stipend

  • On-site fitness center

  • Quarterly team social budget

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.