Position - Lab Operations Specialist

Mission Statement

Through single-cell biology, computational biology, and artificial intelligence, Immunai is reprogramming the immune system to develop improved drugs and therapeutics.

Background

Immunai was founded in December 2018. We are a multidisciplinary team of immunologists, genomics technologists, computer scientists, engineers, mathematicians and operators singularly focused on solving an audacious challenge. Backed by some of the leading scientific minds in immunology, oncology, and single cell genomics, we are up for the challenge.

Immunai has begun the process of mapping millions of immune cells and their functions in order to build a proprietary data set for clinical immunological data. The immune system mapping will play an important role in boosting R&D efforts in developing targeted therapies for different diseases. The company noted that the immune system consists of trillions of cells that are divided into different cell types that perform different functions. Because of the complexity of the system, it can be difficult to determine how drugs will interact with the immune cells. This increased understanding can be used to boost clinical response to different cellular therapies.

Immunai’s mission is to map the immune system with neural networks and transfer learning techniques informed by deep immunology knowledge. We developed the tools and knowhow to help every immuno-oncology and cell therapy researcher excel at their job. This helps increase the speed in which drugs are developed and brought to market by elucidating their mechanisms of action and resistance.

Location - Rehovot, Israel

For details - www.immunai.com,

Reports to - Director, Clinical Lab Operations

Responsibilities

This position offers an opportunity to work in a highly-collaborative environment with world-leading scientists developing and applying state-of-the-art profiling technologies to a diverse set of projects at the intersection of the immune system and disease. The successful candidate will work in a fast-paced lab operations team and will interface closely with a multidisciplinary team of global operations, science teams, IT, HR, and finance teams. Reporting to the Director of Lab Operations, the Lab Operations Specialist, you’ll be responsible for managing existing lab partner relationships within NYC/IL, with a focus on scaling strategy, operational execution, quality, improvements, procurement, and budget management.

This is a hands-on role with significant potential to impact the Lab Operations of Immunai. You will be responsible for:

• Will evaluate operations and procurement activities of the laboratory; recommend improvements and modifications that will increase efficiency, decrease error rates and improve financial performance.
• Manage IL lab operation budgets (both CapEx and non-CapEx) and procurement/logistics, including tracking budget reallocations, commitments, expenditures, forecasts and analysis on a regular basis, not limited to providing financial reports to science leads.
• Evaluates, develops and implements new technical/operational procedures for the assigned laboratory to ensure accurate and efficient delivery of services.
• Schedule and maintain all lab equipment and resources to meet lab staff requirements, including harmonization of processes with the New York site.
• Coordinates the preparation of items to be shipped to various locations including, but not limited to, organization of bills of lading, packing slips, invoices, required licenses/permits and compliance documents.
• Identify opportunities for improvement related to on-time delivery or quality in the labs.
• Build positive working relationships with lab management teams to maximize scale andincentivize partnership.
• May perform basic lab wet work to assist scientists in the lab.
  
  

Requirements:

Qualifications

• BS with 2+ years experience, or MS education with no prior experience.
• Proven track record of improving KPIs for vendors or clients managed
• Proven experience with procurement, dealing and negotiating with vendors, opening POs, documenting invoices, et. (experience working with procurement programs preferred)
• Established, proven knowledge of good laboratory practice techniques, general safety controls and equipment procedures, universal precautions in biospecimen handling, and blood-borne pathogen training.
• Basic working knowledge of laboratory skills.
• Experience in laboratory sample asset and inventory management using LIMS (e.g., Benchling) and other record systems (preferred).
• Must be detail-oriented, with strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in spreadsheets, customer communications, and troubleshooting.
• Commitment to operational excellence.
• Ability to collaborate and work in a team environment
• Working experience in an agile environment
• Able to cope with pressure and tight deadlines and be change-oriented
• Strong problem-solving skills
  
  

Desired Personal traits

• You enjoy getting things done - with super high quality
• You collaborate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures
• You constantly challenge your own assumptions, pushing for continuous improvement
• You have a growth mindset
• You are candid, authentic, and transparent