Lab Technician II, Lab Ops

POSITION SUMMARY

CARGO Therapeutics is hiring a Lab Technician II, LabOps to join a growing team to support our expanding lab operations. Reporting to the Senior Lab Manager, the successful applicant will be eager to learn and able to work with urgency in an ever changing environment. The ideal candidate will also be operationally minded, able to multitask, organize multiple efforts, and be comfortable supporting several dynamic and diverse teams. This role will assist and execute the daily activities of the laboratory and provide general lab support as needed. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter and great communicator with a keen sense of both execution and collaboration in a multi-disciplinary setting. The role is based in San Mateo, CA.

WHAT YOU’LL DO AT CARGO THERAPEUTICS

The Lab Technician II will support laboratory facilities and equipment, laboratory safety procedures, and inventory management.

OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE:

• Join Cargo Therapeutics as a Lab Technician II where you will be part of team dedicated to supporting the labs and scientists of R&D, Technical Operations, Translational Research and Discovery Research
• The goal is to manage and optimize the lab operation processes in order to create an efficient lab space for our scientists
• Through collaboration with other supporting functions, the position is responsible for day-to-day lab operations including oversight of equipment, consumables, safety, lab moves, and facilities within the department
• This position will report to the Senior Lab Manager and will work closely with Facilities, IT, Quality, EH&S, Finance, Procurement, and multiple externals including service providers and supply vendors

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Assists for point of contact for lab operations between internal department stakeholders and internal partners including Facilities, Space Planning, EH&S, Procurement, and IT
• Supports the GLP laboratory equipment lifecycle in compliance with applicable SOPs and works closely with vendors, Facilities, Validation, QC, and Quality
• Executes good laboratory upkeep and regulatory compliance, establishing work practices and standard operating procedures
• Assists Manager as point of contact for vendor service calls, preventative maintenance, modifications, and installation on instruments with minimal supervision
• Establishes standard operating procedures for the general use and maintenance of laboratory equipment
• Assists Manager with equipment inventory and services including calibration, maintenance, service contract renewal, software/hardware upgrades, decommissioning, and moves for existing equipment
• Assists Manager with maintenance, management, and response to remote monitoring systems
• Manages internal laboratory general stock inventory of reagents and consumables, as well as lab gasses (CO2, LN2, etc)
• Assists Manager with lab safety initiatives through collaboration with all science teams
• Advocates for our safety culture, driving continuous improvements, and ensuring SDS documentation is current, complete, and accessible for all team members
• Assists Manager with laboratory renovation and improvement projects
• Manages and administrate integrated systems and platforms
• Identifies opportunities and then establishes and leads initiatives to optimize processes
• Able to learn technical knowledge in Lab Operations, specifically in the areas of consumable, space, and equipment management, and EHS.
• Must be a good communicator and willing to ask questions when unsure of path forward
• Will be primary interface for scientists in the lab on a day-to-day basis
• Willing to contribute ideas which can impact the lab in a positive way, focusing on improving efficiency and ease of operations within the lab setting
• Leads small special projects to support operations, such as organizing lab cleaning, freezer defrosting, and space planning

THE RIGHT STUFF: Required Experience & Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or higher in molecular biology or related field; degree in a scientific discipline preferred
• 1-2 years of relevant work experience required; lab management/operation experience in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry preferred
• Prior experience successfully working with external vendors preferred
• Detail-oriented and safety-focused
• Driven, team-oriented, successful working in a dynamic start-up environment, with a strong desire to learn
• Comfortable in a fast-paced company environment with potentially minimal direction and able to adjust workload based upon changing priorities
• Ability to lift/move 20 lbs

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• History of supporting laboratories through various phases of growth
• Experience with laboratory move logistics

PAY RANGE

The combined pay range for this role is $60,000 - $95,000. Title and salary will be based on our assessment of skills and experience relevant to our needs for the role.

ABOUT CARGO THERAPEUTICS

CARGO Therapeutics is engineering best-in-class CAR T-cell therapy to overcome resistance to cancer treatment and address barriers to access so that more patients may benefit from potentially curative therapies. CARGO is on a mission to outsmart cancer by advancing a new generation of best-in-class chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. Despite advances made by commercially available autologous CARs, these treatments are curative for fewer than half of all cancer patients. In addition, far too many patients are unable to access these potentially curative therapies due to other challenges, including manufacturing, supply constraints, slow turnaround time and reimbursement hurdles. The team at CARGO is intensely focused on pursuing novel solutions to achieve better cancer treatment outcomes and experiences.

Our founders are pioneers and world experts in CAR T-cell therapy, and we have built a team with experience and success developing, manufacturing, launching and commercializing oncology and cell therapy products. CARGO Therapeutics colleagues share a passion to help others thrive. We are tenacious in the relentless pursuit of our mission, and we innovate to change the game for the patients we serve.

Join us to help make a difference!

EEO & EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY

CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive company. We provide equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability, or veteran status. CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. also complies with all applicable national, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification required of applicable law.

CARGO Therapeutics requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of their start date. This requirement is a condition of employment at CARGO Therapeutics, and it applies regardless of whether the position is located at a CARGO Therapeutics site or is fully remote. If you are unable to receive the vaccine due to a disability or serious medical condition, or because it is prohibited because of your sincerely held religious beliefs, you will have an opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation.