Research Operations Manager, Life Sciences

Summary

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and the Rowland Institute at Harvard seek a Research Operations Manager for Life Sciences to join a highly collaborative, multi-disciplinary research community pushing the boundaries of experimental science. Reporting to the Executive Director of the Rowland Institute, the physical sciences Research Operations Manager will combine technical and experimental support, design and prototyping, with safety and research operations to enable cutting-edge experimental science across physics, engineering, and materials research.

Based full-time, four-days a week, in the Northwest Building (52 Oxford Street) in Cambridge, MA, this individual will manage and continually improve shared life sciences laboratories and shared spaces, including a microscopy room, chemical room, tissue culture room, optics lab, DNA/protein area, and experimental lab spaces. The successful candidate will maintain and operate a diverse suite of advanced scientific instrumentation (e.g., microscopy, spectroscopy); operate and modify custom experimental apparatus; and partner with Rowland Fellows and their research groups to translate ambitious ideas into reliable experimental setups.

In addition to overseeing shared facilities, the Research Operations Manager will serve as the Institute’s primary Laboratory Safety Officer (LSO) for the life sciences, working with Harvard Environmental Health & Safety to promote a strong culture of safety, compliance, and best practices. This role is ideal for a resourceful, organized, and self-directed professional who enjoys solving practical problems, partnering with researchers on equipment and processes, and playing a central role in a world-class experimental research environment.

Job-Specific

Responsibilities

Operations & Shared Facilities Management

• Manage all shared life science research facilities, including cell culture rooms, microscopy suites, animal facilities (fly, mouse, moth, etc.) and general wet labs.
• Oversee equipment inventory, schedule usage, and maintain functionality through preventive maintenance, internal repairs, or vendor coordination.
• Assist Executive Director with laboratory space design and transitions, including commissioning and decommissioning of research spaces.
• Provide comprehensive training to researchers on specialized life science equipment, lab etiquette/usage, and operational best practices.
• Oversee upcoming integration of chemical inventory into researcher’s daily routines, and oversee maintenance of this new inventory system after implementation.
• Assist Rowland Fellows in evaluating and purchasing new equipment; liaise with vendors to negotiate, procure, and install new equipment.
• Provide training to researchers on scientific instrument best practices, usage, and safety. Maintain SOPs for these instruments when necessary and useful.

Experimental & Technical Support

• Serve as an accessible, hands-on resource for life sciences experimental design, assay troubleshooting, and protocol optimization.
• Assist Fellows with the technical evaluation, procurement, and installation of new life science instrumentation.
• Support the configuration and layout of shared wet labs to dynamically optimize for evolving biological and chemical research needs.
• Train and oversee new experimentalists.
• Perform scientific experiments with the Rowland researchers when technical expertise is useful to their experimental needs.
• Learn new techniques and teach laboratory personnel upon request.

Safety & Compliance

• Act as the Rowland Institute’s life sciences Laboratory Safety Officer (LSO), providing consistent, 4-day-a-week onsite safety oversight.
• Liaise closely with Harvard Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) to ensure strict compliance with institutional, state, and federal biological, chemical, and radiation safety standards.
• Conduct specialized safety trainings (e.g., Biosafety, Bloodborne Pathogens, Chemical Hygiene) and maintain chemical and biological inventories.
• Oversee hazardous, biological, and regulated medical waste removal programs.
• Manage safety infrastructure programs, including biosafety cabinet (BSC) certifications and first-aid/eyewash stations.
• Liaise with Harvard’s IACUC, OAR, and COMS groups for biosafety, animal protocols and microbial safety.
• Train on safest laboratory practices and maintain a safe space and environment for efficient scientific research to be conducted

Working Conditions:

Life sciences laboratory spaces include conditions applicable to biochemistry and chemistry, research animals, and laser research.

This position is 100% onsite in Cambridge, MA

Physical

Requirements

Continuous walking, standing, sitting and manual dexterity. Frequent bending, lifting, handling, carrying, pushing, pulling, squatting, climbing, and reaching. Lifting (up to approximately 50 pounds) and other physical exertion. Standing and/or sitting for extended periods

Basic

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
• 5+ years of related experience in life sciences research operations, laboratory management, or an academic wet lab environment.
• Strong foundational knowledge of biological safety levels (BSL-1/BSL-2 protocols) and chemical hygiene practices.
• Familiarity with the operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of standard life science instrumentation (e.g., autoclaves, centrifuges, incubators, biosafety cabinets).

Additional Qualifications and

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to train and mentor researchers on safe and effective use of equipment.
• Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with laboratory safety concepts
• Master’s degree or more in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or a related life sciences discipline.
• Demonstrated experience managing institutional safety compliance (EHS/LSO experience preferred).
• Familiarity with advanced life science platforms, such as quantitative PCR, high-resolution microscopy (confocal/fluorescence), microplate readers, spectrophotometers, and gel imaging systems.
• Proven ability to train, mentor, and onboard researchers on complex instrumentation and strict safety procedures safely and effectively.

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 28 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information: All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 056. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.