Operations Lead
LabCentral
Summary
LabCentral is hiring an Operations Lead split between two Harvard locations in Boston, MA: 50% at the Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab and 50% at the Blavatnik Life Lab Longwood, reporting to the Associate Director, Partner Sites.
Job description
About the Role
LabCentral is hiring an Operations Lead split between two Harvard locations in Boston, MA: 50% at the Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab and 50% at the Blavatnik Life Lab Longwood, reporting to the Associate Director, Partner Sites.
Core Responsibilities
- Oversee or execute efficient workflows and practices for daily operations and resident on and off-boarding
- Strategically plan programming and events that foster venture growth and community building
- Support the i-Lab in the execution of the annual President's Innovation Challenge
- Manage operations budget and billing of rent and membership fees
- Backup and support the front desk, café, shipping and receiving, and other operations functions as needed
- Work with and support Life Lab ventures from first engagement through Selection Committee, legal documentation, move in, and move out
- Coordinate Selection Committee meetings with high-profile stakeholders
- Collaborate with Harvard Marketing team and engage entrepreneurs to build a pipeline of future Life Lab ventures
- Provide facility tours to public and VIP guests
Success Metrics
- Create NPS score from residents with strong attendance and participation in community events
- Operational continuity of the site including maintenance, minimal service interruptions, and safety protocol adherence
- Feedback from Harvard partners
Desired Qualifications
- 2-3 years of experience managing operations
- Ability to work on location in Boston, MA and travel between sites
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Outlook
- Ease in learning new technology and software
- Ability to manage a budget
- Experience with startups and customer service is a plus
Desired Competencies and Behaviors
- Ability to delegate responsibility, work with others, and coach them
- Attention to detail and design in content creation
- Strong professional correspondence
- Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in ambiguous situations
- Natural ability to build relationships with colleagues, residents, and vendors
- Strong communication skills including handling challenging customer service situations
- Proactive about utilizing feedback to improve effectiveness
- Takes charge of a group to facilitate change and ensure decisions are made
- Curiosity to learn about the LabCentral community and ecosystem
- Personal desire to build skills and grow
Work Environment
- Fully onsite in Boston, MA with travel between sites
- Ability to sit for long periods and move around an office environment
- Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 25 pounds
Requirements
- 2-3 years of experience managing operations
- Ability to work on location in Boston, MA and travel between sites
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Outlook
- Ease in learning new technology and software
- Ability to manage a budget
- Experience with startups and customer service is a plus
- Ability to delegate responsibility, work with others, and coach them
- Attention to detail and design in content creation
- Strong professional correspondence
- Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in ambiguous situations
- Natural ability to build relationships with colleagues, residents, and vendors
- Strong communication skills including handling challenging customer service situations
- Proactive about utilizing feedback to improve effectiveness
- Takes charge of a group to facilitate change and ensure decisions are made
- Curiosity to learn about the LabCentral community and ecosystem
- Personal desire to build skills and grow
- Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 25 pounds
Benefits
- Medical & Dental Premiums Covered
- Long & Short-Term Disability
- Life Insurance
- Flexible Vacation
- Paid Parental Leave
- 401(k) Match 6%
- Transportation Reimbursement
- Health & Wellness Reimbursement
- Technology Stipend
- Professional Growth Stipend
- Student Loan Reimbursement
Company overview
LabCentral is a premier private, non-profit biotechnology incubator and shared laboratory space provider based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 2013, the organization operates as a critical launchpad for high-potential life sciences and biotech startups, offering more than 200,000 square feet of fully permitted laboratory and office space across multiple locations in Kendall Square and the Harvard University campus. As an economic development non-profit, LabCentral provides early-stage companies with cutting-edge infrastructure, operational support, and comprehensive programming to accelerate their growth. The organization has supported nearly 300 startups since its inception, helping resident companies raise over $20 billion in funding and create more than 7,000 jobs. LabCentral's ecosystem includes specialized facilities for different growth stages, from early-stage shared labs to scale-up spaces for process development. The organization also manages partnerships with Harvard University through the Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab and Blavatnik Harvard Life Lab, while offering educational programs, networking events, and strategic connections to industry leaders, investors, and pharmaceutical sponsors.