Sr. Manager Lab, Transformation and Services

BioMarin is the world leader in delivering therapeutics that provide meaningful advances to patients who live with serious and life-threatening rare genetic diseases. We target diseases that lack effective therapies and affect relatively small numbers of patients, many of whom are children. These conditions are often inherited, difficult to diagnose, progressively debilitating and have few, if any, treatment options. BioMarin will continue to focus on advancing therapies that are the first or best of their kind.

BioMarin’s Technical Operations group is responsible for creating our drugs for use in clinical trials and for scaling production of those drugs for the commercial market. These engineers, technicians, scientists and support staff build and maintain BioMarin’s cutting-edge manufacturing processes and sites, provide quality assurance and quality control to ensure we meet regulatory standards, and procure the needed goods and services to support manufacturing and coordinating the worldwide movement of our drugs to patients. Come join our team and make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives. 
 
BACKGROUND

This role will be instrumental in ensuring our Laboratory Operations department supporting Technical Development (i.e., Analytical Science, Drug Substance Technology and Chemical-Drug Product-Device Technology) is fit for growth with BioMarin’s growing product pipeline. This department enables the labs to run efficiently and the scientists to focus on delivering the pipeline. This role will own this department’s transformational journey including centralizing lab operations into one team, standardizing common services, consolidating supplies and contracts and application of lean lab techniques (e.g., 5S, kanban, visual management).

PURPOSE OF ROLE

• Establish and maintain an infrastructure to enable a structured laboratory operations framework across Technical Development including capital plan/expenditures (from forecast to installation), lab equipment and instrumentation (i.e., contracts, maintenance, repair, calibration, upgrade and retiring), lab consumables (i.e., contracts, procurement, order management, inventory management), and lab safety (i.e., chemical storage, waste).
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of client needs and translate into a fit-for-purpose department. Create and facilitate execution of a multi-year improvement roadmap.
• Manage and lead the team of 3+ Lab Managers with full accountability for Technical Development lab operations. Hire, lead, manage and develop the onsite team. Proactively engage the Lab Managers in building, executing and improving the department. Create opportunities for lab managers to problem solve, develop creative solutions, and learn (build skills).
• Build and improve relationships with clients (i.e., Research Associates, Scientists) and key functions within BioMarin (i.e., IM, Procurement, Engineering, Facilities, Legal, EH&S, Suppliers, Finance, Legal) through proactive engagement and communication.
• Develop and realize a service model with clear roles and responsibilities and decision making.
• Accountable for overall delivery and performance across lab operations. In Collaboration with lab managers, proactively identify and resolve risks/issues
• This position will report to the Director of Strategy and Operations and act as the deputy as required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

 Lab Operations

• Responsible for developing and executing a strategy for servicing Technical Development laboratories, including equipment and instrumentation, scheduling and lab capacity utilization. Partners with key functions to ensure successful lab operations delivery.
• Provide strategic direction, technical supervision and support to Lab Operations team who manages day-to-day operations. Lead operational performance reviews and establish business/individual objectives.
• Drive improvements in service level, efficiency and cost reduction through standardization of common practices, implementation lean lab techniques and utilization of metrics. Create a platform to share ideas within the lab operations team and with clients including the application of best practices. Establish relationships and service standards and coverage to meet lab-based personnel’s needs.
  
• Establish and own a business continuity plan as well as extended-hours coverage and response plan.

Capital Planning &Expenditures

• Responsible for establishing, gaining approval and executing a capital project plan (3 years out) budget.
• Establish common practices to obtain quotes, submit contract for legal review, place orders, prepare for location set-up (Preparation of bench space, request IT support on computer and network, request Facilities support on utilities), manage equipment delivery, installation and set-up for use.
• Work with cost center manager on budget for capital expenditures and equipment services.

Lab Equipment & Instrumentation

• Establish and manage a common model and contracting strategy across Technical Development for equipment preventative maintenance/calibrations/repair, asset utilization, asset surplus redeployment, system upgrade, and retiring with customers, Lab Operations staff and third-party vendors, to create and manage a list of equipment that is in use and also that scientists can have ready access to.

Lab Consumables & Critical Supplies

• Establish and manage a service model and contracting strategy across Technical Development for order management, inventory management (including stock locations, stock levels and replenishment practices), and proactively manage supply shortages.
• Work with customers, Lab Operations staff and third-party vendors, to create and manage a master list of managed items onsite (by vendors and internally), stock locations, and stock levels to ensure that scientists have ready access to all basic consumables, critical materials. 

Environmental Health & Safety

• Partner with key stakeholders to develop and continuously strive for a proactive, high bar safety culture.
• Work with EH&S Business Relationship Manager (BRM) to manage EH&S programs at the site to include, but not limited to, Incident Management, Ergonomics, Exposure Risk Assessments, Chemical Hygiene, Hazard Communication, Biosafety Management, Respiratory Protection, Hearing Conservation and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Ensure the site is compliant with all environmental and safety regulations; including Federal, State and/or City regulations.
• Responsible for regulated waste removal to centralized pick-up sites.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree required in Engineering, Business Administration or relegated field

EXPERIENCE

• 8-10 years of progressive experience in operational leadership in R&D and GMP/GLP laboratory, biotechnology or pharmaceutical environment
• 3+ years of proven success leading teams of lab operations staff and vendors. Proven track record in managing and scaling lab operations
• 3+ years of process improvement experience
• Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent, a plus
• Previous supervisory experience is required
• Demonstrated breadth of experience in Laboratory Operations. Must understand laboratory supply streams, waste streams, and have experience working in an R&D and GMP and GLP laboratory environment
• Is known for being highly customer service oriented and has a track record of anticipating the needs of all customers, including bench scientists
• Demonstrated ability to drive for results and get things done in both an entrepreneurial and common-sense manner
• Demonstrated drive, curiosity, scientific rigor and excellent problem-solving skills across a fast-paced performance driven environment

COMPETENCIES

• Ability to operate effectively at both an operational and strategic level
  
• Ability to constructively challenge, improve and develop lab operations practices and processes
• Self-motivated with the proven ability to take ownership and deliver results in an environment with ambiguity and change
• Ability to collaborate cross functionally and align stakeholders to a common problem or solution
• Ability to facilitate effective problem solving, improvement and decision making with clients and key functions.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills – Oral, written and formal presentation skills

WHAT WILL SEPARATE YOU FROM THE CROWD

• Demonstrated leadership ability to develop new lab operations practices (from a blank sheet of paper)
• Ability to engage and effectively negotiate and influence diverse audiences including senior management, middle management and line staff across multidisciplinary departments

 

PLEASE NOTE: Absent a Medical or Religious reason that prohibits vaccinations, all our incoming employees must be vaccinated for COVID-19.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.