Director, Lab Operations

Emerald Cloud Lab (ECL) is the world's leading remote life sciences laboratory, allowing scientists to run experiments 24/7/365, from anywhere in the world, revolutionizing the approach to lab work for research, product development and QC testing. The entire lab is driven through a single software interface, forming one continuous workflow from test design to execution in the lab and analysis of resulting data. Scientific methods are translated into code, then executed in our state-of-the art laboratory. With ECL handling the manual completion of experiments, scientists can spend more time on the science - designing experiments and interpreting results.

Role Overview

The Director of Operations is responsible for owning and executing Emerald Cloud Lab’s end-to-end operational strategy and performance. This role has accountability for laboratory operations and operational excellence, ensuring the company delivers reliable, scalable, and compliant services that support revenue growth and customer commitments.

As a member of the Lab Operations Leadership Team, the Director of Lab Operations partners closely with the Chief Operating Officer to translate growth objectives into operational capacity, capability, and execution.

Core Responsibilities

Laboratory Operations Execution

• Manage 24/7, 365-day laboratory operations, ensuring consistent execution of automated and manual workflows.
• Own staffing, shift scheduling, utilization, and day-to-day operational performance of the laboratory.
• Ensure reliable service delivery, turnaround times, and adherence to operating standards.
  
  

Workforce Leadership & Development

• Provide direct supervisory oversight for laboratory operations teams across all shifts.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, training, and ongoing development.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and communication rhythms through 1:1s, team meetings
• Foster a culture of engagement, ownership, and continuous improvement in a 24/7 environment.
  
  

Operational Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Define, track, and enforce key performance indicators (KPIs) related to throughput, efficiency, turnaround time, and quality.
• Identify performance gaps, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities; lead continuous improvement initiatives to optimize operations.
• Support implementation of scalable processes and best practices during periods of growth and change.
  
  

Safety, Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure adherence to cGMP, FDA, ICH, USP, EU, and other applicable regulatory standards.
• Promote a strong safety culture and proactively address risks that could impact employees or operations.
  
  

Inventory, Logistics & Materials Management

• Provide operational oversight of incoming and outgoing shipments of research supplies and client samples.
• Ensure proper receiving, registration, storage, tracking, and inventory control of laboratory materials.
• Maintain inventory levels and coordinate ordering of laboratory supplies to support uninterrupted operations.
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with other department leaders to support root cause analysis and investigations
• Support cross-functional initiatives related to growth, customer delivery, safety, and operational readiness.
• Engage as needed in company-wide initiatives (e.g., internal task forces, special projects).
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering or a related field
• 7 years of experience in Operations or Manufacturing Engineering roles in regulated industry
• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or similarly regulated laboratory or manufacturing environments.
• Strong working knowledge of cGMP, FDA,and ISO regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to lead teams in fast-paced, high-growth, operationally complex environments.
• Strong data orientation with experience using KPIs to drive operational performance.
  
  

Preferred Experience

• Master’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering or a related field
• Experience leading operations teams in a startup environment
• Exposure to common coding languages (Python, R, Mathematica,etc)
• Experience managing both Exempt and Non Exempt employees
• Lean Certification and/or Six Sigma Greenbelt or Black Belt
  
  

Success Measures

• Consistent, reliable execution of 24/7 laboratory operations.
• Achievement of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance objectives.
• Laboratory throughput, turnaround time, and efficiency aligned with business needs.
• Workforce readiness, engagement, and retention in a high-growth environment.
• Clear, timely, and actionable operational reporting to executive leadership.