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Full-Time

Director – Laboratory Operations and Safety Management

Confirmed live in the last 24 hours

Verge Genomics

Verge Genomics

51-200 employees

Develops drugs using human genomics and AI

Hardware
AI & Machine Learning
Biotechnology
Healthcare

Compensation Overview

$175k - $220kAnnually

Senior, Expert

San Bruno, CA, USA

Category
Lab & Research
Life Sciences
Medical Research
Required Skills
Communications
Management
Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline, such as biology, chemistry, or medical technology; Master's degree preferred
  • Advanced knowledge of laboratory management principles, including budgeting, strategic planning, and project management.
  • Extensive experience and knowledge of laboratory operations and a deep understanding of laboratory techniques and technologies, specifically with respect to the workflow of BSL2 and cell biology labs.
  • Extensive experience with EH&S
  • Strong knowledge of laboratory regulations, such as CAP and CLIA
  • Experience in managing laboratory staff and implementing quality control measures
  • Appropriately manage information of a highly confidential and critical nature
  • Must be capable of and willing to independently learn new systems.
  • Strong organizational skills and a problem-solving mindset are required
  • Naturally proactive with the ability to take initiative and ownership of responsibilities
  • Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to work independently and in a team environment
Responsibilities
  • Proactively oversee the daily laboratory and office operations to ensure seamless, efficient and cost-effective functioning aligned with Verge's strategic goals and objectives. Solve complex issues where problems are not clearly defined and where fundamental principles do not fully apply.
  • Make final decisions that may significantly impact laboratory operations, and on implementation to ensure operational effectiveness.
  • Develop and implement strategies for the organization and general upkeep of laboratories and offices. Set policies and procedures for use of equipment and space.
  • Manage and participate in coverage and on-call support of laboratory services and tasks, ensuring appropriate response to equipment issues as needed for 24-7 operation of laboratory.
  • Serve as financial steward of the laboratory operating budget, develop and manage annual laboratory operating budget, monitor and reconcile expenses, complete month-end-close activities and budget reforecasts.
  • Prepare and present reports on laboratory and office operations and performance to leadership.
  • Communicate key information and critical updates timely and with discretion to scientists and leadership, including shutdowns, new processes and regulations, etc.
  • Manage laboratory and/or facilities staff (permanent and contract laboratory service providers), including hiring, training, development and performance evaluations. Develop and clearly communicate expectations for staff, provide direction, manage oversight of work being performed and provide feedback to ensure operational effectiveness of labs and office. Work collaboratively with scientists on troubleshooting and improving laboratory workflows with regards to safety and efficiency.
  • Manage, create, and execute onboarding and offboarding of laboratory employees and contractors, including maintaining training records.
  • Function as Safety Officer and serve as Chair of the Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) Committee to lead internal safety programs (occupational health and safety management, environmental compliance, emergency response planning, hazardous material management, workplace ergonomics and injury prevention), develop strategies to continually improve safety in the laboratory and office, develop and influence safety policies and procedures using expertise in different biosafety level safety standards, develop and administer training programs to ensure laboratory safety standards are followed, monitor and report safety concerns and compliance with regulatory agencies, and maintain all licenses are up to date.
  • Functions as Laboratory Quality Officer to oversee laboratory quality control and quality assurance measures, creating and implementing high quality standards of good laboratory practices. Develop and implement laboratory policies, procedures and protocols to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies, relevant laws and industry standards.
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives to review and identify opportunities and implement plans to enhance laboratory and office operations and services. Collaborate with scientists to address any workflow bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or opportunities for process improvements. Evaluate new technologies and procedures and apply this knowledge to drive improvements in laboratory operations. Identify and troubleshoot technical and logistical issues/problems to develop proactive solutions to circumvent possible emergent situations and improve laboratory and office operations.
  • Partner with Finance and Contract & Vendor Management to lead procurement of reagents, materials, supplies, equipment and services.
  • Following Verge’s Procurement Policy, ensure execution of applicable contracts and changes to agreements and purchase order approval. Troubleshoot procurement issues and manage review and approval of invoices. Manage external vendor relationships, in collaboration with Vendor Management.
  • Manage all lab equipment, preventative maintenance, service contracts, corrective repairs and installations with applicable vendors.
  • Develop tracking systems to monitor and maintain laboratory and office equipment and supplies inventory, storage, re-stocking, shipping and receiving.
  • Partner with scientific and corporate leadership to establish strategic plans, contribute to the development of corporate policies and procedures, and participate in evaluation criteria for operational projects, programs and people.
  • Lead space planning and strategic designing, facilitating and overseeing projects, including moves, build-outs and renovation of the labs and office areas. Primary point of contact for scientists and leadership for space management of labs and office areas.

Verge Genomics develops drugs for severe diseases like ALS, Parkinson's, and Frontotemporal Dementia using human genomics and machine learning. Instead of traditional animal models, they create a large database from human tissue to better understand disease causes. Their AI platform, CONVERGE®, helps analyze this data to identify potential drug candidates. Their first drug, VRG50635, is in clinical trials for ALS and was developed in just four years. Verge Genomics aims to provide effective treatments for patients and generate revenue through the commercialization of their drug candidates.

Company Stage

Series C

Total Funding

$176.1M

Headquarters

South San Francisco, California

Founded

2015

Growth & Insights
Headcount

6 month growth

-3%

1 year growth

11%

2 year growth

40%
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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Verge Genomics' partnerships with industry giants like Alexion and AstraZeneca highlight its credibility and potential for impactful collaborations.
  • The initiation of the Phase 1b proof-of-concept study for VRG50635 demonstrates the company's progress and commitment to addressing severe diseases like ALS.
  • Collaborations with companies like Stem Pharm to develop disease models for Parkinson's disease indicate a broadening pipeline and diversified research focus.

What critics are saying

  • The reliance on AI and machine learning for drug discovery may face skepticism and slower adoption in the traditionally conservative pharmaceutical industry.
  • The competitive landscape in AI-driven drug discovery is intensifying, with numerous companies vying for market share.

What makes Verge Genomics unique

  • Verge Genomics leverages an all-in-human, AI-powered platform, CONVERGE®, to discover and develop drugs, bypassing traditional animal or cell models.
  • Their proprietary multi-omics database, built from human tissue, allows for more accurate mapping of disease causes compared to competitors.
  • The rapid transition of their drug VRG50635 from research to clinical trials in just four years showcases their platform's efficiency.

Benefits

Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) plan with employer matching for contributions

Disability insurance, Life insurance, Dependant Care FSA and Healthcare FSA

Unlimited paid time off

Paid parental leave

Access to free onsite fitness center

Free snacks and lunch for employees who work onsite

WFH stipend for employees who work remotely