Lab TechnicianOperations Manager (Contract)

tl;dr

General Proximity is a seed-stage startup developing the next generation of induced proximity medicines (IPMs). Our OmniTAC drug discovery engine furnishes molecules that co-opt existing cellular machinery to overcome therapeutic challenges which have remained unapproachable to other modalities for decades.

We are seeking a first-rate Lab Technician / Operations Manager to help us pioneer this uncharted frontier of drug discovery.

Our Story

A long-standing challenge in drug discovery is the development of molecules capable of modulating difficult or undruggable targets. Disease-causing proteins can be dysfunctional in many different ways but our armamentarium for fixing them is quite limited. The most common mechanism of action for FDA-approved drugs is inhibition1 but there are many other possible perturbation types whose potential remains unrealized.

General Proximity is a seed-stage drug discovery company developing a novel platform technology to solve this problem. We make bifunctional drugs that induce the modification of drug targets by existing cellular machinery (rather than through direct modulation by the drug the classical approach).

Historically the development of technologies that allow one to push new buttons in biology has been an incredibly fertile field for the discovery of new medicines2 3 4 and our technology holds the same promise.

The Position

We are seeking an experienced Laboratory Technician / Operations Manager to support our Biology and Platform this position you will work at the intersection of lab operations infrastructure management and research and development. This job requires strong skills anddemonstrableexperience inallthree areas: lab operations management and cell/molecular biology.

Your responsibilities will include 1) general lab managementand technicianduties: maintaining lab stocks inventories and ordering registering and preparing compounds stockspreparing buffers/media and receiving supplies; 2) operations: organizational and operational tasks procurement and equipment acquisition; and 3) biological research: assisting teams with maintaining cell lines and performing cell-based assays. You will either train or coordinate the training of new members on the different assays we use in our company.

This is a full-time contract role with the potential to convert to a regular employee position based on performance.

About You

High Agency. Initiative independence and self-accountability are some of our most valued traits.

Enthusiastic. We love people who are excited about what they are doing and are generally attempting to build a high-energy team.

Intensity and Grit. Early-stage startups are hard. Drug discovery is doubly so. We are looking for candidates who have a demonstrated ability to stick with complex problems for the long haul with a team that has your back along the way.

Prosocial. We are here to create life-saving medicines for the patients who need it most. You should be too.

Qualifications & Nice-To-Haves

• BSin Biology or related life sciences fieldwith a minimum of2yearsof experienceinmaintaininglaboratory operations for a group of 10 scientists.
• Excellent attention to detail exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills top-notch written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proactive mindset towards identifying and solving potential issues to ensure seamless operations.
• Experience managing sample inventories vendors EHS compliance and lab safety.
  
  
• Proficiency in:
  • Mammalian cell culture and passaging/seeding cells
  • Cell-based assays
  • Registration of inventory and compound stock preparation
  • Experience with HTS and phenotypic assay development
  • Plasmid design/cloning and PCR
    
    
• Nice to have:
  • Working knowledge of LIMS/database systems is highly desirable
  • Transient/stable protein expression and characterization immunoprecipitation assays
  • Experience with flow cytometry/cell sorting
  • Any computational or programming skills would also be a bonus

Benefits

• Strong equity incentives. We are looking for candidates who will bring a strong sense of ownership to drive their project areas forward and we believe that you deserve to be compensated accordingly.
• Top tier medical dental and vision coverage One Medical membership.
• 401(k) retirement plans.
• Education and health/fitness incentive programs.
• Meditation retreatsdo a ten-day Vipassana retreat without counting towards vacation days.
• Reading budget! We will buy you books.
• Located in the MBC BioLabs at 135 Mississippi Street an entrepreneurial hub full of the best scientists and operators the Bay Area has to offer. Our lab is a very short walk from the 22nd St Caltrain Station and a number of wonderful restaurants and cafés.

About Us

Work Hard/Play Hard. We believe time is our most valuable commodity so we strive to create a culture that reflects this. We wont drag you through unnecessary meetings or email you at 7 PM on a Saturday. When were at work were there to get things done and when were off were really off.

Strong Communication. We like well-written documents over PowerPoints OKRs over vague mission statements and weekly one-on-ones over yearly reviews.

Writing First. We have a writing-first culture. We believe that clarity of writing reflects clarity of thinking and that the benefits of well-written documentation in a scientific environment are innumerable: democratization of ideation and decision-making increased reproducibility quicker scaling and onboarding and better company-wide alignment to name a few.

Growth. As an early-stage startup we value scientists with an independent can-do attitude. The more hats you can wear the better. Our job as employers is to put you in positive feedback loops so you can grow in the direction of your choosing.

Title and compensation commensurate with experience. Applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds women and members of underrepresented minority groups are particularly welcomed. We look forward to hearing from you. :)

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