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At Umami Bioworks (formerly known as Umami Meats), we are pioneering cultivated, 'not caught' seafood by developing the production system for delicious, nutritious, and affordable cultivated fish, starting with IUCN Red Listed species that are difficult to farm and being driven extinct by human consumption. We are partnering with food producers to scale our cultivated seafood production system to provide people around the world with a stable, resilient, local supply of seafood free from mercury, antibiotics, microplastics, and ocean pollutants.

We’re on a mission to empower humanity to eat sustainably without sacrifice. We believe the only way to change how the majority of the world eats meat and seafood is to create real seafood - the most delicious, healthiest seafood available - without the environmental and animal welfare consequences of our current practices.

We’re a venture-backed biotech startup located in Singapore where some of the world’s smartest, most passionate people are pioneering a sustainable food future that is attractive and accessible to people around the world. We are united by our collective drive to ask tough questions, take on challenging problems, and apply cutting-edge science and engineering to create a better future for humanity. At Umami Bioworks, you will be encouraged to dream big and will have the freedom to create, invent, and do the best, most impactful work of your career.

Umami Bioworks is looking to hire an inquisitive, innovative, and independent Lab Manager to join our R&D team in Singapore.

As a Lab Manager at Umami Bioworks you are responsible in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the laboratory and serves as the central point of contact for all matters related to the facility. Your responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks to ensure the smooth functioning of the laboratory and adherence to quality standards.

You will work directly with other members of our small but growing team to do cutting-edge science and will have the autonomy to test new ideas and identify better ways to do things.

What you will do:

Lab Management

• Responsible for the day-to-day management of the laboratory, acting as a focal point for all Laboratory related matter
• Manage laboratory equipment, ensuring proper qualification, calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting when necessary.
• Take the lead in creating, reviewing, and improving operational plans and processes for laboratories in order to maximize output and reduce operating expenses
• Serve as the primary point of contact for equipment quality issues
• Liaise with reference laboratories, collaborators, and vendors.
• Prepare the lab team for audit inspection of licensing and accreditation
• Ensure the safety of all personnel working in the laboratory
• Assist in overall staff supervision, training, and competency
• Ensure that laboratory activities comply with relevant Acts, legal requirements, and ethical standards.
• Other lab management and support duties, as requested by the Laboratory Director
• Responsible for liaising with landlord for lab & office space to ensure compliance with rules and regulations
  
  

Procurement, Inventory & Finance

• Assist in budget planning and optimization of resources for efficient lab functioning.
• Assist in monitoring the financial performance of the lab, in relation to budget and cost control
• Lead sourcing and procurement of equipment, consumables, and services for Company labs
• Establish and maintain equipment master list, inventory controls, and current inventory stock in line with budget
• Supervise and train junior staff
  
  

Critical Skills and Background:

• BSc or MSc degree with 4-5 years of relevant experience
• Advanced knowledge of laboratory safety practices as well as lab techniques such as microscopy, mammalian cell culture, qPCR, Western blot
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, prior lab management and presentation) both in one-on-one and in group settings is essential
• Ability to resolve problems independently and apply critical and analytical thinking is required
• Project management and/or change management expertise highly desirable
  
  

About You

• Above all, you’re mission-aligned: you want to apply your technical talents to building a more sustainable food system and a better future for humanity. Whether you’re driven by animal welfare, environmental protection, ocean sustainability, climate change, or something else, we all bring different perspectives to our shared mission.
• You’re proactive. You take initiative and think about the big picture.
• You’re inquisitive, curious, and have a growth mindset.
• You strive to be high-performing and want to work with others who will help you achieve peak performance.
• You’re kind, collaborative, and believe that you can learn something from everyone you encounter.
• You thrive in dynamic environments and enjoy “hacking” new and innovative solutions to pressing problems.
• You are a Singaporean or a permanent resident in Singapore
  
  

Anticipated Commencement:

• March 18, 2024
  
  

In Return, We'll Support You With:

• A competitive salary and benefits package
• A safe, supportive, and collaborative environment that will challenge you to do your best work
• An open and adaptive workplace; you’ll have the freedom to define best approaches to solving problems, both technical and organizational, without legacy overhead
• Constant opportunity for growth, including biweekly 1-on-1s and mentorship from the leadership team
• Impactful work tackling one of the world’s most pressing problems
  
  

Selection Criteria:

Ultimately, this role will be shaped around the right candidate. If our mission speaks to you and you are driven to work on solving one of the most impactful problems facing our planet today, we want to talk!

At Umami Bioworks, we are building a more sustainable food future for everyone. To achieve our goal, we strive to build a team that reflects the diversity of the people we aim to serve. We believe that a diversity of backgrounds - and the confluence of unique perspectives it creates - drives innovation and helps us avoid blind spots, and we are building a culture that reflects these beliefs.