Lab Manager, Red Sea Research Platform

Lab Manager, Red Sea Research Platform Reports to: Chair of the Red Sea Research Platform Position Summary Lead the safe, efficient and research-responsive operation of shared laboratory facilities and associated technical support services. The Red Sea Research Platform Lab Manager coordinates laboratory staff, infrastructure, equipment, procurement, maintenance, inventory and operational planning so that faculty, researchers and students can conduct high-quality research reliably. The manager works closely with principal investigators, lab safety representatives, and central KAUST service units to facilitate and align laboratory capabilities with evolving research priorities, while maintaining rigorous safety, compliance and asset-management practices. Major Responsibilities • Laboratory operations and research enablement: Oversee day-to-day operations of shared laboratories, technical spaces and common equipment; coordinate access, scheduling and service requests; support visiting researchers and collaborative projects. • Scientific infrastructure and technical support: Work with faculty and research groups to translate research needs into equipment specifications, facility readiness, workflows and operational solutions; advise on technical feasibility without assuming the scientific leadership of PI-led projects. • People and service coordination: Supervise and mentor assigned laboratory support personnel; coordinate priorities, training, workload and leave coverage; encourage responsive, collaborative service delivery. • Equipment lifecycle and asset management: Manage equipment planning, installation, qualification/commissioning, preventive maintenance, calibration, repair and retirement; maintain traceable asset registers, service records and usage arrangements in KAUST systems. • Procurement, inventory and resource stewardship: Coordinate technical input for purchasing and capital equipment requests; maintain accurate inventories of consumables, chemicals and shared supplies; manage storage, stock levels, budget awareness and appropriate redistribution of resources. • Safety, biosafety and compliance: Implement applicable KAUST HSE requirements, risk assessments, SOPs, hazard communication, staff training and safe practices for biological and chemical materials, hazardous waste, cryogenic equipment and visiting users; coordinate promptly with designated compliance specialists. • Facilities development and continuity: Partner with facilities, laboratory design, engineering, IT and vendors on laboratory modifications, upgrades, infrastructure capacity and commissioning; coordinate service continuity and incident response. • Operational improvement and reporting: Develop and regularly review SOPs, equipment booking processes and service metrics; maintain reliable records and provide concise periodic reports on performance, safety, maintenance, inventory, risks and improvement priorities. • Stakeholder coordination: Serve as a liaison among researchers, platform leadership, procurement, HSE, facilities (including core labs, especially CMR), research operations and external service providers; communicate procedures and operational changes clearly. Personal Requirements Competencies Research service orientation; Technical judgment and problem-solving; Laboratory and biosafety awareness; People leadership and training; Operational planning and prioritization; Vendor and stakeholder management; Data and record accuracy; Continuous improvement Qualifications PhD in a relevant science, engineering, or in a relevant discipline with demostrated relevant research-laboratory experience. Experience Demonstrated relevant expertise after PhD. Demonstrated experience managing laboratory operations, sophisticated research instrumentation or shared research facilities; at least one year of team supervision or major-project coordination. Working knowledge of laboratory safety, equipment maintenance, purchasing, inventory, SOP development and documentation; ability to support multidisciplinary biological and environmental research facilities. Strong written and spoken English; effective coordination with researchers, technical staff, service teams and external vendors. Preferred Experience Experience in microbiology, molecular biology, marine or environmental research laboratories; familiarity with advanced analytical platforms including microscopy and shared scientific infrastructure. Experience implementing digital inventories, booking systems, maintenance schedules, utilization metrics and operational improvements. Experience supporting laboratory fit-outs, new equipment commissioning, complex research campaigns or multidisciplinary initiatives.

Laboratory operations and research enablement: Oversee day-to-day operations of shared laboratories, technical spaces and common equipment; coordinate access, scheduling and service requests; support visiting researchers and collaborative projects. Scientific infrastructure and technical support: Work with faculty and research groups to translate research needs into equipment specifications, facility readiness, workflows and operational solutions; advise on technical feasibility without assuming the scientific leadership of PI-led projects. People and service coordination: Supervise and mentor assigned laboratory support personnel; coordinate priorities, training, workload and leave coverage; encourage responsive, collaborative service delivery. Equipment lifecycle and asset management: Manage equipment planning, installation, qualification/commissioning, preventive maintenance, calibration, repair and retirement; maintain traceable asset registers, service records and usage arrangements in KAUST systems. Procurement, inventory and resource stewardship: Coordinate technical input for purchasing and capital equipment requests; maintain accurate inventories of consumables, chemicals and shared supplies; manage storage, stock levels, budget awareness and appropriate redistribution of resources. Safety, biosafety and compliance: Implement applicable KAUST HSE requirements, risk assessments, SOPs, hazard communication, staff training and safe practices for biological and chemical materials, hazardous waste, cryogenic equipment and visiting users; coordinate promptly with designated compliance specialists. Facilities development and continuity: Partner with facilities, laboratory design, engineering, IT and vendors on laboratory modifications, upgrades, infrastructure capacity and commissioning; coordinate service continuity and incident response. Operational improvement and reporting: Develop and regularly review SOPs, equipment booking processes and service metrics; maintain reliable records and provide concise periodic reports on performance, safety, maintenance, inventory, risks and improvement priorities. Stakeholder coordination: Serve as a liaison among researchers, platform leadership, procurement, HSE, facilities (including core labs, especially CMR), research operations and external service providers; communicate procedures and operational changes clearly.