Shift Supervisor, Research Operations

Your Impact at LILA

Lila's Research Operations team runs the automated lab workflows that power our science. As a Shift Supervisor, you own the reliable execution of those workflows across your shift, serve as the technical lead for the engineers running them, and directly manage and develop a team of Research Operations engineers. You are the first point of accountability for run quality, the first source of operational guidance for engineers on shift, and a critical link between the bench and the automated systems behind our science.

This is an on-site, second-shift role with working hours of 2:00 PM-10:00 PM. You'll lead, coach, and develop some of the most energetic and brilliant minds in Research Operations, creating an environment where they can grow, take ownership, and do their best work.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives on operational ownership, takes pride in process discipline, enjoys developing others, and knows how to keep a team and workflows running smoothly in a fast-paced, high-throughput environment.

What You'll Be Building

Own the safe, reliable execution of automated lab workflows across your shift, meeting quality, throughput, and operational performance targets

Serve as the technical lead for engineers on shift, providing real-time guidance, prioritization, and workflow coordination

Manage, coach, and develop direct reports, setting clear expectations, providing actionable feedback, and building technical capability and ownership across the team

Monitor run performance and system health in real time, independently resolving common issues, and escalating complex problems appropriately

Manage accurate shift handoff documentation in real time, ensuring seamless continuity with the incoming team

Flag QC/QA deviations promptly and accurately, documenting observations with high attention to detail

Partner with scientific, engineering, and automation teams to troubleshoot workflow challenges and improve operational performance, including ongoing relationships with scientific leads

Support tech transfer by validating automated workflows against manual processes and partnering with cross-functional teams to resolve process gaps and improve robustness

What You'll Need to Succeed

5+ years of hands-on experience in lab automation, research operations, high-throughput screening, or a closely related technical environment

Prior formal people-management experience with direct reports in a laboratory, technical, or operations environment, including setting expectations, providing feedback, coaching and developing team members, and driving accountability for performance

Experience operating and troubleshooting automated liquid handling platforms (Hamilton, Lynx, Echo, or similar) in a production or research setting

Experience leading and coordinating workflow execution in a team setting, including providing direction to engineers, managing competing priorities, and maintaining operational continuity in real time

Strong foundational knowledge of the scientific basis for assay design, execution, and interpretation

Experience identifying operational issues, performing root-cause investigation, and driving issues to resolution

Clear, concise communicator with the ability to collaborate effectively across Research Operations, scientific, engineering, and LabOps teams

Bonus Points For

Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Biotechnology, or a related field, or equivalent technical training and hands-on experience

Prior experience managing a shift or technical team in a highly automated or high-throughput laboratory environment

Experience improving production protocols, supporting tech transfer, or validating workflows from manual bench execution to automated platforms

Familiarity with QC/QA systems, deviation management, SOP development, and continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, 5S, Kaizen)

Familiarity with electronic lab notebooks (ELN), LIMS, or other …