Senior Associate – Laboratory Operations

Role Summary

The Laboratory Operations Associate within the BioMedicine Design (BMD) organization is responsible for ensuring reliable, high‑quality Media Prep operations at Pfizer’s Cambridge site. This role plays a key part in supporting scientific teams by preparing and delivering tissue culture media and buffer formulations, including spending approximately 40–50% of time performing hands‑on solution preparation to meet daily laboratory needs. The associate contributes to maintaining state‑of‑the‑art laboratory spaces in Kendall Square, upholding stringent safety and operational standards, and enabling efficient research workflows. By partnering closely with customers and the BMD Operations Team, the Associate drives operational excellence, continuous improvement, and exceptional customer service in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations of the Media Prep laboratory, ensuring efficient and reliable delivery of tissue culture media and buffer solutions to Cambridge site customers.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and supplies, upholding high standards of safety and operational readiness.
• Develop, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures and good laboratory practices.
• Support customers and team members in using the eSolutions work order system for requests and scheduling.
• Guide lab personnel in buffer and media formulation, review and approve worksheets, and ensure schedules are met.
• Spend approximately 40–50% of time preparing media and buffer solutions to meet daily laboratory needs.
• Collaborate with customers to refine solution requests, troubleshoot issues, and ensure requirements are met.
• Manage statements of work, purchase orders, invoices, and cost tracking for laboratory services.
• Serve as an active member of the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) inspection team, modeling safe laboratory behaviors and leading resolution of identified issues.
• Participate in quarterly EHS safety inspections and work with scientists to address findings.
• Provide flexible operational support across additional BMD laboratory workflows as needed, adapting to evolving organizational priorities and ensuring smooth, high‑quality functioning of shared research environments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years with laboratory operations in pharmaceutical setting
• In-depth knowledge of tissue culture media and buffer chemistry
• Proficiency in aseptic techniques and Good Laboratory Practices, with the ability to communicate these effectively to team members
• Strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to excellent customer service
• Skilled in using the MS Office Suite, particularly MS Excel and Teams
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
• Familiarity with laboratory sustainability initiatives
• Highly organized, personable, and proactive, with a continuous improvement mindset and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in scientific discipline

Skills

• MS Office Suite proficiency (Excel and Teams)
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Interpersonal skills and customer service orientation
• Problem-solving and troubleshooting
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Adaptability in fast-paced environments

Additional Requirements

• Requires extended periods of standing, walking, and performing hands-on laboratory tasks
• Ability to lift, carry, and handle materials and laboratory supplies up to 30 lbs
• May require occasional onsite evening or weekend work