Facilities and Lab Safety Coordinator

About the Company:

Unnatural Products (UNP) is an integrated biotech company operating at the forefront of macrocyclic peptide drug discovery. Our mission is to imbue peptide macrocycles with small molecule-like pharmacokinetic properties while maintaining high target affinity to realize their potential in drugging the entire proteome.

UNP’s approach couples machine learning-based in silico tools with massively parallel peptide chemistry to enable the discovery and rapid optimization of highly non-natural macrocyclic peptides aimed at extracellular targets, undruggable intracellular oncology targets, and beyond. This strategy has enabled fruitful ongoing collaborations with Merck MSD and BridgeBio.

Unnatural Products is a dynamic team of humble, brilliant, hardworking scientists, engineers, and operators committed to changing the face of medicine. Based in Santa Cruz, CA, we do world-class science in a beautiful location. Come join us in shaping the future of biotech

Job Description:

The Facilities and Lab Safety Coordinator will report to the Head of Operations and be a key liaison between UNP’s Operations and R&D Teams. This individual will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day tasks that involve facilities, lab and regulatory programs that impact UNP’s research and development operations. This includes UNP’s lab facilities operations, hazardous waste operations, emergency response, and other associated environmental health and safety programs. The Facilities and Lab Safety Coordinator will be a key member of the Operations Team at UNP.

Key Responsibilities:

Lab Safety, Compliance, and EHS:

• Serve as the primary contact and key facilitator for all Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) matters, including internal audits, permit renewals and applications, regulatory inspections, and as the company’s emergency response coordinator.
• Manage UNP’s biohazardous and chemical hazardous waste program by preparing for, scheduling, and organizing all hazardous waste pickups. This will include signing for waste manifests, tracking waste generated, and maintaining organized, up–to-date records of our waste manifests and hazardous waste profiles.
• Oversee the proper storage, stocking, and disposal of chemicals in our stock rooms and throughout the labs. Ensure scientists properly segregate and store materials according to best practices to limit the risk to people, the facility, and the environment.
• Consult with the Safety Team, EHS Consultants, and R&D Team members as needed to ensure compliance for waste storage procedures, waste profile generation, weekly inspections of all satellite and main accumulation areas (SAA's and MAA's), bulking of solid wastes, quenching of solvent wastes, and coordinate with waste vendors for offsite treatment including lab pack waste.
• Maintain up-to-date EHS related permits and regulatory obligations including but not limited to: California Environmental Reporting System (CERS), Hazardous Materials Management Plans (HMMP), California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP), Hazardous Materials Permit, Hazardous Waste Permit, Medical Waste Permit, Biennial reporting of hazardous waste activities, OSHA related trainings and written programs.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external consultants on adherence to and refinement of safety protocols, guidelines, and safety manuals to maintain a safe working environment for all lab employees, working to create and evolve lab SOPs as needed with a focus on continual program improvement.

Equipment & Facilities Maintenance

• Play point on addressing all facility and equipment requests, including requests for repairs, installation, regular preventative maintenance (PMs), and equipment training.
• Perform on-site troubleshooting and conduct repairs when possible, and contact the vendor or an approved service provider when needed for additional support.
• Coordinate and schedule visits for service calls, preventative maintenance, modifications, and installations while working with the R&D teams to minimize downtime and impact to the labs and office. Host and work with these service providers to ensure complete and thorough maintenance and/or repair.
• Serve as primary contact for vendor service calls to organize scheduled and unscheduled maintenance activities with approved service providers.
• Further develop UNP’s system for managing lab equipment to include equipment specifications, accurate records and documentation of maintenance, inspections, downtime, service visits, etc.
• Collaborate with Operations to implement systems that create operational readiness, enhance safety, and improve efficiency in our Protein Sciences, Biology, and Chemistry labs.
• Collaborate with Operations and the Safety Team to address infrastructure issues and ensure compliance with building and lab regulations.
• Aid in ensuring the safe and proper use of laboratory equipment and office facilities, ensuring appropriate use, regular maintenance and calibration of laboratory and facility equipment and systems.
• Engage and troubleshoot with equipment service providers to minimize downtime to our labs and office facilities.

Inventory Management, Shipping & Receiving

• Assist with maintaining UNP’s chemical online inventory management system, providing backup support for logging of new chemicals into the inventory, and work with EHS consultants and the team for biannual reconciliations of all inventory locations to ensure database accuracy.
• Provide support as needed for deliveries of R&D materials and office supplies and participate in receiving, storage and distribution of reagents, supplies, consumables, equipment, parts, and any other inventory item(s) related to the operation of the laboratory.
• Work with R&D Teams to ensure that laboratory staff are aware of goods received, their hazards, and proper storage.
• Support the Safety Team by flagging new hazardous chemicals that are introduced into the labs and alert personnel as needed.
• Work with the Operations team to fulfill shipping requests, ensuring timely delivery of critical samples to external partners and CROs domestically or across international borders.

Key Qualifications:

• 3+ years of demonstrated Facilities, EH&S or Lab Operations experience. Past management of hazardous waste, biological safety programs, permits and compliance are preferred.
• 3+ years of demonstrated experience implementing systems that promote efficient facilitiy workflows, occupational safety programs, or related systems. Knowledge of state and federal safety regulations applicable to and experience with chemistry-heavy or high-volume cross-functional laboratory environments is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering, or equivalent experience. Certified Safety Professional (CSP) is a plus.
• Must be available for being on call as the after hours contact for lab and facilities related emergencies, including responding critical equipment failure or a hazardous materials spill.
• Willingness to work in our office five days a week and in controlled laboratory environments. Due to the nature of the work in the laboratory it is mandatory to wear personal protective equipment.
• Significant, demonstrated knowledge of chemicals, chemical compatibility, chemical hazards and chemical handling in a laboratory setting is preferred.
• Past experience in managing equipment in a laboratory setting.
• There is a risk of potential exposure to chemicals and biohazards. This position requires regular work in a laboratory environment where chemicals and biohazardous materials are used.
• Experience in creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and managing systems within a laboratory setting is a plus.
• Robust problem-solving abilities and the capability to handle various software platforms.
• Strong communication skills, both spoken and written, along with effective time and priority management.
• Works with urgency and is a self-starter, while demonstrating a high degree of personal and professional initiative.
• Excellent time management skills; able to manage multiple competing priorities simultaneously
• Proficiency in computer skills and a good understanding of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Ability to bend at the waist, kneel, and crouch to reach, lift, retrieve, and store materials in a commercial manufacturing environment and R&D labs.
• Ability to lift and carry up to fifty (50) pounds is required.

Perks:

UNP employees enjoy numerous benefits including full healthcare coverage for full-time employees and dependents, 401k with employer contribution, flexible time off, continuing education stipends, weekly team lunches, charity matching, and more. Our offices and lab space is located in Santa Cruz, CA, and we are a short walk to the beach with world class surf or a hike in the beautiful redwoods. We are looking for people to join our team who share our passion for rigorous science, best practices engineering, operational excellence, and working in a fun, fast paced, and inclusive environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Unnatural Products Inc. is a committed equal opportunity employer and evaluates job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

At Unnatural Products, we advocate for job titles that align with an individual's skill set, the impact they have on the organization, and the value they bring. We welcome applicants of varying levels of experience and recognize that responsibilities and job titles may be adjusted accordingly.