Senior Manager, Lab Operations
Gilead Sciences · Edmonton
At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.
Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.
We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.
Job Description
At Gilead our pursuit of a healthier world for all people has yielded a cure for hepatitis C, revolutionary improvements in HIV treatment and prevention as well as advancements in therapies for viral and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers.
We set and achieve bold ambitions in our fight against the world’s most devastating diseases, united in our commitment to confronting the largest public health challenges of our day and improving the lives of patients for generations to come. As a Senior Manager, Lab Operations at Gilead, you will lead the Lab Operations function at the Gilead Alberta site in Edmonton, supporting Technical Development teams. This role is accountable for building operational processes, service models, governance, team structure, stakeholder engagement, and performance routines where limited infrastructure currently exists. The role requires strong laboratory operations expertise, cross-functional influence, and the ability to operate as a peer to senior site leaders while translating scientific and business needs into safe, compliant, and reliable laboratory support.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Establish and lead the Alberta Lab Operations function, including intake processes, consumables support, equipment management, facilities interfaces, documentation support, service expectations, and governance routines.
Serve as the primary operational partner for laboratory stakeholders by triaging requests, resolving issues, routing work to the correct partners, and maintaining visibility to priorities, risks, and decisions.
Oversee laboratory equipment and assets across the full lifecycle
Partner with Facilities, Space Planning, Environmental Health and Safety, Information Technology, vendors, and scientific teams to support laboratory modifications, moves, infrastructure needs, and operational readiness.
Support purchasing and financial administration for laboratory operations, including purchase orders, invoices, change orders, budget tracking, capital equipment needs
Lead safety, compliance, inspection readiness, and laboratory organization practices through walkthroughs, issue tracking, follow-up coordination, and procedure development.
Drive standardization and continuous improvement by documenting repeatable workflows, reducing reliance on tribal knowledge, and implementing scalable practices that support future growth.
Hire, onboard, develop, and lead Lab Operations team members while building credibility, alignment, and effective ways of working across the Alberta site and broader Lab Operations organization.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of relevant industry experience OR
Master's degree with 6+ years of relevant industry experience OR
PhD with 2+ years of relevant industry experience
Experience in laboratory operations within a regulated, GMP, quality-controlled, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical laboratory, or manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated team/people leadership experience with accountability for operational priorities, stakeholder alignment, team performance, or cross-functional execution.
Experience managing cross-functional projects, operational processes, vendors, or laboratory service delivery across multiple stakeholder groups.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience building, scaling, or transforming a laboratory operations function in an early-stage or evolving environment.
Experience managing core laboratory operations workflows, including equipment lifecycle management, maintenance systems, purchasing and financial administration, service contracts, SAP or Ariba processes, inventory workflows, safety expectations, inspection readiness, and regulated documentation practices.
Experience applying Lean, 5S, digital tools, service metrics, or continuous improvement methods to improve laboratory efficiency and operational reliability.
KEY COMPETENCIES
Operational leadership in ambiguous or developing environments.
Strong judgment, prioritization, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Ability to influence senior stakeholders and align cross-functional partners.
Change leadership, process discipline, service mindset, and continuous improvement orientation.
PEOPLE LEADER ACCOUNTABILITIES
Create Inclusion - knowing the business value of diverse teams, modeling inclusion, and embedding the value of diversity in the way they manage their teams.
Develop Talent - understand the skills, experience, aspirations and potential of their employees and coach them on current performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receiving the feedback and insight needed to grow, develop and realize their purpose.
Empower Teams - connect the team to the organization by aligning goals, purpose, and organizational objectives, and holding them to account. They provide the support needed to remove barriers and connect their team to the broader ecosystem.
For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:
Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.