Lab Manager

Position: R&D Lab Manager

Position Type: Full time, permanent

Department: Research and Development

Location: Salt River, Cape Town (onsite)

Experience: BSc or higher qualification with 5+ years relevant experience

Watchmaker Genomics is a global life science company based in Boulder, Colorado with an R&D and Production facility in Cape Town, South Africa. Our team is passionate about innovation and values collaboration, creativity, and scientific rigor. We believe that the intersection of biology, engineering, and computer science presents exciting opportunities for developing novel technologies that promote research and improve human health. Watchmaker Genomics specializes in the design, development, and production of DNA- and RNA-modifying enzymes that enable high-growth applications in genomics, molecular diagnostics, and personalized medicine.

Position Description

Watchmaker is inviting applications for the full-time position of R&D Lab Manager based in Cape Town, South Africa.

The successful candidate will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced working environment and contribute directly to our company culture and success. This position reports to the Senior R&D Lab Manager and provides an opportunity to ensure that the R&D laboratory runs efficiently and safely.

We see this as a role with real scope for growth. As our Cape Town operation develops, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to take on supervision of a small lab support team and to assume broader responsibility for the strategic aspects of lab management, including capacity and resource planning, equipment and capital planning, and shaping how our R&D laboratories evolve to support the company's roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to lab capacity, resource and equipment planning in support of R&D priorities

• General lab organization, space, and resource allocation

• Own and maintain organized, up-to-date R&D inventories - including fridge and freezer stock, chemicals, reagents, and other lab consumables

• Monitor usage of routine consumables, chemicals and reagents, and raise procurement requisitions to help avoid delays to critical projects.

• Support procurement of specialized and general lab equipment and instruments

• Support receiving of incoming orders and ensure they are accurately logged against procurement records

• Manage the maintenance and calibration of lab equipment and instruments, including keeping equipment clean and ensuring maintenance schedules and best practices are followed

• Document and manage Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) where appropriate to ensure that routine procedures, assays and experiments are performed reliably

• Ensure good Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) practices, including waste disposal

• Provide regular training on SOPs, equipment usage, SHE compliance, etc.

• Manage general lab cleaning, glassware reprocessing (washing, autoclaving and drying), etc.

• Preparation of standard solutions, reagents, agar plates, etc.

• Optionally, carry out routine lab procedures and/or research

• Carry out other ad hoc tasks as required

• Skills and Requirements

The following skills and experience are requirements for the position:

• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to plan analytically, logically, and practically

• Excellent computer literacy including applications skills, especially with spreadsheets

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Experience with procurement management systems, ERP systems, and/or accounting systems will be an advantage

• A good knowledge of local vendors of laboratory equipment, consumables, chemicals, and reagents etc. will be an advantage

• Experience with automated liquid handling systems, NGS sequencing platforms, or other specialist protein or genomics technologies will be an advantage

• A proven track record of laboratory management and/or a strong willingness to learn the role is important.

Education

• BSc or higher qualification in Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a related field, with 5+ years of experience working in a similar role. Remuneration will be commensurate with experience and skills.

• Personal Attributes

• Interested in developing leadership and people-management skills over time

• Proactive, structured, and highly reliable

• Comfortable operating with autonomy and accountability

• Able to work effectively across disciplines and seniority levels

• Practical, solutions‑oriented, and calm under pressure

• Meticulous and detail-orientated