Lead, Culture Collection and R&D Operations

Position Summary: We are seeking a Senior Scientist or Senior R&D Manager to join our dynamic, fast-paced R&D team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in creating high-quality microbial cell banks and working stocks, coordinating fit-for-purpose technology and QC infrastructure development, and orchestrating an R&D product development pipeline with a focus on innovative testing methodologies for launching novel microbial consortia products.

Key Responsibilities: Optimize methods and lead production of high-quality frozen stocks of diverse bacteria and fungi from environmental sources (i.e., non-model organisms); includes archival stocks and working cell banks for manufacturing and lab assays Ensure clonal purity, viability, and vitality of all stocks, banks, and source material Implement methods to monitor, mitigate, and prevent contamination events Design PCR primers, optimize protocols, and operationalize methods for assessing clonal purity and genomic integrity Identify and manage contract research organizations (CROs) and service providers for R&DAdd DNA barcodes and fluorescent reporters to selected microbial strains Implement automation and sample tracking solutions as needed (e.g., capper/decapper, barcoded vials and plates, Via Flow, collaboration with automation engineer for liquid handling solutions, etc.)Help guide development of LIMS (laboratory information management systems); thoroughly document sample tracking, processes, procedures, and operations Engage as a key thought leader in strategic development of R&D platform & pipeline Manage projects for infrastructure development & pipeline operations Collaborate with colleagues in bioinformatics, data science, laboratory and greenhouse testing, production/manufacturing, BD, regulatory, and field science Manage one or more direct reports

Qualifications: PhD degree (or equivalent experience) in Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Plant Biology, or related field Experience with testing and optimizing microbial metabolism, interactions, phenotypes, and genotypes of diverse environmental isolates 4+ years leading a team in industrial or agricultural biotechnology and developing microbe-based products in a corporate R&D environment Required Skills & Expertise Extensive experience in cultivating diverse microbes, including Actinobacteria Demonstrated ability to deploy molecular biology fundamentals for design and build Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail Ability to critically evaluate scientific literature and bring key innovations in-house Track record of crafting high-quality project plans Successful prior people management and hiring experience Proficiency in LIMS systems (e.g., Benchling), standard statistical analysis and data visualization software (e.g., R, Spotfire, Tableau, JMP), and project management software (e.g., Asana, Jira)Experience using SQL queries and relational databases Effective communication across multiple disciplines Tech-savvy with a passion for learning and applying new technologies Highly responsive and proactive with initiative and independence Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills Flexible and adaptable to changing project needs and priorities Beneficial Skills & Expertise Expertise in microbe-host interaction mechanisms and assays, particularly plant-microbe and/or pathogen-microbe interactions Understanding of microbial physiology and metabolism in biochemistry, genomics, biosynthetic gene clusters, microbiome dynamics, symbioses, and pathogen resistance Experience in assessing and engineering microbiomes and their interactions Track record of cross-stakeholder alignment to operate a structured R&D pipeline with complex coordination and stage-gate decisions Location &Considering applying for this job Do not delay, scroll down and make your application as soon as possible to avoid missing out. Job Details

Location: This position requires spending >80% of the workweek at a laboratory location in the San Francisco East Bay region. The first weeks may require regular work at a Vacaville, CA location. May require occasional travel outside California.

Job Type: Full-time, exempt position in the United States. At this time, Oath, Inc. is not able to provide visa sponsorship or work authorization support. Company About Oath: Oath is a leading microbial sciences company focused on sustainable agriculture and planet-wide challenges. xmcpwfu We envision a world where these challenges are not only alleviated but reversed, replenishing Earths microbiomes.