R&D Laboratory Manager Job Listing at Kelly Services in Urbandale, IA (Job ID US3602397_BH9971052)

Description

Kelly® Science & Clinical is seeking a Laboratory Manager for a direct-hire (permanent) position with one of our partners in the Des Moines, Iowa area.

This position offers the opportunity to guide daily lab operations, mentor technical staff, and drive innovation in vaccine development while ensuring strict compliance and safety standards. Laboratory Manager – Direct Hire (Permanent)
Reports to: Global Project Leader, Biologics
Target Pay Range: $100,000-$125,000/year
Schedule: Full-time, day shift
Travel: Limited, 1-5 trips per year Your Impact

• Provide oversight for a laboratory dedicated to biological process and analytical development supporting veterinary vaccine programs.
• Manage technology transfer activities to external development and manufacturing partners.
• Supervise laboratory workflows, equipment readiness, and technical execution.
• Design and execute experiments aligned with program objectives.
• Enforce safety standards and maintain regulatory compliance across all lab activities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop staff while managing recruitment and training.
• Uphold quality systems to ensure accuracy and reproducibility of results.
• Monitor budgets, allocate resources effectively, and maintain financial discipline.
• Establish laboratory policies and promote accountability within the team.
• Champion scientific progress by enabling projects and supporting professional growth.
• Oversee equipment acquisition, service, and upgrades.
• Act as a key communicator with internal leadership, regulatory bodies, and external partners.

  What You'll Bring Core Experience:

• Strong technical knowledge and hands-on lab experience, including documentation best practices.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing and motivating lab teams.
• Skilled in planning and overseeing projects, budgets, and equipment maintenance.
• Familiarity with quality systems, compliance requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Clear communication skills, conflict resolution ability, and comfort presenting technical information.

Technical Qualifications (Required):

• BS or MS in a life science discipline (virology, bacteriology, immunology), engineering, or equivalent background.
• Proficiency in process/analytical method development, process validation, and media optimization.
• Knowledge of vaccine development methods; GLP/GMP exposure preferred.
• Laboratory skills in microbial assays (e.g., virus titration, serum neutralization, bacterial growth curves, ELISA, PCR, SDS-PAGE).
• Experience with cell culture, fermentation, bioreactors, and lyophilization.
• Downstream processing expertise (inactivation, centrifugation, filtration, diafiltration, formulation, chromatography).
• Pilot-scale microbial production experience.

Technical Qualifications (Preferred):

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD).
• 10+ years of experience working in animal health/ pharmaceuticals/ biologics.
• Technical experience relater to bacteriology and virology.

Behaviors & Competencies

• Provides clear direction and inspires the team with vision and values.
• Comfortable collaborating across regions with a global perspective.
• Responsive to internal stakeholders; views project teams as key partners.
• Welcomes feedback to refine processes and outcomes.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and delegation skills.
• Champions a culture of safety and regulatory compliance.
• Communicates openly and effectively with all stakeholders.
• Calm, analytical approach to challenges; encourages creative problem-solving.
• Promotes continuous learning, innovation, and staff development.
• Flexible and adaptable under changing conditions; maintains team resilience.

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

Why Kelly® Science & Clinical?

Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world's most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it's the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we're obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it's about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It's the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It's the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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