Columbia, SC, 29240, USA
1 day ago
Lab Manager
We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves? Ford’s Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design (EVDD) team is charged with delivering the company’s vision of a fully electric transportation future. EVDD is customer-obsessed, entrepreneurial, and data-driven and is dedicated to delivering industry-leading customer experience for electric vehicle buyers and owners. You’ll join an agile team of doers pioneering our EV future by working collaboratively, staying focused on only what matters, and delivering excellence day in and day out. Join us to make positive change by helping build a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. In this position... The Lab Manager will support the establishment and ongoing management of laboratory and R&D facilities critical to Ford's Advanced EV Development efforts. This role initially involves significant coordination and hands-on support for facility buildout and setup activities. As the facility becomes operational, the focus will shift to managing day-to-day lab operations, including equipment, supplies, safety, and general maintenance. They will be responsible for ensuring a safe, efficient, and well-maintained environment, requiring a highly organized and versatile individual comfortable transitioning between planning/coordination and hands-on tasks. What you'll do… + Coordinate with external construction teams (Architects, Engineers, Contractors) and internal teams (R&D, Engineering, Operations) to support facility buildout planning, capture space and equipment needs, and facilitate plan execution. This will be a primary focus initially. + Coordinate with equipment vendors to obtain technical details and installation requirements; manage logistics for receiving and placing equipment and furniture during buildout. + Assist in planning and scheduling buildout phases, ensuring alignment between space readiness, equipment delivery, and installation timelines. + Perform hands-on documentation of existing equipment for the new facility, assessing condition, identifying documentation/component needs, and supporting its integration. + Manage day-to-day lab and operational space activities, including inspections, overseeing cleanliness/organization, and managing ongoing facilities requests and work orders. This will become the primary focus after initial buildout. + Oversee maintenance, restocking, and organization of general lab supplies and consumables, managing inventory. + Support shipping, receiving, material handling, and general warehouse activities to ensure smooth material flow. + Support coordination of routine lab equipment maintenance, calibration, and repair; manage laboratory safety protocols, including waste disposal, inspections, and training, in line with Ford EH&S standards. + Create, manage, and report on incoming infrastructure and facilities requests using tracking systems such as JIRA. + Act as a versatile hands-on contributor, willing and able to support the team across various tasks including lab cleanup, furniture assembly, basic equipment operation, vehicle work, and machining/fabrication, depending on capability and need. + Maintain high levels of organization for physical spaces and digital documentation, comfortably transitioning between desk work and hands-on support. + Communicate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders. You'll have… + 5 years of experience in a laboratory, R&D, or technical operations environment. + Experience supporting facility projects, lab operations, or technical workspaces. + Proven ability to coordinate tasks and communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders, including internal teams and external vendors/contractors. + Demonstrated organizational skills, both physical and digital. + Experience using tracking systems for tasks or requests (e.g., JIRA, Asana, etc.). + A strong willingness and aptitude for hands-on work across a variety of tasks. + Familiarity with basic laboratory safety practices. + Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Even better, you may have… + Experience specifically supporting facility buildout, renovation, or move projects. + Experience in a startup or rapidly growing organization (similar to a new EV development team's pace). + Background or experience in mechanical work, vehicle maintenance, machining, or fabrication. + Experience with inventory management systems. + Familiarity with EH&S (Environmental Health and Safety) standards relevant to a laboratory setting, ideally within an automotive or R&D context. + Experience working with Architects, Engineers, or General Contractors on technical buildouts. + Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a related technical or scientific field or equivalent experience. You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply! As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including: • Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage • Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more • Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more • Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases • Tuition assistance • Established and active employee resource groups • Paid time off for individual and team community service • A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day • Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time. This position is a salary grade 7. For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSRSP4 This position is a range of salary grades 7-8 . Visa sponsorship is available for this position. Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660. Onsite work of up to three days per week may be required for candidates within commuting distance of a Ford hub location. #LI-Hybrid #LI-HA1 **Requisition ID** : 46992
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