Science & Partnerships Specialist

 Who are we?   

About LabCentral:   

Founded in the heart of Kendall Square in 2013, LabCentral is a network of shared laboratory spaces and scientific communities that serve as a launchpad for high-potential life-sciences and biotech start-ups. We deliver first-class facility and operational support, skilled laboratory personnel, and an expansive events program designed to add value to the community and promote connectivity‒ as well as the other critical services and support that early-stage companies need to begin start-up operations. 

What is this role? 

Do you know your way around a lab well enough to earn a working scientist's trust on day one? Are you ready to move from running experiments to owning relationships, without leaving science behind? Do you want a role where your bench background is your competitive advantage? 

LabCentral is seeking a Science & Partnerships Specialist to join the partnerships team in Cambridge, MA. This role sits at the intersection of LabCentral's partnerships function and lab operations team, serving as the scientific connective tissue between them. You will own a growing portfolio of equipment-focused partner accounts, help evaluate new partnership opportunities with technical and commercial judgment, and build ongoing relationships with resident scientists that keep LabCentral's equipment partnerships grounded in real bench-level need. This role reports to the Director of Partnerships & Strategy. 

You'll be a strong fit for this role if you have a degree in biology or a related life sciences field, 2 to 3 years of bench experience across diverse laboratory workflows, and a genuine drive toward scientific account management or partnerships. Bonus points if you've had customer-facing scientific experience, whether field applications work, CRO client support, or vendor-side coordination. 

What will I do? 

Responsibilities: 

Your day-to-day is focused on managing relationships, staying close to the scientific needs of LabCentral's resident community, and bridging partnerships, lab operations, and scientific resident community at LabCentral. Every day is different, so flexibility and responsiveness are key. 

Equipment Partner Account Management 

• Own and manage a growing portfolio of equipment-focused partner accounts, including sponsors with active equipment placements across LabCentral's lab spaces 
• Serve as the primary point of contact for day-to-day requests from your assigned accounts,  
• Track renewal timelines, partner commitments, and engagement quality across your portfolio 
• Participate in partner discussions and sponsorship conversations, bringing scientific fluency and resident context to the table 

Resident Scientist Engagement 

• Build and sustain ongoing relationships with resident scientists across LabCentral sites, developing familiarity with their science, workflows, and equipment dependencies 
• Serve as an active voice-of-customer channel within the partnerships function, ensuring partner decisions reflect what is actually happening at the bench 

Scientific Assessment and Prospect Evaluation 

• Evaluate new equipment, supply, and service prospects alongside the Director and the lab operations team, translating resident workflow needs into technically grounded assessments 
• Build and maintain a current picture of resident scientific needs and equipment gaps to inform new partner development and the evolution of existing engagements 

Cross-functional Collaboration 

• Serve as the primary liaison between partnerships and lab operations, translating between operational realities, resident needs, and partnership considerations 
• Support the Director of Partnerships & Strategy on portfolio management, prospect development, and broader science-focused partnership initiatives 

What do I bring? 

Desired qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in biology or a related life sciences discipline 
• 2 to 3 years of laboratory experience spanning diverse workflows, techniques, and equipment types, preferably in a multi-user environment supporting others' scientific work  
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft professional, polished partner-facing communications with minimal review 
• Demonstrated ability to build trust with scientists, identifying and translating scientific patterns into actionable recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences 
• Strong organizational skills and reliable follow-through, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams independently in a fast-moving environment 
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with trackers, status reporting, and operational data  
• A drive toward scientific partnerships, business development, or scientific account management
• Demonstrated ability to leverage AI systems with a genuine interest in finding new applications as the tools evolve  
• Experience with scientific vendors, lab equipment suppliers, or service providers preferred 

In your first six months, you will: 

• Shadow the lab operations team in a structured capacity, building firsthand familiarity with LabCentral's labs, equipment landscape, and resident scientific community 
• Build active relationships with resident scientists across LabCentral sites, learning their science, workflows, and the equipment they depend on most 
• Get up to speed on LabCentral's equipment partner portfolio and begin taking ownership of your assigned accounts 
• Develop an early picture of where the equipment partnership portfolio has gaps and opportunities, and bring those observations to the Director 
• Set goals with your manager for full ownership of your account portfolio at the six-month and one-year mark 

Work environment: 

• Fully onsite during regular business hours; the Lab Operations Immersion period is primarily lab-based, and Partnerships Ownership involves a mix of lab, office, and partner-facing settings 
• Ability to sit and stand for long periods, move around lab and office environments, and communicate clearly in a variety of settings 
• Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 25 pounds 
• Ability to travel locally between LabCentral sites across Cambridge and Boston, MA
• Occasional ability to travel to partner sites across the region or scientific conferences in support of partner relationships  

What do we offer?     

Benefits:    

• Fully Covered Medical and Dental Premiums: We have you and your dependents covered, including deductible costs.     
• Long and Short-Term Disability & Life Insurance: Life can be unexpected; we’ve got your back.    
• Flexible Vacation: Enjoy the flexibility to take the time you need.     
• Three Months Fully Paid Parental Leave: We’ll help support you during life's important moments.    
• 401K Match Up to 6% with Immediate Vestment: Know your future is secure with our 401K match.    
• Transportation Reimbursements: We'll cover commuting costs for a parking pass, MBTA, or bike maintenance so you can get to work hassle-free.    
• Health & Wellness: Relax and enjoy reimbursements for fitness, yoga, massage therapy, and other holistic health practices.    
• Technology Stipend: To ensure you stay connected, we offer a monthly cell phone stipend as well as yearly reimbursements for cell phone repairs.    
• Professional Growth: We offer a stipend for continuing education and training to invest in your career growth, and we help ease the burden of student loans by providing reimbursement.    
• Fantastic Work Environment: Be inspired by colleagues and residents, and work in vibrant spaces that are stocked with a variety of snacks. Plus, we offer in-house programming on thought-provoking and diverse topics!

Compensation    

Our compensation philosophy is intentional and researched to align with average market salaries; comprehensive, generous benefits to support overall well-being; and parity with our existing and future team members. Below details the value of what our compensation package may look like, but specific details pertaining to an individual will vary.       

Salary range: $57-74k along with the potential to earn a bonus of 8% based on company performance.      

Approximate monetary value of benefits (based off an individual – dependents increase value): $24,000.   

Equal Opportunity Employer       

LabCentral is committed to building teams that reflect the fabric of the city around us. We welcome all candidates regardless of race, color, ancestry, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, Veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Any other human expressions and experiences not mentioned here are equally welcome. If you require an accommodation, please let us know. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.