Facilities Manager/ Senior Facilities Manager

About SonoThera: 

SonoThera is a venture-backed genetic medicine company advancing ultrasound-mediated, non-viral targeted therapies to unlock the full potential of genetic medicines. Our platform is designed to overcome key limitations in the field, enabling precise, redosable delivery across a broad range of diseases with high unmet need. Headquartered in South San Francisco, SonoThera brings together a world-class, interdisciplinary team focused on translating breakthrough science into transformative therapies. 

The Role:

The Facilities Manager/ Senior Facilities Manager will oversee the infrastructure, maintenance, and continuous improvement of SonoThera’s laboratory and manufacturing environment. This role is essential to ensuring uninterrupted, compliant operations of key utilities — including HVAC, RODI water systems, and compressed dry air (CDA) — and the complex laboratory equipment that supports our scientific and production goals. As SonoThera transitions to a new facility, this individual will lead the buildout coordination, establish operational processes, and serve as the primary owner of facility readiness. The Facilities Manager/ Senior Facilities Manager will partner closely with Laboratory Operations, EH&S, IT, and scientific departments to build a safe, efficient, and fully compliant environment that scales with company growth.

What You Will Do:

• Facility Operations & Maintenance:
  • Oversee preventive maintenance and repair of building systems and critical laboratory infrastructure, including HVAC, RODI water, compressed dry air (CDA), electrical, and plumbing.
  • Manage the maintenance and service schedules for complex laboratory hardware such as autoclaves, bioreactors, incubators, biosafety cabinets, and cold-chain storage systems.
  • Establish asset tracking and calibration records for all facility-managed equipment to support ongoing compliance and service continuity.
  • Coordinate with building management and landlord representatives on lease-related facility matters, repairs, and capital improvement work.
• Compliance & Safety:
  • Enforce applicable regulatory standards governing laboratory and manufacturing facility operations, and maintain associated documentation.
  • Partner with the EH&S Specialist to ensure facility operations comply with OSHA, fire code, building codes, and hazardous material handling regulations.
  • Coordinate fire suppression, emergency egress, and safety system inspections; maintain all compliance records.
  • Support biosafety programs, chemical hygiene plans, and hazardous waste management in collaboration with EH&S and lab operations.
• Vendor & Contract Management:
  • Source, negotiate, and manage service contracts for facility-related vendors including janitorial, pest control, waste management, security, and specialty lab equipment service providers.
  • Monitor vendor performance against SLAs, manage escalations, and maintain a preferred vendor list.
  • Work with Finance and Operations to track facility spend against budget and flag variances or unplanned costs.
• Space Planning & Capital Projects:
  • Lead the facility move-in process, coordinating vendor installations, equipment commissioning, and space readiness for scientific and operational teams.
  • Manage facility reconfigurations and expansions in collaboration with engineering, operations, and scientific teams.
  • Maintain accurate floor plans, space assignments, and room inventory for all departments; anticipate growth-driven space needs.
  • Partner with construction and fit-out contractors to deliver tenant improvements on schedule and within budget.
• SOP Development & Compliance Audits:
  • Draft, review, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for facility use, equipment access, and infrastructure management.
  • Conduct routine facility compliance audits and walkthroughs; document findings and drive corrective actions to closure.
  • Ensure all facility SOPs are current, version-controlled, and accessible to relevant staff.
• Inventory & Procurement:
  • Oversee facility budgets and manage procurement of maintenance supplies, spare parts, and facility consumables.
  • Optimize resource utilization and identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising safety or operational continuity.
  • Support lab supply chain operations as needed, particularly for items tied to facility infrastructure.
• Laboratory & Scientific Support:
  • Coordinate installation, relocation, and decommissioning of laboratory equipment, including utility connections (gas, compressed air, RODI water, electrical).
  • Ensure lab environments — including temperature, humidity, and cleanroom conditions where applicable — are continuously monitored and maintained within specification.
  • Serve as the day-to-day resource for facility-related service requests from scientific and operations staff, triaging and resolving issues promptly.
• Emergency Preparedness & Business Continuity:
  • Develop and maintain facility-specific emergency response and business continuity plans.
  • Coordinate with EH&S and Operations to conduct facility emergency drills and staff training.
  • Serve as the primary on-call contact for after-hours facility emergencies and critical system failures.

What You Will Accomplish:

• Seamless Facility Transition:
  • Execute a smooth and well-coordinated move into SonoThera’s new facility, ensuring all laboratory and office spaces are operationally ready on schedule and within budget.
  • Establish facility processes, documentation, and infrastructure that create a foundation for scientific productivity from day one.
• Reliable & Well-Maintained Environment:
  • Implement preventive maintenance programs that minimize unplanned downtime, protect capital assets, and ensure all critical systems — HVAC, RODI water, CDA, cold-chain — perform reliably.
  • Create a safe, well-functioning space where scientists and operations staff can focus on their work without facility-related interruptions.
• Compliance & Regulatory Readiness:
  • Maintain full compliance with applicable regulatory standards, building codes, fire safety standards, and environmental regulations, protecting the company from regulatory risk.
  • Maintain an audit-ready facility with current SOPs, complete compliance documentation, and well-organized service and calibration records.
• Vendor & Cost Management:
  • Build and manage a reliable vendor network, ensuring service quality and cost-effectiveness through well-structured contracts and active performance oversight.
  • Provide accurate facility spend tracking, support CAPEX and OpEx planning, and identify savings opportunities without compromising operational continuity.
• Scalable Infrastructure:
  • Develop facility processes and documentation that scale with the company’s growth, enabling future expansions or additional locations to be managed efficiently.
  • Act as a trusted internal resource for space planning, equipment commissioning, and operational build-out decisions.
• Cross-Functional Partnership:
  • Establish strong working relationships across Laboratory Operations, EH&S, IT, Finance, and scientific departments, ensuring facility decisions are well-coordinated and aligned with organizational priorities.
  • Foster a proactive safety culture by championing EH&S initiatives and embedding compliance into day-to-day facility operations.

What You Will Bring:

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Biotechnology, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of facilities management experience within a biotech, pharmaceutical, or highly regulated laboratory environment.
• Experience managing a facility buildout, relocation, or significant capital project from planning through commissioning.
• Deep working knowledge of critical lab utilities including HVAC, RODI water systems, compressed dry air (CDA), and cryogenic/cold-chain storage.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks applicable to laboratory and manufacturing facility operations, including relevant ISO standards.
• Working knowledge of EH&S regulations including OSHA standards, fire code, and hazardous materials management relevant to a biotech setting.
• Certifications in IFMA CFM (Certified Facility Manager), PMP (Project Management Professional), or Lean Six Sigma are highly desirable.

 

Technical Requirements & Skills:

• Project Management:
  • Demonstrated ability to plan and execute capital projects, vendor engagements, and facility transitions concurrently in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Communication Skills:
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with contractors, vendors, regulators, and internal stakeholders at all levels.
• Problem-Solving:
  • Resourceful, hands-on approach to diagnosing and resolving facility and equipment issues quickly; comfortable making decisions under pressure with incomplete information.
• Organizational Skills:
  • Highly organized with the ability to maintain SOPs, asset inventories, calibration logs, service records, and vendor contracts with accuracy.
• Technical Aptitude:
  • Proficiency with CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems), space planning tools, and standard productivity software (Excel, Word, etc.).

Benefits:  

We offer our employees a comprehensive benefits package.  

At SonoThera, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.  

🏋🏻 Access to a 24-hour onsite gym  

💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision  

💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company  

🚗 Commuting stipend based on your geographical location  

🏦 401(k) Match: SonoThera offers a company match  

🏝 All full-time employees are eligible for our flexible time off policy  

  

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $140,000.00 to $190,000.00 USD annually. This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on various factors, including, without limitation, individual education, experience, tenure, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data, including potential adjustments for geographic location. 

Equal Opportunity for Diversity & Inclusion  

SonoThera provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.