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 producti