Operations and Facilities Manager

Job Summary:

The Operations and Facilities Manager is responsible for supporting operations at Quino Energy's R&D facility in San Leandro, including shipping, facility operations and maintenance, EHS compliance, workflow management, onboarding and training, and occasionally support R&D work. The successful candidate will have excellent time management, problem solving skills, attention to detail, and communication skills, and will collaborate with cross-functional teams of scientists, engineers, and company leadership. Because of the nature of the job, this is a fully in-person position.

Facility Operations

• Support daily lab operations, including workflow coordination, personnel and equipment scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Assist with onboarding new staff and ensure they are trained on lab protocols and safety compliance.
• Assist leadership to implement and maintain operational policies, SOPs, and procedures.
• Perform routine repairs and maintenance, or proactively identify, schedule, and oversee outside contractors, vendors, or technicians to setup, repair, maintain, upgrade, or decommission facility equipment. Such items include but are not limited to flow battery systems, battery testers, analytical equipment, gas production systems, computer network and servers, and so on. Ensure lab infrastructure (ventilation, utilities, safety systems) is maintained and functioning properly.
• Apply for permits or obtain requisite permissions for facility work and any EHS-related matters, including but not limited to the EPA, state, city and county, and landlord.

EHS

• Ensure compliance with EHS protocols, requirements, and standards.
• Maintain accurate records of safety training, MSDS, inspections, and certifications. Assist with inspections as required.
• Manage laboratory consumables inventory, procurement, and vendor relationships, and coordinate with leadership in support of vendor contracting processes.

Shipping and Logistics

• Ship out sample materials, including hazardous chemicals, to partners and customers, and coordinate with 3rd-party logistic providers as necessary. The candidate is expected to be the company's subject matter expert on hazardous chemicals shipping, including following all applicable regulations and labeling procedures for both domestic and international shipping.
• Coordinate logistics for incoming materials, chemical storage, and waste management.

Qualification Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• At least an associate degree in chemistry, science, environmental health and safety, or a related field.
• CHMM and/or ASP/CSP certifications are desired.
• 5+ years of experience in lab operations, facilities management, or a related role, preferably in a chemical, power electronics, or materials science lab or test center.
• Strong knowledge of lab safety regulations (OSHA, EPA, local hazardous materials compliance) and EHS certifications or prior experience as a safety officer.
• Experience managing chemical inventories, shipping/receiving hazardous materials, and waste handling.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills, detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; capable of working effectively with a diverse team of scientists, engineers, and company managers from entry-level to the company's management team and support the company's business development and sales team in coordinating sample shipments to external partners and customers.
• Experience managing vendors, contractors, and service providers.
• Hands-on experience setting up new laboratory operations is preferred.
• Candidate must be comfortable in a startup or fast-paced environment, display a high degree of initiative in their work, and be adaptable as the company grows.
• Ability to regularly lift and move items 25 lbs in weight and occasionally lift and move up to 50 lbs without assistance.

Benefits and Compensation

$75,000-125,000 in annual salary, depending on experience and qualifications. We offer top-of-the-line insurance benefits including platinum plans for medical, dental, and vision, 3 weeks paid time off annually, and participation in the company 401(k) plan with a company match. We provide unlimited snacks and refreshments as well as a weekly company lunch during work hours. No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

About

Quino Energy is an early-stage company that is commercializing a water-based organic redox flow battery technology licensed from Harvard University, for utilities and communities. The batteries use chemicals made from coal tar and petroleum aromatics to store energy, rather than expensive materials that use lithium, cobalt, nickel, vanadium, and so on. In addition, our batteries offer true non-flammability because the chemicals are dissolved in water and the battery does not produce hydrogen during charging. They are ideal for integration with renewable generation in the electrical grid, for users requiring multiple cycles per day, and for deployments in urban areas in particular, where fire risk is a grave concern.

At our facility in San Leandro, CA, we are currently building, refining, and testing battery prototypes, working with vendors and partners to scale up system size, engaging customers and conducting demos, and continuing to push the limits of flow battery technology.

Quino Energy Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. We also do not discriminate based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.

Quino Energy participates in E-Verify. Upon hiring, we will provide the Social Security Administration, and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.