Area Operations Manager SF Bay Area

The Opportunity:

In this role, you will report to the Territory Area Manager and will work closely with the Avantor's Lab and Production Services professionals to serve our customers by performing customized, mission-based lab work and research protocols that help return time back to science.

Location: Bay Area, CA (South Bay, East Bay, Richmond - Subject to Change)

Shift: First Shift

Travel: Required (up to 2 hours daily)

Work type: Hybrid (On-site visits weekly + remote responsibilities)

Salary Range: $80K - $90K + 5% ICP Yearly Bonus*

Benefits:

• Health and Wellness: Medical, Dental, Vision and Wellness programs

• Time Off: Paid Time Off (PTO), Company paid holidays, Choice holidays etc.

• Financial Well Being: Spending Accounts: Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA), commuter benefits, 401(k), tuition assistance, employee stock purchase plan discount

• Added Protection Coverage: To include critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident, legal, identity theft protection, pet, auto and home insurance

• Recognition: Celebrate your peers and earn points to redeem on gifts and products

What we're looking for

Education:

• High school diploma or GED required

• An Associate degree or undergraduate degree in a business or science-related field is preferred

Experience:

• Minimum of 1-2 years of relevant customer-facing account management or operations experience.

• Proven experience in team leadership, field operations, and customer relations.

• Excellent communication (verbal and written), interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.

• Strong organizational and multitasking skills; comfortable managing multiple sites and team members.

• Empathetic and approachable leadership style, with a strong commitment to team support and development.

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and basic understanding of Microsoft Access

• Basic purchasing and inventory knowledge

• Must be flexible, adaptable, and multi-task oriented

• Ability to self-manage and self-motivate, forward-thinking

• Understanding of, and ability to administer Avantor's policies consistently

• Ability to make sound business decisions with limited consultation with the manager

How you will thrive and create an impact

Avantor's Lab and Production Services team is a crucial part of the Avantor Services group serving over 500 customers in biopharma, pharmaceutical, educational, industrial, and high-tech industries with customizable, flexible solutions and end-to-end laboratory operations support.

In this role you will:

• Team & Site Support

  • Provide direct leadership to associates, coaching and motivating them to meet or exceed performance and service goals.

  • Conduct 2-3 weekly site visits and monthly in-person check-ins to build strong team relationships and ensure on-the-ground support.

  • Perform duties outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW) and support associates in fulfilling daily responsibilities.

• Customer Engagement & Strategy

  • Serve as the primary liaison between customer, Avantor Services, and Avantor Sales teams.

  • Attend customer meetings and participate in strategic planning initiatives to align operations with client needs.

  • Deliver value through industry knowledge and continuous professional development.

• Operations & Administrative Oversight

  • Monitor and report on key operational metrics (KPIs, SOPs, SOWs, SPIs) to ensure consistent service delivery and performance.

  • Oversee the management of open order status reports and departmental documentation.

  • Supply safety gear and materials to associates, ensuring proper use in compliance with SOW and KPI standards.

  • Support scheduling, vacation planning, and performance/attendance management.

  • Facilitate safety training and handle HR-related matters, including performance appraisals and succession planning.

• Remote Functions

  • Provide virtual training and attend customer meetings when not on-site.

  • Maintain semi-monthly touchpoints with the team-one in-person and one virtual.

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science.

The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor.

We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world. Apply today!

Pay Transparency:

The expected pre-tax pay for this position is

Actual pay may differ depending on relevant factors such as prior experience and geographic location.

EEO Statement:

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at recruiting@avantorsciences.comand let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the Know Your Rights poster.

3rd Party Non-Solicitation Policy:

By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.