Department Manager, Performance

Intertek

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Intertek is seeking a Department Manager, Performance, to lead the Performance department within its Transportation Technologies team in Kentwood, Michigan. The department manager is responsible for daily operations, technical execution, customer delivery, safety, quality, financial performance, and team development. The role ensures testing services are completed accurately, efficiently, safely, and in accordance with applicable standards, customer requirements, accreditation requirements, and Intertek policies. The manager partners with operations leadership, sales, engineering, quality, and laboratory personnel to improve operational performance and turnaround times, support profitable growth, and maintain customer satisfaction. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and requires travel as business needs dictate. Intertek describes itself as a global quality assurance provider supporting testing, inspection, and certification across industries, including transportation. Its stated purpose is bringing quality, safety, and sustainability to life. The company is a drug-free workplace, and some positions may require a pre-employment drug test based on the work performed.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in a laboratory, testing, engineering, manufacturing, quality, or technical operations environment.
Strong understanding of laboratory operations, test planning, customer requirements, quality systems, safety expectations, and technical documentation.
Ability to manage competing priorities, drive accountability, communicate effectively, and lead a team in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including using operational data to improve performance.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and common business systems for scheduling, reporting, project tracking, and communication.
Ability to interpret customer needs, develop or support custom test approaches, troubleshoot complex technical challenges, and contribute to R&D or non-standard testing projects.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, multitasking environment with shifting priorities and demanding deadlines.
Attention to detail and ability to prioritize and organize workload with effective time management.
Effective verbal, written, and presentation communication and interpersonal skills.
Fundamental technical and administrative skills necessary to perform the job duties.
Customer-focused and quality-driven approach.
Ability to travel as business needs dictate.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related technical field; equivalent education, technical knowledge, and relevant experience may be considered.
At least 2 years of people leadership, supervisory, project leadership, or departmental coordination experience.

Responsibilities

Lead department scheduling, workload planning, resource allocation, prioritization, and execution of customer testing projects.
Provide leadership, coaching, performance management, and development for department personnel, including technicians, engineers, supervisors, and other assigned team members.
Ensure testing complies with applicable standards, customer specifications, quality system requirements, safety procedures, and accreditation expectations.
Monitor capacity, backlog, utilization, throughput, and turnaround time; implement corrective actions and continuous improvement plans.
Partner with sales, customer service, engineering, and operations on quoting, project planning, technical feasibility reviews, customer communications, and issue resolution.
Monitor department financial performance, including revenue, labor efficiency, overtime, cost control, margin, capital needs, and productivity opportunities.
Maintain a safe, organized, and professional laboratory environment through safety expectations, 5S practices, equipment readiness, housekeeping, and corrective-action follow-up.
Support development and improvement of department procedures, work instructions, training plans, competency records, and technical documentation.
Ensure test equipment, fixtures, tools, chambers, and other assets are maintained, calibrated, scheduled, and available.
Investigate customer concerns, nonconformances, delays, safety events, and quality issues; lead root-cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions.
Promote customer-focused service through clear communication, accurate reporting, timely project updates, and escalation of risks or barriers.
Assist with business planning, staffing plans, training needs, capital investment recommendations, service capability improvements, and department growth initiatives.
Follow Intertek's 10X Energies and workplace safety practices and policies.
Travel as business needs dictate.