General Manager, Personal Care & Cosmetics Laboratory

Certified Laboratories Inc•Burbank, CA

6h•Onsite

About The Position

Certified Group is seeking a General Manager to lead its Personal Care & Cosmetics laboratory operations in Burbank, CA. This executive-level role carries full responsibility for site operations, financial performance, technical execution, and regulatory compliance. The General Manager will drive business performance within a GMP-regulated environment, lead a high-performing technical and operational team, and ensure exceptional client service. This role holds full P&L ownership and is accountable for operational excellence, quality systems, employee engagement, and long-term strategic growth. The ideal candidate brings strong business acumen and proven site leadership, combined with deep technical expertise in analytical chemistry—particularly near-expert knowledge of chromatographic operations. This individual must confidently guide technical decision-making, assess analytical challenges, and communicate risks, root causes, and solutions effectively.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or related scientific field (required)
10+ years of leadership experience in a GMP-regulated laboratory environment
Experience as a General Manager, Site Leader, Laboratory Director, or similar role
Demonstrated P&L ownership and financial management expertise
Proven experience with regulatory inspections and client audits
Strong experience leading analytical chemistry operations, including chromatography and wet chemistry
Deep technical expertise in chromatographic systems (HPLC, UPLC, GC, GC-MS, LC-MS, LC-MS/MS)
Proven ability to troubleshoot, interpret data, and lead root cause investigations
Strong foundation in classical/wet chemistry techniques
Executive leadership and strategic thinking
Financial and operational acumen
Deep knowledge of GMP quality systems
Advanced expertise in analytical chemistry and chromatography
Strong technical judgment and problem-solving ability
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly
Client-focused mindset
Change leadership and organizational development
Executive presence and strong communication skills

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D.) and/or MBA (preferred)
Background in personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, biotech, OTC, or contract lab services (preferred)

Responsibilities

Lead overall site strategy, performance, and growth initiatives
Develop and execute annual operating and business plans
Drive continuous improvement across operations, quality, and technical capabilities
Serve as the senior escalation point for operational, technical, quality, and client issues
Align site strategy with long-term growth across personal care, cosmetics, OTC, and regulated testing
Integrate commercial priorities with operational execution and sound scientific judgment
Own full site P&L, including revenue growth, margins, and EBITDA
Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes
Monitor KPIs such as utilization, turnaround time, productivity, and capacity
Partner with commercial teams on client retention, pricing, and growth opportunities
Support capital investments in instrumentation, automation, and infrastructure
Evaluate financial performance in the context of laboratory operations and technical complexity
Ensure compliance with GMP and applicable regulatory standards
Maintain inspection readiness and lead audits (regulatory and client)
Champion data integrity, documentation, and quality system effectiveness
Ensure methods are scientifically sound and properly validated/verified
Oversee investigations (OOS/OOT, deviations, CAPA) and technical issue resolution
Lead in complex technical scenarios involving chromatography, method performance, and data quality
Foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and scientific rigor
Oversee laboratory functions including Chemistry, Microbiology, Stability, and Sample Management
Align staffing and resources to meet operational and business needs
Optimize workflows to improve efficiency, turnaround time, and quality
Ensure proper equipment, methods, training, and controls are in place
Drive improvements in instrument utilization, sample flow, and cross-functional coordination
Support expansion of technical capabilities (e.g., LC, GC, wet chemistry)
Maintain strong technical oversight of chromatography-driven operations
Lead and develop a cross-functional leadership team
Build a high-performance, accountable, and engaged culture
Drive succession planning and talent development initiatives
Promote safety, collaboration, and continuous learning
Mentor teams in technical problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision-making
Ensure strong competency in analytical chemistry, chromatography, and GMP practices
Establish high standards for analytical rigor and data-driven decisions