Lab Services Manager
About The Position
The Lab Services Manager is responsible for day-to-day management and operational oversight of the laboratory, ensuring efficient workflow, high-quality testing, regulatory compliance, and exceptional customer service. The role leads daily laboratory operations, including staffing, scheduling, productivity, quality systems, safety, customer communication, and operational performance. As the primary operational leader for the site, the manager is accountable for maintaining a high-performing laboratory that consistently provides accurate, timely, and compliant microbiological and/or chemical testing services. The position partners with laboratory leadership, quality, and cross-functional teams to advance operational excellence, employee engagement, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction. The manager is expected to lead with accountability, professionalism, and a strong service mindset while supporting the company’s purpose, mission, and values.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Science, Biology, Food Technology, or a related scientific field.
- At least 5 years of experience in laboratory operations, manufacturing, or regulated operational environments.
- At least 3 years of leadership experience over laboratory personnel.
- Strong understanding of laboratory operations, workflow management, quality systems, and regulatory compliance.
- Proven ability to lead teams, manage operational priorities, and drive performance improvements.
- Strong written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to apply mathematical concepts including percentages, ratios, statistical trends, and operational metrics in practical situations.
- Ability to analyze productivity, turnaround time, staffing, and operational performance data.
- Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Potential exposure to odors, fumes, airborne particles, hazardous chemicals, and microbiological pathogens; required use of PPE in laboratory environments.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree.
- Prior experience in food testing, third-party laboratory testing, manufacturing, or regulated laboratory environments.
- Experience working within ISO/IEC 17025, FDA, USDA, or similar regulated environments.
- Experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and operational reporting tools.
Responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day laboratory activities, workflows, staffing, and operational priorities.
- Coordinate laboratory schedules and staffing coverage to meet workload demands and turnaround-time commitments.
- Conduct daily operational meetings or huddles to align priorities, staffing, workflow, and customer expectations.
- Monitor productivity, sample flow, testing backlogs, and operational performance metrics.
- Ensure effective use of operational resources, supplies, equipment, and staffing.
- Ensure compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 standards, company quality systems, SOPs, and safety requirements.
- Maintain audit readiness and support internal, external, and customer audits or inspections.
- Reinforce laboratory safety procedures, PPE requirements, and sanitation standards.
- Ensure laboratory equipment is maintained, calibrated, and functioning properly.
- Support investigations involving deviations, nonconformances, customer complaints, and corrective actions.
- Serve as an operational point of contact for customer service issues, turnaround concerns, and laboratory coordination needs.
- Communicate operational updates and service expectations accurately and promptly to customers.
- Support consistent, high-quality laboratory services that strengthen customer relationships and trust.
- Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, team leads, and laboratory staff.
- Support hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, performance management, and employee development.
- Promote employee engagement, accountability, teamwork, and professional growth.
- Ensure frontline leaders effectively manage employee performance, training, and operational execution.
- Monitor operational expenses, labor productivity, inventory levels, and resource utilization.
- Support budget management and operational planning.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce operational waste, and enhance productivity.
- Manage vendor and service-provider relationships to support operational effectiveness.
- Drive improvements in workflow optimization, turnaround-time performance, quality, and customer satisfaction.
- Promote best-practice sharing and standardization across teams and laboratory operations.
- Support implementation of new processes, technologies, and operational initiatives.
- Maintain a visible and engaged leadership presence within the laboratory.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
