Laboratory Manager

Johnsonville•Sheboygan Falls, WI

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Laboratory Manager will lead and develop Johnsonville’s microbiology and chemistry teams and build laboratory capabilities that support the business. The role is responsible for ensuring reliable, accurate, and defensible laboratory testing; leading the laboratory’s attainment and maintenance of A2LA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025; and fostering quality, continuous improvement, and audit readiness. The manager partners across the organization to turn technical findings into practical action and align laboratory capabilities with evolving business needs. The position provides technical oversight of meat and poultry sample handling and testing, oversees laboratory quality systems and operations, develops team competency, and represents the laboratory in cross-functional work. It is located at Johnsonville’s Tech Center in Johnsonville. Travel is less than 10% of the time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, food science, meat science, or a related science.
At least 7 years of progressive laboratory experience in food, meat, microbiology, chemistry, or another regulated testing environment.
At least 3 years of laboratory leadership or supervisory responsibility.
Proven success building team capability and leading laboratory operations while balancing quality, service, capacity, and business priorities.
Experience working within or implementing an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory.
Strong knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025, accreditation requirements, and audit readiness.
Knowledge of method verification and validation, quality control, proficiency testing, corrective action, equipment and document control, and competency authorization.
Strong scientific judgment and risk-based decision-making.
Ability to translate technical and accreditation requirements into practical, sustainable laboratory processes.
Strong root-cause analysis, problem-solving, and continuous-improvement capabilities.
Effective project management, prioritization, and change leadership.
Strong organization and attention to detail, with the ability to balance daily execution and long-term laboratory strategy.
Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly across laboratory, plant, regulatory, and leadership audiences.
Eligibility to work in the country where the job is located without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

A2LA assessment preparation or participation.
Food or meat microbiology and chemistry testing, including pathogen, environmental, compositional, and rapid methods.
Experience with LIMS, data governance, statistical analysis, and Microsoft 365 applications.

Responsibilities

Lead attainment and maintenance of A2LA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025, including applications, scope, assessments, renewals, and corrective-action responses.
Own the laboratory quality management system, including document control, internal audits, management reviews, nonconforming work, complaints, corrective action, impartiality, confidentiality, and continual improvement.
Maintain proficiency testing, quality indicators, and evidence demonstrating the ongoing suitability and effectiveness of the accredited scope.
Provide technical oversight for meat and poultry sample receipt, preparation, microbiology and chemistry testing, result review, and reporting.
Ensure methods are fit for use through method selection, verification, validation, quality controls, measurement traceability, equipment control, and uncertainty evaluation where applicable.
Authorize defensible results and lead technical investigations, method troubleshooting, technology evaluation, and support for plant and enterprise needs.
Coach laboratory members and maintain documented training, competency assessment, authorization, cross-training, and succession coverage for critical responsibilities.
Direct staffing, workflow, sample custody, testing schedules, safety, supplies, budgets, capital planning, service providers, and laboratory capacity.
Maintain LIMS data integrity and use trends, statistical analysis, and process improvement to strengthen reliability, turnaround time, and cost effectiveness.
Serve as the laboratory technical representative with FSQ, Operations, Sanitation, R&D, Regulatory, Engineering, Supply Chain, suppliers, and co-manufacturers.
Translate microbiology and chemistry results, trends, capabilities, limitations, and emerging risks into business context and recommended actions.
Partner on investigations, validations, startups, process changes, and food safety initiatives while protecting laboratory impartiality and result integrity.
Align laboratory methods, technology, capacity, and priorities with evolving business needs.