Laboratory Manager – Water Treatment Process Engineering - Onsite Salt Lake City, UT

WesTech Engineering•South Salt Lake, UT

5d•Onsite

About The Position

WesTech is seeking a Laboratory Manager to lead the daily operations and continued development of its biological and physical/chemical laboratories. The role is responsible for laboratory safety, quality, personnel, equipment, workflow, and service delivery, while coordinating both laboratories as one function and retaining the specialized controls each requires. The manager will supervise and develop laboratory personnel, set clear priorities and expectations, and ensure laboratory services deliver timely, accurate, useful results supporting customer, engineering, pilot, product, and operational needs. This is a hands-on, primarily on-site leadership role focused on water treatability studies, product sizing, performance verification, and process troubleshooting rather than analytical laboratory services. Up to 25% domestic and/or international travel is required. Candidates may be subject to pre-employment and periodic screenings, including background checks, Motor Vehicle Record checks, and drug and alcohol tests.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, microbiology, biology, environmental science, laboratory science, engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
Minimum 10 years of relevant laboratory, technical, scientific, engineering, or related experience.
Minimum 5 years of laboratory leadership, supervisory, or people management experience.
Demonstrated experience managing laboratory operations, laboratory personnel, or multidisciplinary technical teams.
Working knowledge of laboratory safety systems, chemical hygiene, biosafety practices, and hazard controls.
Experience managing laboratory workflows, resources, schedules, priorities, QA/QC practices, records, equipment maintenance, calibration, and documentation.
Ability to coach and develop employees, establish accountability, delegate effectively, and address concerns constructively.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work primarily on-site and travel domestically and internationally up to 25%.
Ability to work safely in chemical, biological, analytical, office, warehouse, and field environments as required.
Ability to regularly move throughout the facility and work at a desk using a computer and phone system.
Ability to lift and move samples or testing equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, with reasonable accommodations as applicable.
Ability to wear required PPE and comply with safety and site requirements.
Valid driver’s license and clean driving record to drive on company-related business or travel.
Pass required drug screening and background checks upon hire, at random, and/or upon request for access to certain work sites.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading both biological and physical/chemical laboratory functions.
15 or more years of relevant laboratory, technical, scientific, engineering, or related experience.
10 or more years of laboratory leadership, supervisory, or people management experience.
Experience in municipal or industrial water and wastewater treatment laboratories.
Knowledge of wet chemistry, analytical instruments, sterile technique, microbiological methods, biological treatment systems, or contamination-control practices.
Experience with laboratory information-management systems, quality systems, audits, regulated environments, pilot programs, product development, applied research, budgeting, staffing, or capital-equipment planning.
Advanced degree or professional certification relevant to laboratory management, science, safety, quality, or leadership.

Responsibilities

Lead safe, compliant laboratory operations for biological, chemical, analytical, and bench-scale work.
Manage the biological and physical/chemical laboratories as one coordinated function while maintaining specialized controls in each area.
Supervise, coach, train, and develop laboratory personnel through hiring, onboarding, cross-training, performance management, and succession planning.
Set priorities and maintain visibility of laboratory workload, capacity, schedules, resource needs, and delivery risks.
Oversee laboratory readiness, including samples, inventories, work areas, instruments, maintenance, calibration, records, outside laboratories, and specialty vendors.
Ensure laboratory methods, records, QA/QC practices, and documentation systems support reliable and traceable results.
Partner with project sponsors and internal teams to prioritize, staff, and deliver laboratory projects and services.
Lead continuous improvement efforts that enhance safety, quality, efficiency, employee development, and customer service.

Benefits

Competitive salary and performance-based annual bonuses.
Dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match of 6%.
Flexible work hours and hybrid schedules with remote work options.
Comprehensive health and wellness benefits package with an onsite and virtual medical facility.
Company HSA contribution.
Paid parental leave.
Employee Assistance Program.
Company-paid life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term disability.
PTO plan and paid holidays.
Tuition reimbursement.
Company celebrations, summer parties, volunteer opportunities, games, and prize drawings.