Laboratory Supervisor

METER Group•Pullman, WA

About The Position

The Laboratory Supervisor leads day-to-day operations of METER's Environment Research Lab in a hands-on, player-coach role. The supervisor personally performs complex tests, leads lab staff and interns responsible for routine work, schedules internal research, sales and marketing, and customer testing requests, and maintains clear systems for tracking laboratory work. The role executes test methods and specifications established by scientific, engineering, and production staff. The lab is still building its operating processes. The supervisor will spend significant time creating documentation, procedures, and tracking workflows while also conducting tests and leading the team, then maintaining and refining those processes over time. The role reports to Manufacturing and Production leadership. The position calls for sound judgment about standard work: recognizing gaps in process, documentation, or discipline and putting practical standards in place, including in collaboration with senior colleagues. The supervisor also oversees teenage interns and ensures they follow strong laboratory processes. The role coordinates requests from initial clarification through timely and correct execution, documentation, and communication of results. The work is performed in a typical laboratory and office environment. Some travel between company sites may be required. The position occasionally involves standing, walking, sitting, handling objects and tools, reaching, climbing stairs, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, talking, and hearing; occasionally lifting or moving up to 25 pounds; and using vision abilities including close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception and adjusting focus. The annual pay range is $70,500–$101,700. The budget for filling the role is in the lower 25% of the range.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a physical or environmental science, engineering, or related technical field, or equivalent hands-on laboratory experience.
2–4 years of hands-on laboratory experience running tests, handling samples, and operating lab instrumentation.
Demonstrated ability to run complex tests independently and troubleshoot equipment or method issues.
Experience leading a small group day to day as a lead, supervisor, or in a similar role; a formal manager title is not required.
Ability to work effectively with a task-tracking or sample-management system; training is provided.
Strong written communication skills for procedures, instructions, and customer-facing reports.
Ability to develop and improve processes, maintain accountability and follow-through, and uphold agreed standards.
Laboratory technical knowledge relevant to environmental, soil, or materials measurement.
Ability to prioritize and adapt while maintaining quality and meeting commitments.
Ability to maintain accurate documentation, sample traceability, and complete, reliable records, and to address discrepancies.
Clear, professional communication and collaboration with internal requesters and external customers.
Ability to work effectively with stakeholders and supervise and mentor laboratory staff and interns.

Responsibilities

Manage the daily queue of customer, internal research, and sales and marketing requests, keeping due dates, status, and issues visible.
Prioritize and schedule work for the supervisor, lab interns, and production team members who perform customer testing.
Personally perform complex, non-routine, or first-time laboratory tests and troubleshoot instrument and method problems.
Lead production team members performing routine testing by assigning daily tasks, checking work for completeness, and raising performance or capacity issues with management.
Review data and reports produced by production team members and interns for completeness before use in business decisions or delivery to customers, and confirm required scientific sign-off has occurred.
Ensure written work instructions are accurate and complete; learn them from a Product Scientist and train and qualify production team members, with Product Scientists assisting.
Maintain accurate and current laboratory tracking systems.
Coordinate incoming customer samples for commercial testing, including receipt, labeling, testing, chain of custody, scheduling, and turnaround communication.
Maintain lab equipment, including routine calibration and troubleshooting, and flag equipment or capacity needs to management.
Prepare routine status reports and escalate significant results, trends, or exceptions to management.
Keep the laboratory organized and efficient, improving its processes as needed.
Create, maintain, and refine laboratory documentation, procedures, and tracking workflows.
Supervise and mentor laboratory staff and high school and college interns.