Microbiology Lab Supervisor

Primus Group • Santa Maria, CA

1d • $68,000 - $75,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Microbiology Laboratory Supervisor is responsible for leading daily laboratory operations while developing a cohesive, well trained, and accountable team. This position balances technical microbiology knowledge with strong people leadership, scheduling ownership, and proactive problem solving.

This is not a research or development role. Success in this position comes from stabilizing operations, improving turnaround times, mentoring staff, preventing recurring issues, and delivering reliable service to our customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology or a related scientific field
• Several years of hands-on microbiology laboratory experience, including familiarity with classical and rapid methods
• Prior experience leading or supervising a team (ideally technical staff), including training, scheduling, and performance management
• Strong understanding of sterile technique and laboratory best practices
• Demonstrated ability to solve people and process problems proactively
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences
• A customer focused mindset with an understanding of how laboratory performance impacts client operations
• Strong organizational skills and comfort working with schedules, priorities, and shifting demands
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook and Excel

Nice To Haves

• Spanish language skills are a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise daily operations of the microbiology laboratory, ensuring quality, consistency, and adherence to regulatory and internal standards
• Own laboratory scheduling, adjusting shifts as needed to meet client turnaround time commitments
• Monitor sample volumes, staffing coverage, and workflow bottlenecks, and implement solutions that prevent delays and recurring issues
• Maintain a regular laboratory presence, including limited bench work, to understand workflows, support staff, and assist during high volume periods
• Build, mentor, and develop a diverse team of microbiologists and technicians through coaching, clear expectations, and accountability
• Assess staff strengths and skill gaps, identify effective trainers, and implement targeted training and development plans
• Address performance issues, conflict, and behavioral concerns promptly, partnering with HR on documentation and corrective actions
• Ensure accurate documentation, audit readiness, and adherence to ISO 17025 requirements and internal QA protocols
• Partner with QA on root cause analysis and corrective actions following errors or deviations
• Support customer inquiries, result discussions, and corrective action conversations with professionalism and scientific clarity
• Assist Sales and Customer Support with technical responses and client communications as needed
• Collaborate closely with other laboratory supervisors, QA, Operations, and administrative teams to align priorities and share best practices
• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency, communication, and cost control without compromising quality

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and life insurance
• Long term disability coverage
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• The opportunity to lead, influence, and improve a critical laboratory operation with visible impact

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level