Quality Lab Manager

PLASCORE INC•Zeeland, MI

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Lab Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for multiple testing laboratories that support product development, quality assurance, customer qualification, compliance, and continuous improvement. The role is accountable for laboratory safety, technical integrity, capacity, testing performance, equipment, methods, quality systems, and employee development. The manager directly leads approximately 10–15 laboratory professionals, including two Team Leads, and works with Quality, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to provide reliable test results and responsive laboratory service. The position is based at 615 N. Fairview Rd. in Zeeland, Michigan, and is a full-time, first-shift management role.

Requirements

Progressive laboratory leadership or management experience in a technical, analytical, materials-testing, quality, research, or manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience leading laboratory personnel and frontline leaders or Team Leads and managing competing priorities across multiple laboratories.
Five to seven years of progressively more responsible experience.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, Biology, Microbiology, or another scientifically related field.
Working knowledge of laboratory operations, test methods, equipment controls, data integrity, technical documentation, and quality systems.
Must be eligible to work on programs subject to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations).
Must successfully pass a job-related vision screening, including a color perception assessment and a visual acuity test (with or without vision correction), prior to hire or placement in this role.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a highly regulated manufacturing environment.
Knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 9001, AS9100, Nadcap, ASTM, or related standards.
Lean Six Sigma experience.
Familiarity with SAP, laboratory information management, statistical analysis, automated data acquisition, or digital dashboards.
Professional-level knowledge in a specialized field equivalent to that ordinarily acquired by completing a four-year baccalaureate program.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a laboratory strategy aligned with business objectives, customer requirements, technical capability needs, and anticipated demand.
Direct daily operations across multiple testing laboratories, balancing priorities, staffing, equipment availability, workflow, and turnaround commitments.
Lead, coach, and develop 10–15 employees, including two Team Leads; establish accountability, performance expectations, succession coverage, and development plans.
Build short- and long-range capacity plans for personnel, equipment, methods, facilities, and outside testing support; recommend staffing and capital actions based on demand and risk.
Ensure compliance with internal procedures, customer requirements, test standards, quality system controls, and accreditation requirements where applicable.
Establish controls for test methods, equipment qualification, calibration, preventive maintenance, measurement integrity, data review, traceability, and record retention.
Define and monitor laboratory KPIs, including safety, quality, on-time completion, turnaround time, backlog, utilization, productivity, cost, and customer responsiveness.
Lead investigations and corrective actions for test discrepancies, nonconformances, escapes, equipment failures, and process constraints.
Coordinate priorities and technical support with Quality, Engineering, Operations, Product Development, Supply Chain, and customer-facing teams.
Manage operating budgets, outside laboratory spending, service contracts, and capital expenditures.
Champion safe laboratory practices, hazard assessments, chemical and material controls, emergency readiness, and environmental, health, and safety compliance.
Evaluate emerging test technologies and develop capabilities needed for new products, materials, customers, and markets.

Benefits

Bonus programs, including a $1,200 employee referral bonus paid in monthly increments and a quarterly bonus based on business unit metrics.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance with flexible spending or health savings accounts; free high-deductible health plan for employee-only coverage; health insurance benefits eligibility on day one for new hires.
Company-provided short-term and long-term disability coverage.
Employee Assistance Program, including legal and professional counseling services.
Paid and unpaid vacation totaling six weeks, with the paid portion determined by years of service.
Eight-week paid sabbatical for every 10 years of service.
Paid holidays.
Parental leave.
401(k) and Roth 401(k), with a 50% match up to 6% for participating employees.
Tuition reimbursement for job-related and certificate programs.
Dependent scholarship covering up to 100% of tuition costs for child dependents.
Use of training grants such as GoingPro for professional development.
Childcare flexible spending account.
Tri-Share childcare program covering two-thirds of childcare costs.
CareShare childcare assistance for those who do not qualify for Tri-Share.
Annual company picnic, annual golf outing, and annual end-of-year celebration.
Whitecaps baseball ticket raffles.
Discounts at MVP Athletic Club, Stellantis, Bedslide, Enterprise rentals, and RX Optical.
Clean work environment and smooth pace of work.
Family-owned and operated company.
Work security with an established, growing company serving a diverse customer base.
Bi-weekly pay.