Supervisor -Gas Chromatography

NSF•Traverse City, MI

About The Position

The Supervisor — Gas Chromatography is responsible for the day-to-day execution and performance of the GC/GCMS team. This role ensures samples are analyzed accurately, on time, and in compliance with established methods, quality standards, and regulatory requirements. The Supervisor provides direct leadership for the team, coordinates daily workflow, instrument utilization, and team performance to ensure consistent and reliable gas chromatography operations. This role sits at the intersection of hands-on technical oversight and frontline people leadership — translating priorities from the Director — Analytical into daily execution while keeping the team performing at a high level. We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable directing people and troubleshooting instruments — a steady, solutions-oriented leader who keeps the floor moving, communicates problems early, and holds the team accountable to quality and compliance standards without creating friction.

Requirements

B.S. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a closely related science discipline; or equivalent combination of education and relevant laboratory experience.
Minimum of 3–5 years of hands-on GC or GC/MS laboratory experience in a regulated or contract laboratory environment.
Demonstrated experience in a lead, senior, or supervisory capacity — directing daily workflow, supporting team members, and holding people accountable to performance and quality expectations.
Solid working knowledge of GC/GCMS instrumentation, method execution, and basic troubleshooting.
Familiarity with SOP-driven workflows, LIMS systems, and good laboratory practices (GLP) in an analytical environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical status clearly to both bench staff and laboratory leadership.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a contract laboratory or regulated testing environment (dietary supplements, food and beverage, environmental, pharmaceutical, or equivalent).
Familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements or experience working within an accredited laboratory.
Experience with headspace, static or dynamic, SPME, or other sample introduction techniques relevant to GC analysis.
Formal supervisory or people management training.
Experience analyzing natural product matrices — dietary supplements, botanicals, food and beverage, ingredients, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and support chemists and technicians within the GC/GCMS team.
Provide clear daily direction on priorities, sample queues, and instrument assignments.
Monitor productivity, performance, and attendance; address issues in real time with guidance from the Director — Analytical.
Support onboarding and training to ensure team competency in GC/GCMS techniques and workflows.
Coordinate daily GC/GCMS workflow, including sample readiness, sequence planning, and instrument allocation.
Assign work to maximize instrument utilization and ensure timely completion of testing.
Monitor backlog, instrument capacity, and turnaround time (TAT), adjusting priorities as needed.
Identify, address, and communicate any immediate issues or bottlenecks to the Director — Analytical.
Ensure adherence to SOPs, validated methods, and regulatory requirements across all GC/GCMS testing.
Review sequences, system suitability, and QC results to confirm run validity and data integrity.
Make and support defensible data disposition decisions (release, qualify, or hold), with proper documentation of deviations, root cause, and CAPA.
Partner with Quality and Data Review to escalate issues appropriately and resolve deviations while reinforcing strong documentation and LIMS practices.
Maintain working knowledge of GC/GCMS techniques, instrumentation, and method requirements.
Provide support in diagnosing and resolving issues related to instrumentation, methods, and/or data abnormalities.
Partner with technical experts or leadership to resolve complex challenges.
Step in on the bench only when necessary for coverage, training, or urgent support.
Communicate daily status, issues, and risks to the Director — Analytical.
Coordinate with sample prep and bench teams to ensure readiness and smooth handoff into GC/GCMS testing.
Partner with Data Review and Client Services to ensure timely progression of results.
Perform additional duties as the role evolves or as directed by the Director — Analytical or laboratory management.