GCMS Department Supervisor

Join ALS: GCMS Department Supervisor

At ALS, we encourage you to dream big. When you join us, you become part of a purpose- and values-driven organization that empowers innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. Our global team brings passion and commitment every daycontinually challenging conventional thinking to solve some of the world's most complex problems and contribute to a safer, healthier world.

Position Summary

The GCMS Department Supervisor is responsible for the technical, operational, and personnel leadership of the GCMS Department, including Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS and GC-MS/MS) and Volatile Organic Analysis (VOA) Purge & Trap operations. This position ensures the department consistently delivers high-quality analytical data while meeting productivity goals, client turnaround times, regulatory requirements, and company performance objectives.

The GCMS Supervisor provides direct oversight of analysts and instrument operations, manages department workflow and resources, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and serves as the primary technical and operational leader for GCMS and VOA activities. The role requires advanced expertise in environmental organic analysis, strong leadership skills, and the ability to balance quality, efficiency, staffing, and business needs in a high-throughput production laboratory.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership & Personnel Management

• Provide direct supervision, coaching, mentoring, and performance management for GCMS and VOA laboratory staff.
• Establish performance expectations and monitor employee productivity, quality, attendance, training progression, and compliance with laboratory procedures.
• Conduct employee evaluations, provide developmental feedback, and support career growth opportunities.
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, and retention of laboratory personnel.
• Promote a positive, accountable, and safety-focused laboratory culture.
• Foster collaboration between GCMS, Sample Preparation, Project Management, Quality Assurance, and Laboratory Operations teams.

Department Operations & Workflow Management

• Manage daily workflow and production schedules for GCMS and VOA analytical operations.
• Coordinate instrument utilization, staffing assignments, and analytical priorities to achieve turnaround time commitments.
• Monitor department workload and proactively adjust resources to meet changing business demands.
• Ensure efficient sequencing, batching, and scheduling of analytical work.
• Track department productivity, key performance indicators, backlog status, and capacity planning metrics.
• Communicate operational risks, resource needs, and production challenges to laboratory management.

Technical Leadership & Instrument Oversight

• Serve as the primary technical resource for GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, and VOA Purge & Trap instrumentation.
• Provide guidance on troubleshooting analytical, instrument, and method performance issues.
• Oversee routine and advanced maintenance activities including source cleaning, tuning, vacuum system diagnostics, inlet maintenance, purge and trap systems, and instrument performance optimization.
• Coordinate vendor service activities and equipment repairs as needed.
• Ensure instrument uptime and department readiness through preventive maintenance planning.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, instrumentation upgrades, and process improvements.

Analytical & Regulatory Responsibilities

• Oversee analytical testing performed using environmental GCMS and VOA methodologies, including but not limited to:
• EPA 8260
• EPA 624
• EPA 8270
• EPA 625
• Client-specific and modified methods
• Ensure analytical batches, calibrations, QC samples, and reporting activities meet method and quality system requirements.
• Review department performance against regulatory, accreditation, and client requirements.
• Support technical review of analytical data and problem-solving efforts.
• Assist with technical decision-making related to data validity, corrective actions, and nonconformances.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure departmental compliance with EPA, state, federal, client, and accreditation requirements.
• Monitor and trend QC performance indicators.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to investigate nonconformances and implement corrective actions.
• Support internal audits, external assessments, accreditation audits, and client inspections.
• Ensure SOPs, training records, maintenance records, and technical documentation remain current and compliant.

Continuous Improvement & Strategic Development

• Identify opportunities to improve quality, throughput, efficiency, and instrument reliability.
• Lead departmental continuous improvement initiatives and process optimization projects.
• Support implementation of new analytical methods, instrumentation, and automation technologies.
• Participate in method development, validation, and expansion of departmental capabilities.
• Analyze operational metrics and develop action plans to improve performance and profitability.
• Contribute to annual budgeting, capital planning, and strategic growth initiatives.

Safety & Environmental Stewardship

• Ensure compliance with laboratory health, safety, and environmental requirements.
• Promote safe chemical handling, hazardous waste management, and instrument operation practices.
• Investigate and document safety incidents, near misses, and corrective actions.
• Actively support ALS safety initiatives and continuous improvement of workplace safety culture.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, and VOA Purge & Trap instrumentation.
• Strong understanding of environmental organic analytical methodologies, including EPA 8260, 624, 8270, and 625.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams in a high-volume production laboratory environment.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills related to instrumentation, analytical methods, and workflow management.
• Working knowledge of environmental laboratory quality systems and accreditation requirements.
• Ability to prioritize competing demands and manage multiple operational objectives simultaneously.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), instrument software, and data management systems.
• Ability to interpret complex technical information and communicate effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Environmental Science, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in an environmental analytical laboratory.
• Minimum of three (3) years of direct experience with GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, and/or VOA Purge & Trap instrumentation.
• Minimum of two (2) years of leadership, supervisory, or team lead experience.
• Demonstrated experience operating within a regulated laboratory environment.

Preferred Experience and Knowledge

• Previous supervisory experience in a high-throughput environmental production laboratory.
• Extensive experience with EPA 8260, 624, 8270, and 625 methodologies.
• Experience supporting DoD, State, Federal, or other highly regulated compliance programs.
• Experience with method development, optimization, validation, and implementation.
• Experience managing capital equipment planning and laboratory budgets.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections, third-party audits, and client assessments.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience preferred.

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods during an 8-hour workday.
• Ability to perform routine laboratory and instrument maintenance activities.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Manual dexterity required for instrument maintenance and laboratory operations.
• Ability to read and interpret chromatograms, mass spectra, technical reports, and statistical data.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees, clients, vendors, and management.

Working at ALS

Our people are our greatest asset and the foundation of our success. ALS is a diverse, inclusive community of professionals united by a shared purpose to make a meaningful difference. We recognize and reward excellence, invest in continuous learning, and provide career development opportunities across our global organization. At ALS, you will find a supportive environment that values safety, flexibility, and professional fulfillmentallowing you to build a rewarding career while making a positive impact on our people, our planet, and our communities.

About ALS