Branch Manager - Full Time

Job Description

Job Description

Full Time role

Locations: Cornelius, NC, Cleveland, OH, Long Island, NY (Bohemia) and Burnaby/Vancouver, Canada

Overview:

Client is a world leader in calibration services, combining an international group, a dense network of technical experts and responsive local laboratories. Our people are at the heart of what we do.

The Branch Manager leads the branch and is accountable for its performance in safety, quality, delivery and cost.

• The role runs the branch as its own business: owning the branch P&L, managing workload and productivity, reducing external subcontracting, driving automation and accreditation, and building long-term customer relationships.

The Branch Manager creates the vision and culture for operational excellence and applies the standard routines, KPIs and workflows in the Lab Productivity Playbook every day.

Direct reports: Lab Supervisor(s), Calibration Technicians, Customer Service Representatives (CSRs), Logistics

Responsibilities:

The Branch Manager manages, directs and coordinates all branch activities across four pillars: QHSE, Operations, Financials and Commercial.

1.Calibration scheduling and workload management

• Build the daily and weekly calibration schedule in Calypso, prioritized by urgency, customer requirements, equipment type, sequencing efficiency and outbound delivery day.
• Assign work to technicians based on expertise, workload and availability (PTO, training); delegate to the Lab Supervisor where one is in place.
• Run the end-of-day review: % of scheduled calibrations completed, unfinished work and the reasons, and the schedule for the next day.
• Move unfinished calibrations forward as prioritized; keep a backup plan to reassign work to another technician, the Lab Supervisor or another Client branch.
• Pre-approve all overtime before it is worked.
  

2. Backlog, shelving and instrument flow

• Manage the “Awaiting Calibration” and “Contract Review” backlogs and keep the capacity/capability tracker current for internal transfers.
• Set up and maintain the standard shelving layout: Goods In, Contract Review shelf, prioritized Awaiting Calibration shelves at each station, and Goods Out.
• Ensure 100% of incoming known equipment is recorded in Atlas the same day, “Miscellaneous” items are reallocated daily, and 100% of goods-out ships on time.
• Track the condition, location and calibration status of instruments; audit the standards inventory.
• Apply the standard calibration completion workflow: automatic data upload to Calypso, barcode entry of standards and signature, certificate review, sticker and outbound shelf.
  

3. Quality, accreditation and compliance

• Support the Quality team in accreditation management (ISO/IEC 17025), standards, procedures and SOPs.
• Lead the preparation and management of external and customer audits; own customer corrective actions with QA support.
• Review recently completed calibration reports daily, run random calibration checks and close non-conformities with corrective actions.
• Ensure technicians, logistics and CSRs work to standard, minimizing inaccurate calibrations, Atlas recording errors and quote errors.

4. Health, safety and work environment

• Ensure the branch runs with a safe working environment at all times; open every daily meeting with safety.
• Apply the Client's Image Guide, dress code, safety guidelines and 5S culture; complete the yearly site audit.
  

5. Financial performance

• Own the branch P&L: sales, gross margin, productivity and overtime against the branch budget.
• Review and approve CSR quotes several times a day.
• Challenge every external subcontracting request; use internal transfer whenever another Client's branch has the capability.
• Manage branch spend on calibration supplies, standards, vehicles, facilities and services; prepare the yearly industrial/CAPEX plan (capabilities, insourcing, automation).
  

6. Customer and commercial partnership

• Communicate proactively with CSRs, Sales and customers on any delivery impact; resolve internal and external inquiries promptly.
• Review customer complaints weekly and drive corrective action; attend operational reviews with key customers.
• Co-manage topline growth with Sales: support quotations with lab capabilities and scope, and grow technical capabilities to win new work.
  

7. People leadership and development

• Lead, motivate, develop and discipline branch staff: Lab Supervisors, technicians, CSRs and logistics.
• Run weekly training for new and low-productivity technicians; maintain training and certification status and the trainer/trainee program.
• Conduct performance reviews and succession planning to build a high-performing team.
• Hold staff accountable for productivity using quantitative data and one-on-one discussion.
  

8. Continuous improvement and issue resolution

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and waste elimination, including Lean, 5S, visual management and automation.
• Resolve unplanned issues (absences, equipment failure, delays) with root cause analysis, a documented action plan and communication to the team and Regional Director.
• Identify and mitigate risks such as overdue instruments, technician loss and PTO gaps.
  

9. Management routines

• The Branch Manager leads the playbook meeting cadence.
  

Key Performance Indicators

The Branch Manager is measured on these KPIs, reviewed daily, weekly and monthly and reported to the Regional Director. I

• Branch productivity, overall and by technician
• Branch sales and gross margin
• On-time delivery (OTD)
• Turnaround time (TAT)
• % calibration completed vs. assigned per technician
• “Awaiting Calibration” backlog
• Contract Review backlog
• WIP and ITI (monitoring)
• Overtime as % of direct labor cost
  

The Branch Manager also tracks safety (lost-time and non-lost-time accidents), reissued certificates, customer complaints, external subcontracting spend and customer lost and lapse.

REQUIREMENTS:

• 5+ years in a commercial calibration, test and measurement, or technical service organization.
• 3+ years leading teams in an operations or production environment, including P&L or budget responsibility.
• Working knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025 and accreditation audits.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, operations management or a related field; or an Associate's degree in electronics or a related technical field with equivalent experience.
• PMEL or equivalent military metrology training, ASQ CCT, or Lean/Six Sigma certification preferred.
• Defines and communicates a clear vision for improved production operations.
• Strong commitment to safety as a top priority.
• Leads Lean and continuous improvement programs, including 5S and visual management.
• Uses KPI analysis to drive improvements in productivity and profitability.
• Strong planning, scheduling, problem-solving and organization skills.
• Coaches and mentors supervisors and technicians; holds direct reports accountable for results.
• Builds rapport with key customers and works effectively with Sales, Quality and Finance.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and ERP/lab systems; experience with Calypso, Atlas and BI tools preferred.