Lab Manager

Lab Manager

Grand Island, Nebraska, United States

Certified Group is committed to partnering with customers to deliver innovative scientific solutions and expertise – So The World Can Trust In What It Consumes™. Our network of 30+ North American and European laboratories serves the food & beverage, dietary supplements, cosmetics, OTC, tobacco/nicotine, cannabis, and hemp industries.

Job Summary:

The Lab Manager is responsible for the day-to-day leadership and operational oversight of a microbiological and/or chemical laboratory within a single site, ensuring accurate, compliant, and high-quality testing services for the local customer base. This role is accountable for all quality, customer, people, financial, workflow, and operational activities within the laboratory.

The Laboratory Services Manager operates with a strong general manager mindset, balancing scientific rigor with business acumen. This leader is expected to demonstrate an entrepreneurial approach by taking full ownership of site performance, including financial management, team development, customer engagement, quality and safety compliance, operational excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

This position upholds the Company's purpose, mission, and values by fostering a culture focused on quality, accountability, collaboration, and customer partnership.

Purpose: So the world can trust in what it consumes.

Mission: Partner with customers to deliver innovative scientific solutions and expertise.

Values: Start with the customer, commit to safety and quality, drive to deliver, act with integrity, and support the team.

Core Operations

• Foster a high-performing laboratory environment aligned with Company standards and expectations.
• Lead laboratory operations to ensure high-quality, efficient testing with consistent turnaround times.
• Utilize operational scorecards and KPIs to monitor performance and drive accountability.
• Conduct daily operational huddles with supervisors and team leads to align priorities and resource allocation.
• Maintain technical competency and ensure laboratory practices remain current with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

Quality & Safety

• Maintain ISO/IEC 17025 compliance through adherence to the Corporate Quality Management System.
• Ensure laboratory readiness for internal and external audits, inspections, and accreditation activities.
• Prepare staff for audit participation and provide leadership throughout the audit process.
• Maintain a clean, organized, sanitary, and safe laboratory environment.
• Ensure laboratory equipment is maintained, calibrated, and proactively monitored for functionality and lifecycle replacement needs.
• Promote and reinforce all laboratory safety standards, procedures, and PPE requirements.

Customer Engagement

• Represent the Company professionally in all customer interactions with a focus on trust, transparency, and service excellence.
• Proactively identify customer needs and ensure timely responses to inquiries, concerns, and service requests.
• Communicate laboratory capabilities, testing results, pricing, and operational updates clearly and effectively.
• Support customer retention and growth by consistently meeting established turnaround time goals and service expectations.

People Leadership

• Anticipate staffing needs and align scheduling strategies with testing volumes and operational demands.
• Drive labor productivity and workforce efficiency through effective planning and performance management.
• Recruit, interview, onboard, train, and develop high-quality talent.
• Foster employee engagement, retention, cross-training, and career development opportunities.
• Coach supervisors to create high-performing teams focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure accurate and timely employee documentation related to performance management, coaching, disciplinary actions, and development planning.
• Hold frontline leaders accountable for hiring, training, coaching, performance feedback, employee relations, and operational leadership responsibilities.

Profitability

• Manage laboratory financial performance in alignment with operational budgets and profitability goals.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and optimize use of labor, inventory, supplies, and vendor services.
• Proactively manage third-party vendors and contractors to ensure cost control, quality service, and operational effectiveness.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Promote best practice sharing and collaboration across laboratory network locations.
• Support cross-site resource sharing, overflow testing, and training initiatives.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence within the laboratory to reinforce standards and provide real-time coaching and support.
• Lead or support non-routine projects, operational initiatives, and customer-specific assignments.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, quality, service, and employee engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Science, Food Technology, or related scientific field required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading frontline supervisors within laboratory, manufacturing, or regulated operational environments.
• Prior experience in third-party laboratory testing or manufacturing environments preferred, particularly within food, beverage, cosmetics, tobacco, cannabis, or related regulated industries.
• Demonstrated success managing financial performance and operational KPIs.
• Proven ability to lead through frontline leadership teams and manage multi-level organizational structures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interpret technical, regulatory, and business documentation.
• Experience developing reports, SOPs, operational documentation, and business communications.
• Ability to effectively engage with senior leadership, customers, peers, and cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills in dynamic operational environments.

Supervision

• Directly lead a team of approximately three to eight supervisors.
• Indirectly oversee a laboratory workforce of approximately 15 to 40 employees.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Potential exposure to odors, fumes, airborne particles, hazardous chemicals, and microbiological pathogens.
• Required use of personal protective equipment (PPE) within laboratory environments.
• Noise levels may vary from quiet to loud depending on operational activity.
• Temperature conditions may vary from hot to cold.
• Fast-paced, interactive laboratory environment with changing operational demands.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Night and weekend work may be required based on business and customer demands.
• Occasional travel may be required.