Analytical Laboratory Manager

Job Description

Job Description

About P. Kay Metal

P. Kay Metal recycles and refines metals and produces alloys for industrial customers. Our Lewiston laboratory analyzes incoming materials, process samples, and finished products to support production decisions and verify product composition and quality.

Position summary

P. Kay Metal is seeking an Analytical Laboratory Manager to lead the daily operation and ongoing improvement of our quality control laboratory in Lewiston, Idaho. You will supervise laboratory personnel and ensure that analytical results are accurate, traceable, and delivered in time to support production and customer requirements. This is a working manager position: you will prepare and analyze samples, troubleshoot instruments, and support complex testing, with a reduced routine sample load that allows time for leadership, data review, training, and laboratory improvement.

Responsibilities

· Plan daily laboratory work, assign testing priorities, and balance sample turnaround with analytical quality and staff capacity.

· Supervise, coach, and develop laboratory technicians; participate in hiring, onboarding, competency assessment, and performance feedback.

· Prepare and analyze selected raw material, process, and finished metal samples, and provide testing coverage when needed.

· Oversee ICP-OES, XRF, spark optical emission spectroscopy, and applicable wet chemistry testing; lead troubleshooting and coordinate instrument service.

· Establish and maintain analytical quality controls, including calibration verification, blanks, duplicates, reference materials, and acceptance criteria; review data before reporting and prevent reporting of unsupported results.

· Lead method development, verification, and validation as appropriate for the material, concentration range, and intended use, including evaluation of matrix effects, detection limits, precision, and accuracy.

· Investigate out-of-specification results, failed quality controls, and unusual trends; document root causes and corrective actions with production and quality personnel.

· Maintain controlled procedures, training records, sample traceability, instrument logs, and complete analytical records in support of the company's ISO 9001 quality management system and applicable requirements.

· Manage calibration and preventive maintenance schedules, reference standards, reagents, consumables, and laboratory purchasing needs; recommend equipment and resource improvements to management.

· Promote safe laboratory practices, coordinate with site safety personnel, support audits, and track turnaround, quality control performance, and improvement actions.

Required qualifications

· Bachelor's degree in chemistry, analytical chemistry, metallurgy, or a closely related scientific field.

· At least five years of relevant analytical laboratory experience, including demonstrated responsibility for leading people, training staff, or coordinating laboratory operations.

· Practical experience with ICP-OES, including sample digestion, calibration, quality control, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

· Strong understanding of quantitative analysis, method performance, contamination control, and the interpretation of analytical quality control data.

· Experience writing procedures, reviewing data, investigating analytical problems, and working within a documented quality system.

· Clear communication, sound judgment, effective organization, and the ability to coach staff and work with production personnel.

· Proficiency with laboratory software, spreadsheets, and electronic documentation.

Preferred qualifications

· Experience analyzing metals, alloys, recycled materials, or other complex inorganic matrices.

· Experience with XRF and spark optical emission spectroscopy, and familiarity with ISO 9001 audits and corrective actions.

· Previous direct supervision of laboratory staff and experience improving an industrial quality control laboratory.

Work environment

This position works in an analytical laboratory and periodically on the production floor in a metals recycling and processing facility. Work may involve acids, metal-containing samples, and exposure to heat, noise, dust, fumes, and hazardous substances, including lead. Employees must follow chemical handling, exposure control, hygiene, waste handling, and personal protective equipment requirements. Duties involve standing, walking, handling samples, and using laboratory equipment. Essential duties may be performed with reasonable accommodation.

\nCompany Description

P. Kay Metal Lewiston, is a fully integrated solder and lead products manufacturer. The company produces solders for the electronics and automotive industries, and lead products for the ammunition industry. This is a great opportunity for experienced Chemistry Professional.

Company Description

P. Kay Metal Lewiston, is a fully integrated solder and lead products manufacturer. The company produces solders for the electronics and automotive industries, and lead products for the ammunition industry. This is a great opportunity for experienced Chemistry Professional.