Quality Control Laboratory Supervisor

Job Description

Job Description

Quality Control Laboratory Supervisor
Personal Care

Location: Ottawa, IL
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Job Status: Direct Hire
Benefits: Full package
Salary Range: $75,000 – $85,000 / year

Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Quality Control Laboratory Supervisor to lead laboratory quality activities for a growing manufacturing operation producing personal care, beauty products: hair care, skin and face care, body care and OTC personal hygiene items.  In this vital role, you will manage a dedicated laboratory team of approximately 10 Quality Control Chemists operating across first, second, and weekend shifts.
This position blends technical laboratory leadership with people management, compliance oversight, and continuous improvement. If you are a collaborative leader who ensures testing is completed accurately, maintains rigorous GMP/SOP standards, and drives right-first-time performance, we want to hear from you!
Key Responsibilities

• People Leadership & Shift Coordination: Lead, coach, and supervise ~10 QC chemists across multiple shifts. Plan daily lab coverage, balance workloads, coordinate shift handoffs, and manage onboarding, training, and performance reviews.
• Product Quality Oversight: Oversee in-process, bulk, and finished-product testing for hair care, skin care, beauty, and OTC lines. Review analytical data and provide quality dispositions and batch release recommendations.
• Technical Investigations: Lead investigations for out-of-specification (OOS) or atypical results, driving root-cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions (CAPA), and sound scientific resolutions.
• Compliance & Continuous Improvement: Maintain compliance with cGMP, FDA regulations, SOPs, and safety standards. Prepare the lab for internal and regulatory audits while driving efficiencies and error reduction.
• Production Support: Provide real-time technical guidance to manufacturing teams regarding batch adjustments, process deviations, and new product scale-ups.
• Instrument Oversight: Maintain working knowledge of laboratory equipment (including UHPLC, FTIR, pH/conductivity meters, viscometers, and centrifuges) and ensure instruments are properly calibrated and fit for use.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Experience: 5+ years of progressive QC, analytical lab, or manufacturing quality experience, including prior leadership or supervisory experience.
• Industry Background: Experience supporting personal care, beauty, OTC pharmaceuticals, topicals, or a similarly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Technical Knowledge: Working knowledge of GMPs, lab investigations, CAPAs, change controls, audit readiness, and reviewing analytical batch data.
• Skills: Strong problem-solving, organizational, and cross-functional communication skills with a hands-on, detail-oriented work ethic.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with UHPLC, FTIR, and standard physical testing methods.
• Familiarity with LIMS, electronic quality management systems, or ERP systems.
• Formal training in root-cause analysis, Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Prior experience managing multi-shift or off-shift/weekend laboratory operations.

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