Chemistry Laboratory Manager - Operations

Chemistry Laboratory Manager - Operations

Are you a driven leader with a passion for chemistry and laboratory excellence?

Tentamus North America is on the hunt for a Chemistry Laboratory Operations Manager to join our team at Analytical Food Laboratories in Grand Prairie, Texas! In this role, you will roll-up your sleeves and lead laboratory operations, support a team of scientists, and ensure high-quality, compliant testing in a fast-paced, accredited environment!

What You'll Do

The Chemistry Laboratory Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing all operational and administrative aspects of the chemistry laboratory. This role provides leadership to laboratory staff, ensures regulatory compliance, maintains high-quality analytical performance, and supports client and business needs. This position reports to the Chemistry Laboratory Manager (CLM) and works closely with the Quality Department. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Lead, supervise, and manage laboratory technicians and staff.
• Oversee hiring, training, performance evaluations, and staff development.
• Manage schedules, staffing coverage, and workflow adjustments.
• Conduct regular team meetings and communicate corporate and departmental updates.
• Maintain personnel competency and training records.
• Provide leadership across all laboratory activities.
• Ensure continuity and performance of analytical capabilities, including HPLC, GC, ICP-MS, LC-MS, UV-VIS, and other instrumentation.
• Ensure all equipment is properly installed, qualified, maintained, and operational.
• Oversee and/or perform Instrument qualifications (IQ/OQ/PQ), Preventive maintenance and cleaning, and Equipment repairs and service documentation.
• Ensure all technical procedures are current, accurate, and consistently followed.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable standards and regulations, including ISO/IEC 17025, NELAP, cGMP, cGLP, and other regulatory requirements.
• Ensure all quality control checks and documentation are completed.
• Collaborate with the Quality Department on Training and audits, Proficiency testing (internal and external), Quality trends, and analyst performance.
• Review and approve departmental policies, procedures, and methods.
• Review and approve laboratory data and final reports for accuracy and compliance.
• Approve or reject final reports, including Routine analyses, Spreadsheets, Special projects, and Contract research outputs.
• Ensure all testing meets accuracy, precision, and documentation standards.
• Support client relationships and provide technical consultation as needed.
• Prioritize and coordinate analytical and physical testing to meet deadlines and budgets.
• Evaluate out-of-specification (OOS) and nonconforming results.
• Initiate and oversee corrective action investigations.
• Implement corrective actions and monitor effectiveness.
• Partner with Quality to track and improve laboratory performance trends.

This is a fulltime, onsite position, M - F, 6AM - 3PM with 1 hr unpaid meal break.

Annual salary starts at $70,000, and we provide a comprehensive and low-cost benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. Employees also enjoy access to our Employee Assistance Program, ample paid time off (PTO), and a matching 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be authorized to work in the United States indefinitely and without restrictions or sponsorship, have a science background, GMP mindset, and a strong passion for leadership and chemistry laboratory work and techniques; other qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree (B.S.) in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related scientific field required; candidates with extensive relevant analytical experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of 5 years of laboratory experience required, with at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role preferred.
• Proven leadership and team management experience preferred.
• Experience in a commercial laboratory environment (food, pharmaceutical, or dietary supplement testing) strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of analytical instrumentation, including HPLC, GC, ICP-MS, LC-MS, UV-VIS, and related techniques.
• Demonstrated experience with analytical testing, data review, and laboratory operations and Familiarity with regulatory standards such as ISO/IEC 17025, cGMP, and cGLP highly preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and lead a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with financial acumen, cost reduction, KPI creation, tracking, and hot spot scheduling is a plus.

About Tentamus

Labs for Life. We are a global network of full-service accredited analytical laboratories providing crucial quality and safety analysis for clients locally, nationally, and beyond using proven methods of chemistry and microbiology. Many of the products you use and consume daily rely on Tentamus labs. With 20 labs in North America and growing (100 globally), we celebrate having talented diverse scientific and service-oriented professionals.