Group Leader - Inorganic/Nutrition

Mission of the Role

The Inorganic/ Nutrition Group Leader performs an essential role by leading the Inorganic/Nutrition-laboratory testing group to provide high-quality testing services for clients through continuous sample flow while maintaining the QA/QC conditions of the department; ensures that testing and method development is conducted accordingly while managing procedural efficiency and effectiveness to achieve the Company’s mission and objectives.

Responsibilities

• Plans and supervises the daily operation of work for the XX-laboratory testing group; ensures punctual sample flow, quality, accuracy, consistency, and completeness of results.
• Affords technical responsibilities, including analytical duties as necessary.
• Counsels employees working in the XX department with regard to challenges encountered.
• Provides performance management of department staff in accordance with company policies, supporting technical and professional growth.
• Counsels the Laboratory Manager, in collaboration with other department supervisors, with the coordination of laboratory operations for the XX Group and other department Chemists.
• Leads the research, development, and implementation of the latest XX technologies and methods.
• Supports the Quality Management System and regulatory compliance, in cooperation with the QA Manager.
• Responds to QA findings or corrective actions for activities in the department.
• Implements data validation, internal quality control, and process review steps as necessary to ensure data quality and maintenance of laboratory accreditations.
• Contributes to the continuous improvement and marketing of laboratory operations through market research and participation in internal and external trainings, networking events, conferences, trade shows, and other opportunities.
• Provides technical insights to laboratory management.
• Implements and enforces safety regulations and codes.
• Works in a safe manner, using appropriate safeguards and personal protective equipment, to prevent injury to self or co-workers.
• Reports all accidents or unsafe working conditions to the safety committee or management.
• Performs and assists in training and is a resource and a mentor to Chemist 1, 2, and 3 positions.
• Supports Chemist 2 and 3 through review of data packages submitted by Chemists working in the XX department and other departments as needed or directed.
• Performs responsibilities and duties of Chemist 1, 2, and 3, as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Manages direct report Chemist 1, 2, and 3, positions in the XX Department.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
• Interviews and trains employees.
• Plays a role in planning, assigning, and directing work.
• Appraises employee performance and assists in career development.
• Addresses complaints and reports them to the Laboratory Manager.
• Solves problems.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree (B.S.) in Chemistry or related science from a four-year college or university; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: None.
• Skills & Experience: Successful experience in working independently, and thorough understanding of department specific instruments with conventional, MS, MSMS, HR-MSMS Orbitrap detectors, and other new technologies’ operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Analytical method troubleshooting and development. Successful experience of mentoring and training others, specifically experience training in extraction, analytical, and instrument methodology. Successful experience of collaborating with different business departments. Connected well with relevant external organizations. Familiar with the laboratory business environment. Improvement initiatives. Learning initiatives. Ability to handle multiple priorities and deadlines. Analytical and problem-solving skills. High Emotional Intelligence. Good cultural awareness and communication with people who have diverse backgrounds. Experienced user of MS Office and Adobe Acrobat. Performance Factors: Quality of Work. Communication. Adaptability. Teamwork. Time Management. Knowledge and Skills. Initiative. Dependability. Team Building. Development of People. Business Development. Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write Standard Operating Procedures, analytical methods, reports, business correspondences, and additional laboratory documentation. Mathematical Skills: Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, and quadratic equations. Ability to apply mathematical operations to tasks such as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis. Reasoning Abilities: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Training Requirements

• OJT in understanding company operating systems, including the maintenance and operation of laboratory extraction and analytical equipment, and passing the Initial Demonstration of Capability (IDOC) for existing SOPs or other laboratory procedures.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be able to hear and understand instructions and handle items involving repetitive hand and wrist movement.

Work Environment

• Works in a laboratory using laboratory extraction and analytical equipment.
• Employee may have exposure to hazardous chemicals and solvents.