Inorganic Group Leader

Actalent connects visionary companies with specialized engineering and sciences talent to advance innovation and speed to market.

About the role

The Inorganic Group Leader oversees the daily operations of the Inorganic Chemistry laboratory, ensuring high-quality analytical testing, efficient sample flow, and strict regulatory compliance. This role blends hands-on inorganic analytical chemistry with leadership responsibilities and serves as a key technical resource for internal teams and external clients. The position focuses on advancing laboratory capabilities, mentoring chemists at multiple levels, and driving continuous improvement within a fast-paced, food safety–focused analytical environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the Inorganic Chemistry laboratory to ensure smooth, efficient, and compliant workflows.
• Ensure timely sample throughput while maintaining high standards of data quality, accuracy, and reliability in all analytical results.
• Plan, prioritize, and manage laboratory workload, staffing, and resource allocation to meet project timelines and client expectations.
• Supervise, coach, and develop Chemist I, II, and III team members, providing ongoing feedback, mentoring, and technical guidance.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, and career development for laboratory staff.
• Perform analytical testing and technical laboratory work as needed, maintaining strong hands-on expertise with inorganic instrumentation.
• Lead method development, validation, and troubleshooting activities, and oversee the implementation of new analytical technologies and methods.
• Collaborate closely with quality assurance leadership to maintain regulatory compliance, QA/QC practices, and laboratory accreditation standards.
• Manage laboratory supplies, reagents, instrumentation, and maintenance schedules to minimize downtime and ensure operational readiness.
• Serve as a technical resource for sales teams, providing expertise to support customer inquiries, proposals, and project discussions.
• Participate in conferences, trade shows, networking events, and market research initiatives to stay current with industry trends and technologies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance laboratory operations, workflow efficiency, and overall service quality.
• Implement and enforce laboratory procedures, safety standards, and best practices to support a safe and compliant work environment.
• Collaborate across laboratory operations, quality, sales, and management teams to support business objectives and client satisfaction.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related scientific discipline.
• Extensive experience with inorganic analytical instrumentation, including ICP-MS and ICP-OES, with strong capabilities in operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining these systems.
• Strong method development, validation, and troubleshooting experience in inorganic analytical chemistry.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing chemists and laboratory operations in a commercial or analytical testing environment.
• Experience training and mentoring scientists or laboratory personnel, with a focus on skill development and performance improvement.
• Familiarity with laboratory business operations and commercial testing environments, particularly in food safety and process contaminant analysis.
• Experience working within QA/QC frameworks and maintaining accreditation and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to balance hands-on technical responsibilities with personnel management and operational leadership.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to handle complex technical and operational challenges.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Acrobat for documentation, reporting, and communication.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and external clients.
• High emotional intelligence with a collaborative leadership approach and strong mentoring and team-building skills.
• Strong organizational abilities, adaptability, business acumen, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Additional Qualifications

• Prior supervisory or management experience in a laboratory setting.
• Experience with HRMS, MS/MS, Orbitrap, or other advanced analytical technologies.
• Experience with new instrument implementation, validation, and integration into routine laboratory workflows.
• Sample extraction and processing method development experience, particularly in food safety or contaminant testing.
• Experience with pesticide and food contaminant testing and related analytical methods.
• Business development and client-facing experience, including supporting sales efforts and customer relationships.
• International laboratory experience or exposure to global analytical testing standards and practices.
• Strong communication skills for participation in conferences, trade shows, and networking opportunities.
• Demonstrated adaptability and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.

Work Environment

This position is fully onsite in an international analytical testing laboratory focused on food safety and public health. Work is performed in a laboratory environment that utilizes advanced extraction and analytical instrumentation, including inorganic analytical systems such as ICP-MS and ICP-OES, as well as other modern technologies. Employees may be exposed to laboratory chemicals and solvents and must follow strict safety, quality, and compliance standards at all times. The environment is highly collaborative and involves regular interaction with laboratory operations, quality assurance, sales, and management teams.

Schedule

Fully onsite in Oregon, working Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with a 30-minute unpaid lunch. Hours may vary based on business and team needs.

Pay

$79,200.00 per year.

Benefits

• Annual bonus opportunity.
• Medical insurance with 100% employer contribution for employee premium and 90% for dependent coverage.
• Vision and dental insurance.
• HSA plan with 100% employer-paid premium and monthly contributions.
• Long-term disability insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA).
• Supplemental insurance options.
• Legal and identity protection services (LegalShield/IDShield).
• 401(k) plan.
• Paid time off (PTO).
• 13 paid holidays.
• Access to select employee stores (Adidas and Columbia).