Lab Supervisor (Night Shift)

Certified Group partners with customers to deliver innovative scientific solutions and expertise across the food & beverage, dietary supplements, cosmetics, OTC, tobacco/nicotine, cannabis, and hemp industries. Our network of 30+ North American and European laboratories includes specialized brands providing laboratory testing, regulatory consulting, and certification & audit services:

• Certified Laboratories – Comprehensive analytical and microbiological testing for food, beverage, cosmetics, OTC, and dietary supplements.
• Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) – ISO-accredited laboratories focused on food safety testing, operational support, and technical services.
• Labstat – Global leader in contract research and testing for nicotine, tobacco, cannabis, hemp, and next-generation products.
• EAS Consulting Group – Regulatory consulting firm offering expert guidance, training, and auditing support for FDA, USDA, and other regulated sectors.
• FSNS Certification & Audit – Accredited third-party auditing and certification services, including food safety, animal welfare, and GMP programs.

Purpose: So the world can trust in what it consumes. Mission: Partner with customers to deliver innovative scientific solutions and expertise. Values: Start with the customer, commit to safety and quality, drive to deliver, act with integrity, and support the team.

About the role

The Lab Supervisor oversees day-to-day laboratory activities during the assigned night shift, directly supervising a small team of approximately three employees. This hands-on leadership role ensures efficient workflow, accurate and timely testing, adherence to quality and safety standards, and consistent achievement of turnaround time expectations. The Lab Supervisor coordinates workload, prioritizes testing, troubleshoots operational issues, and provides employee guidance while maintaining compliance with established procedures and quality standards. As the primary laboratory leader during the shift, this role communicates operational, quality, staffing, and employee matters to management and promotes a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, quality, and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Daily Laboratory Operations
  • Supervise and coordinate night-shift laboratory activities, including workload assignment and prioritization based on testing requirements and turnaround time expectations.
  • Monitor sample flow, testing status, workload, and backlogs throughout the shift.
  • Conduct shift huddles to communicate priorities, staffing, and operational updates.
  • Work hands-on with staff to support testing, workflow, troubleshooting, and task completion.
  • Ensure employee productivity, accuracy, and efficient use of laboratory resources.
  • Identify and escalate operational issues affecting testing, quality, safety, or turnaround times.
  • Maintain shift-to-shift communication and provide thorough handoffs to leadership and other shifts.
  • Maintain a clean, organized, and professional laboratory environment.
• Quality & Safety
  • Ensure laboratory activities comply with ISO/IEC 17025, company quality systems, SOPs, and safety requirements.
  • Reinforce proper laboratory practices, PPE requirements, safety procedures, and housekeeping standards.
  • Monitor adherence to testing procedures and provide coaching as needed.
  • Ensure proper use of laboratory equipment and prompt reporting of issues.
  • Support investigations into deviations, nonconformances, customer complaints, and corrective actions.
  • Maintain accurate and complete laboratory documentation and records.
  • Support audit and inspection readiness by maintaining compliance and organization.
  • Immediately communicate significant quality or safety concerns to leadership.
• People Leadership & Development
  • Directly supervise, coach, and support night-shift laboratory employees.
  • Provide day-to-day direction, feedback, and performance coaching.
  • Support employee onboarding, training, competency development, and cross-training.
  • Monitor performance, attendance, productivity, and policy adherence.
  • Address employee concerns and escalate significant issues to management or HR.
  • Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable team environment.
  • Lead by example through professionalism, hands-on involvement, and adherence to company standards.
  • Recognize employee contributions and encourage teamwork and continuous development.
• Customer & Service Support
  • Support timely completion of testing in accordance with turnaround time expectations.
  • Monitor and communicate potential testing delays that may affect customer commitments.
  • Ensure accurate and efficient work to support customer satisfaction.
  • Maintain a service-oriented approach for internal and operational needs.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Identify opportunities to improve laboratory workflow, efficiency, quality, and turnaround time.
  • Encourage team members to suggest process improvements and address operational challenges.
  • Support implementation of new procedures, processes, equipment, and initiatives.
  • Promote adherence to standardized laboratory practices.
  • Provide feedback to management on improving night-shift operations.
  • Support problem-solving and corrective actions for recurring operational issues.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Science, Biology, Food Technology, or a related scientific field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in laboratory operations, testing, manufacturing, or a regulated environment.
• Previous supervisory, lead, or team leadership experience preferred.
• Experience in food testing, third-party laboratory testing, manufacturing, or a regulated laboratory environment preferred.
• Working knowledge of laboratory operations, workflow management, quality systems, and laboratory safety.
• Experience with ISO/IEC 17025, FDA, USDA, or similar regulated environments preferred.
• Ability to work effectively in a hands-on laboratory environment and manage multiple priorities independently.
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and hold employees accountable for performance and quality.
• Experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) preferred.
• Ability and willingness to work a regular night shift schedule.

Skills

• Ability to apply basic mathematical concepts, including percentages, ratios, calculations, and operational metrics.
• Ability to review and interpret productivity, turnaround time, staffing, and laboratory performance data.

Supervision

• Directly supervise approximately three night-shift laboratory employees.
• Provide day-to-day direction, workload assignment, coaching, training, and performance oversight.
• Serve as the primary laboratory leader during the assigned shift.
• Communicate operational, quality, staffing, and employee matters to laboratory management.
• Partner with management and other shifts to ensure effective communication and continuity of operations.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Regular work in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to odors, fumes, airborne particles, chemicals, and microbiological materials.
• Required use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as applicable.
• Noise levels may vary from quiet to loud depending on laboratory operations.
• Temperature conditions may vary from hot to cold depending on laboratory areas and activities.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and perform hands-on laboratory activities for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Primarily works a night shift schedule, with occasional weekend, holiday, or extended-hour work as needed.
• Works in a small, team-oriented environment requiring flexibility, hands-on participation, and independent decision-making.

Schedule

Tuesday – Saturday, 9:00 PM to 5:30 AM.

Pay

$60,000 – $80,000 annually, plus a 10% quarterly bonus.