Laboratory Supervisor

About the role

The Laboratory Supervisor oversees daily laboratory operations, ensuring high standards of safety, quality control, throughput, and regulatory compliance. This role combines hands-on technical expertise with team leadership—managing entry-level and technical staff, optimizing workflows, maintaining complex processing equipment, and maintaining rigorous Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Pay

$55,000 - $60,000

Operations & Workflow Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure production/testing schedules and throughput goals are met safely and efficiently
• Monitor supply inventories, reagent levels, and consumables; coordinate with vendors to manage procurement and control costs
• Track and analyze operational metrics (e.g., turnaround times, batch yields, error rates) using tracking tools and spreadsheets
• Identify bottlenecks in laboratory workflows and implement continuous improvement strategies

Team Leadership & Personnel Development

• Lead, train, and mentor laboratory staff, ensuring thorough onboarding for new technical and entry-level team members
• Prepare work schedules, assign daily tasks, and monitor individual and team productivity
• Conduct regular performance evaluations, provide constructive feedback, and foster a collaborative, accountability-driven lab culture

Equipment Maintenance & Technical Oversight

• Supervise the operation, calibration, cleaning, and preventative maintenance of lab equipment (e.g., vacuum pumps, heating/chilling circulators, distillation systems, analytical instruments)
• Troubleshoot technical issues and equipment malfunctions promptly to minimize operational downtime
• Maintain comprehensive maintenance logs, equipment SOPs, and service records

Quality Control (QC) & Regulatory Compliance

• Enforce strict adherence to Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), local, state, and federal regulatory guidelines, and internal SOPs
• Manage Quality Control (QC) protocols, auditing batch records and testing data for accuracy and compliance prior to final release
• Lead investigation of Out-of-Specification (OOS) results, non-conformances, or deviations, establishing corrective and preventative actions (CAPA)

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)

• Serve as a primary champion for workplace safety, ensuring all team members follow chemical hygiene plans, PPE requirements, and hazardous waste disposal rules
• Participate actively in workplace Safety, helping drive safety audits, risk assessments, and incident investigations
• Maintain up-to-date Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and ensure compliance with OSHA and relevant environmental standards

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position is responsible for a team of laboratory technicians and entry-level lab staff.

Competencies

• Leadership & Communication: Ability to delegate effectively, resolve team conflicts, and communicate complex technical concepts clearly
• Problem-Solving: Strong diagnostic skills for addressing process deviations and mechanical equipment issues
• Attention to Detail: Uncompromising commitment to precision, record-keeping, and safety standards
• Adaptability: Capability to prioritize tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Strong proficiency in data analysis and tracking tools (e.g., Excel, LIMS, or ERP systems)
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks, ISO standards, or state-specific compliance requirements

Requirements

• 3–5+ years of hands-on experience in an analytical, production, or research laboratory setting
• 1–2+ years in a supervisory, lead technician, or team management role preferred
• Demonstrated experience maintaining and troubleshooting complex laboratory equipment and instruments

Physical Demands

• Ability to stand or sit for extended periods, walk across facility floors, and lift up to 40–50 pounds as needed
• Exposure to lab environments requiring proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including lab coats, safety glasses, and gloves

Work Environment

This position performs duties in a manufacturing/food safety setting.