Sr. Manager Lab Operations - Bioburden

Position Summary

Nelson Labs is seeking a strategic and operationally focused Senior Lab Operations Manager (Sr. LOM) to lead our Bioburden team within the Quality Assurance organization. This role is responsible for overseeing laboratory operations, driving operational excellence, leading people and process improvements, and ensuring delivery of high-quality microbiological testing services.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership
  Lead day-to-day laboratory operations for the Bioburden department
  Drive departmental KPIs including quality, turnaround times, utilization, and operational efficiency
  Develop and execute process improvement initiatives to enhance performance and scalability
  Ensure adequate staffing, workflow optimization, and resource planning to meet customer expectations
  Partner with leadership on budget planning, capital expenditures, forecasting, and long-term operational strategy

• Strategic Business Support
  Support profitable growth initiatives and expansion of laboratory capabilities
  Collaborate with Sales and Consulting teams to strengthen customer partnerships and service offerings
  Lead efforts to improve customer experience and operational competitiveness

• People Leadership & Talent Management
  Lead, coach, and develop managers and laboratory staff
  Conduct regular one-on-ones and performance discussions
  Drive employee engagement, succession planning, and talent retention initiatives
  Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement

• Quality & Regulatory Compliance
  Ensure compliance with GMP, GLP, ISO, and applicable regulatory standards
  Partner with Quality Assurance to investigate trends and implement corrective actions
  Maintain strong focus on data integrity, procedural compliance, and laboratory quality systems

• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  Work across departments to improve operational alignment and customer delivery
  Support integration activities related to operational changes, acquisitions, or business initiatives
  Act as a change leader within the organization

Qualifications

• Required Experience
  Minimum 5 years of experience in:
  Laboratory operations
  Manufacturing operations
  Leadership within regulated environments
  Strong microbiology knowledge and operational leadership experience
  Hands-on laboratory experience required
  Validation experience required, specifically:
  Equipment validation
  Facility validation
  Experience leading teams in a regulated medical device, pharmaceutical, or related environment

• Preferred Background
  Tissue manufacturing
  Laboratory operations management
  Medical device or pharmaceutical manufacturing
  Radiation sterilization or microbiological testing environments

• Education
  Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in:
  Biology
  Microbiology
  Related scientific discipline