General Manager
$180k - $215k
Expert
Bachelor's, Master's, MBA, PhD
Burbank, CA, USA
In Person
Business & Strategy
About the job
Requirements
- A bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related scientific field is required.
- 10+ years of leadership experience in a GMP-regulated laboratory environment.
- Experience as a General Manager, Site Leader, Laboratory Director, or similar role.
- Demonstrated P&L ownership and financial management expertise.
- Proven experience with regulatory inspections and client audits.
- Strong experience leading analytical chemistry operations, including chromatography and wet chemistry.
- Deep technical expertise in chromatographic systems, including HPLC, UPLC, GC, GC-MS, LC-MS, and LC-MS/MS.
- Proven ability to troubleshoot, interpret data, and lead root cause investigations.
- A strong foundation in classical and wet chemistry techniques.
- Strong business acumen and proven site leadership.
- Ability to guide technical decision-making, assess analytical challenges, and communicate risks, root causes, and solutions effectively.
- Executive leadership and strategic thinking; financial and operational acumen; deep knowledge of GMP quality systems; advanced expertise in analytical chemistry and chromatography; strong technical judgment and problem-solving ability; ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly; client-focused mindset; change leadership and organizational development; and executive presence.
Responsibilities
- Lead overall site strategy, performance, and growth initiatives.
- Develop and execute annual operating and business plans.
- Drive continuous improvement across operations, quality, and technical capabilities.
- Serve as the senior escalation point for operational, technical, quality, and client issues.
- Align site strategy with long-term growth across personal care, cosmetics, OTC, and regulated testing.
- Integrate commercial priorities with operational execution and sound scientific judgment.
- Own full site P&L, including revenue growth, margins, and EBITDA.
- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
- Monitor KPIs such as utilization, turnaround time, productivity, and capacity.
- Partner with commercial teams on client retention, pricing, and growth opportunities.
- Support capital investments in instrumentation, automation, and infrastructure.
- Evaluate financial performance in the context of laboratory operations and technical complexity.
- Ensure compliance with GMP and applicable regulatory standards.
- Maintain inspection readiness and lead regulatory and client audits.
- Champion data integrity, documentation, and quality system effectiveness.
- Ensure methods are scientifically sound and properly validated or verified.
- Oversee investigations (OOS/OOT, deviations, CAPA) and technical issue resolution.
- Lead complex technical scenarios involving chromatography, method performance, and data quality.
- Foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and scientific rigor.
- Oversee laboratory functions including Chemistry, Microbiology, Stability, and Sample Management.
- Align staffing and resources to meet operational and business needs.
- Optimize workflows to improve efficiency, turnaround time, and quality.
- Ensure proper equipment, methods, training, and controls are in place.
- Drive improvements in instrument utilization, sample flow, and cross-functional coordination.
- Support expansion of technical capabilities, including LC, GC, and wet chemistry.
- Maintain strong technical oversight of chromatography-driven operations.
- Lead and develop a cross-functional leadership team.
- Build a high-performance, accountable, and engaged culture.
- Drive succession planning and talent development initiatives.
- Promote safety, collaboration, and continuous learning.
- Mentor teams in technical problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision-making.
- Ensure strong competency in analytical chemistry, chromatography, and GMP practices.
- Establish high standards for analytical rigor and data-driven decisions.
Desired Qualifications
- An advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) and/or MBA is preferred.
- Background in personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, biotech, OTC, or contract lab services is preferred.
About the company
Certified Group provides laboratory testing, regulatory consulting, and certification services for regulated industries in North America, supported by a network of more than 30 laboratories. Its services cover microbiology and chemistry testing, regulatory guidance for FDA/USDA compliance, and third‑party audits and certification, including GFSI standards and animal welfare programs, delivered through its brands such as FSNS, Certified Laboratories, EAS Consulting Group, and Labstat. The group combines testing capabilities with advisory and certification expertise, growing its footprint through strategic acquisitions to offer wide coverage across food safety, dietary supplements, cosmetics, OTC drugs, nicotine products, and cannabis. Its goal is to help clients ensure product safety and regulatory compliance while expanding its business, with revenue around $300 million and ongoing consolidation in the sector.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Town of Huntington, New York
Founded
2019
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Mérieux signed August 18, 2026 to acquire Certified Group, validating strategic value.
- Peugeot Invest and Conti financed the transaction on September 21, 2026.
- FSNS won Sodexo supplier audit approval on June 17, 2026, expanding recurring audit revenue.
What critics are saying
- The Mérieux deal closes by Q4 2026, ending Certified Group as an independent employer.
- Integration into Mérieux flattens brands, duplicates roles, and shifts investment decisions to Lyon.
- Tobacco, cannabis, and import-testing revenues face FDA rule changes and product-cycle volatility.
What makes Certified Group unique
- Certified Group runs 31 North American labs across food, cosmetics, nicotine, cannabis.
- Labstat earned OECD GLP recognition on May 13, 2026, strengthening nicotine CRO credibility.
- FSNS Green Bay passed A2LA ISO/IEC 17025 audit on June 8, 2026, with zero deficiencies.
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Benefits
- Flexible Work Hours