Lab Supervisor

Job Summary

The Lab Supervisor is responsible for the day-to-day supervision and coordination of laboratory activities during the assigned night shift. This role directly supervises a small team of approximately three laboratory employees while ensuring efficient workflow, accurate and timely testing, adherence to quality and safety standards, and consistent achievement of laboratory turnaround time expectations.

The Lab Supervisor is a hands-on leader who works alongside the laboratory team to coordinate workload, prioritize testing, troubleshoot operational issues, provide employee guidance and support, and ensure work is completed in accordance with established procedures and quality standards.

The Lab Supervisor serves as the primary laboratory leader during the assigned shift and is responsible for communicating significant operational, quality, staffing, and employee matters to laboratory management. This position is expected to lead by example and promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, quality, and customer service.

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.

Responsibilities

Daily Laboratory Operations

• Supervise and coordinate day-to-day laboratory activities during the assigned night shift.

• Directly supervise and support a small team of approximately three laboratory employees.

• Assign and prioritize laboratory work based on workload, staffing, testing requirements, and turnaround time expectations.

• Monitor sample flow, testing status, workload, and backlogs throughout the shift.

• Conduct shift huddles to communicate priorities, staffing, workload, and operational updates.

• Work hands-on with laboratory staff as needed to support testing, workflow, troubleshooting, and completion of assigned work.

• Monitor employee productivity and ensure work is completed accurately and efficiently.

• Ensure appropriate staffing coverage and effective use of laboratory resources during the shift.

• Identify and escalate operational issues that may affect testing, quality, safety, or turnaround times.

• Maintain effective shift-to-shift communication and provide thorough handoffs to laboratory leadership and other shifts.

• Maintain a clean, organized, and professional laboratory environment.

Quality & Safety

• Ensure laboratory activities are performed in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025, company quality systems, SOPs, and safety requirements.

• Reinforce proper laboratory practices, PPE requirements, safety procedures, and housekeeping standards.

• Monitor employee adherence to established testing procedures and provide coaching when needed.

• Ensure laboratory equipment is used properly and that equipment issues are promptly identified and communicated.

• Support investigations involving deviations, nonconformances, customer complaints, and corrective actions.

• Ensure laboratory documentation and records are complete, accurate, and maintained in accordance with company requirements.

• Support audit and inspection readiness by maintaining laboratory compliance and organization.

• Immediately communicate significant quality or safety concerns to appropriate laboratory leadership.

People Leadership & Development

• Directly supervise, coach, and support laboratory employees assigned to the night shift.

• Provide day-to-day direction, feedback, and performance coaching.

• Support employee onboarding, training, competency development, and cross-training.

• Monitor employee performance, attendance, productivity, and adherence to company policies.

• Address routine employee concerns and escalate significant performance or employee relations matters to laboratory management or Human Resources as appropriate.

• Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable team environment.

• Lead by example through professionalism, hands-on involvement, and consistent adherence to company standards.

• Recognize employee contributions and encourage teamwork and continuous development.

Customer & Service Support

• Support the timely completion of laboratory testing in accordance with established turnaround time expectations.

• Monitor potential testing delays and communicate or escalate issues that may affect customer commitments.

• Help ensure laboratory work is completed accurately and efficiently to support customer satisfaction.

• Maintain a service-oriented approach when addressing internal customer and operational needs.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory workflow, efficiency, quality, and turnaround time.

• Encourage team members to identify process improvements and operational challenges.

• Support implementation of new procedures, processes, equipment, and laboratory initiatives.

• Promote consistent adherence to standardized laboratory practices.

• Provide feedback to laboratory management regarding opportunities to improve night-shift operations.

• Support problem-solving and corrective actions related to recurring operational issues.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Science, Biology, Food Technology, or related scientific field required.

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in laboratory operations, testing, manufacturing, or another regulated environment required.

• Previous supervisory, lead, or team leadership experience preferred.

• Prior 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 working within 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.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to apply basic mathematical concepts including percentages, ratios, calculations, and operational metrics.

• Ability to review and interpret basic productivity, turnaround time, staffing, and laboratory performance data.

Supervision

• Directly supervise approximately three laboratory employees assigned to the night shift.

• Responsible for day-to-day direction, workload assignment, coaching, training, and performance oversight of assigned employees.

• Serve as the primary laboratory leader during the assigned shift.

• Communicate significant operational, quality, staffing, and employee matters to laboratory management.

• Partner with laboratory management and other shifts to ensure effective communication and continuity of laboratory operations.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Regular work within a laboratory environment with potential exposure to odors, fumes, airborne particles, chemicals, and microbiological materials.

• Required use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as applicable to laboratory activities.

• 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 operational needs require.

• Works in a small, team-oriented laboratory environment where flexibility, hands-on participation, and independent decision-making are essential.

Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday 9pm to 5:30am

Compensation: $60,000 - $80,000 & 10% Quarterly Bonus

Pay Range: 60000.0 - 80000.0