Laboratory Manager

Description: Certified Testing and Data - The soon to be premier provider in the cannabis and hemp testing space. Founders have extensive experience in Cannabis as well as leading Multi Billion dollar lab companies. Opportunity to participate in the growth and success of the company with a stock grant awarded to founding team members. Prior business led by management was top 15 Fastest growing company by Inc 5000. CTND has great culture, excellent professional growth opportunities, and one of the nicest working lab spaces in the country. Submit your application today. Certified Testing and Data, an analytical testing facility, provides consultations and analytical results across the entire spectrum of the plant medicine industry. Building on a record of excellence, Certified Testing and Data features one of the largest full-service testing laboratories in the United States. Dedication to personalized service, coupled with superior scientific practices, is the foundation of Certified Testing and Data success. Purpose This position coordinates and directs the activities of laboratory personnel to assure profitable and successful operations. These activities include: technical direction, quality control and assurance, safety, customer and employee relations, service/program development, cost control, and general administration. The incumbent provides technical consulting services to the client as needed. The incumbent works with the VP of Operations and/or Laboratory Director in support of sales. Direct department management responsibilities include Intake, Homogenization, Preparation and Microbiology. Responsibilities and Duties Assist Lab Director on developing a strategic plan for the laboratory with the management team implementing this plan. Provide technical direction and supervision to laboratory personnel. Maintain a work environment that encourages equal employment opportunity, employee development and communication. Monitor laboratory and administrative performance to maintain or improve operational and financial efficiencies. Develop corrective action plans to address identified deficiencies. Implement new services and markets as planned by VPO and corporate. Standardize laboratory methodology for existing and future services utilizing CTND Standard Operating Procedures. Ensure new methodology is implemented and tested so that all analysis activities are in compliance with quality, safety, and other applicable procedures. Establish and maintain a positive relationship between key personnel and customer base. Monitor and resolve customer complaints, answer questions, and provide technical expertise when necessary. Assist customers in interpretation of laboratory data and provide related consulting. Participate in marketing, sales and customer relations programs as required by the VPO and corporate. Provide guidance and technical expertise to the client and company personnel to understand and solve their technical problems and issues. Assist clients in interpretation of laboratory data and provide related consulting. Develop and maintain systems that insure the technical competency of personnel within the business unit. Provide corporate personnel with necessary information to document the progress of the laboratory. Administer corporate human resource programs relating to employee recruitment and retention, compensation, training and development, equal employment opportunity, performance appraisal, and employment record documentation. Coordinate and implement appropriate research and special projects within the business unit. This position working under the direction of the Lab Director has the responsibility and authority to cease specific analyses whenever evidence from the quality system indicates the process is not in control and the quality of the results to be submitted to the client is compromised as a result of the non-conformances. Develop and maintain expertise in science and technology, and related technologies through available scientific literature and by contributing to scientific publications and presentations. Maintain knowledge of Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) that is required to complete job responsibilities. Ensure that employees obtain knowledge of LIMS sufficient to perform job responsibilities. Institute and maintain systems to monitor and verify related LIMS training. Support corporate quality and continuous improvement process. Actively participate in and support quality teams to improve the service provided by the laboratory. Attend meetings and conferences to support corporate quality objectives. This position working under the direction of the Lab Director has the responsibility and authority to initiate action to prevent or minimize departures from the quality system or test procedures. This authority includes addressing resource needs to properly address issues such as client turn-around time requirements, overtime limits, employee turnover, work stoppage and assure the appropriate type and amount of materials are ready and available for use. Perform other related duties as needed. Knowledge & Skill This position needs an advanced knowledge of microbiology and chemistry science obtained from a Master’s degree or equivalent experience, to provide information to customers and employees as well as implement new testing procedures. A thorough knowledge of chemistry is necessary to manage the chemistry personnel and the analysis that is conducted in that department. A general knowledge of the business disciplines of finance, budgeting, sales, and marketing practices are necessary to gain new business and maintain current customers successfully. A general knowledge of personal computers is necessary to track laboratory information and produce documents to support the management function. General knowledge of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is needed to review analysis results and correct any discrepancies. Analytical skills are needed to problem solve and fulfill customer's analysis needs. Strong oral and written communication skills are essential to this position for effective customer contact. Customer relation skills are needed to obtain and provide information to the customer. Strong management skills, obtained from previous supervisory experience, are necessary to insure that the laboratory runs smoothly. Planning skills are essential to maintain efficient laboratory operations. Job Complexity This position requires individual analysis of each problem to determine the optimal solution. Problems can occur when the customer requests a test not currently used in the laboratory or when a new product requires a modification of current methods. The incumbent uses previous experience, federal (FDA, USDA, and APHA) publications, field texts, and current journal articles as resources to provide necessary information to solve a problem. Solutions may require innovative alternatives to modify current analysis methods to improve productivity or for solving unique employee relation difficulties. Customer problems are often unique and require the incumbent to select among several different alternatives to maintain customer business. The incumbent is responsible for financial and operational activities of the microbiology and chemistry laboratories. This position uses previous experience, guidance from other laboratory directors and relevant literature to obtain a solution to the problem. The incumbent must prioritize the difficulties with little factual information to maintain profitability. Decision Making or Recommendations This position requires decisions to be made regarding laboratory needs and difficulties. Information is available from standard operating procedures, position precedents, federal and state regulations and written company procedures and policies. Some analysis actions are dictated by the customer's request and modifications are made according to the needs of the customer. Decisions can affect the resources of the laboratory as a whole or a particular individual depending on the situation. Revisions are difficult to make in the complex matters of laboratory management. Simple revisions can be corrected verbally or in written instructions to the affected party. Loss of revenue requires the incumbent to determine the optimal course of action to increase revenue with available resources. Customers, operating conditions, expenses and laboratory personnel can all be affected by the decisions of the incumbent. Accountability The incumbent receives general direction from the Vice President of Operations (VPO) and/or Lab Director. This position works toward broad long-term objectives established with the VPO. The incumbent, with the authorization of the VPO, determines intermediate sequences. Review of work occurs on a monthly basis to ensure that procedures are followed and budget constraints are not exceeded. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining revenue by expanding customer base or increasing laboratory capabilities. This position is responsible for maintaining a work environment that promotes a productive workforce and accurate results for the customer. The Lab Director ensures that laboratory personnel have the tools and knowledge to perform assigned tasks according to the quality process. Unique or unusual problems may result in consulting the VPO or corporate personnel to suggest possible solutions. Supervision of Others & Relationships This position supervises the Lab supervisors and subordinates. Supervisory responsibilities include hiring, terminating, training, promoting, disciplinary actions, assignment of work and evaluating work for accuracy and completeness. Coordination with microbiology and chemistry departments is required to provide complete analysis of samples when required. This position coordinates with the corporate departments of accounting, sales, IT, research, human resources and educational services to obtain information to provide quality services to the customer. Internal coordination between the various laboratory functions is needed to achieve the most accurate and timely analysis possible. This position supervises the work of all laboratory personnel. Work Environment The incumbent works in a laboratory environment with proper lighting and temperature control. Occasional exposure to laboratory fumes, chemicals, and materials will occur when obtaining results or testing status from operations personnel. Client visits may require protective clothing and equipment according to the facility environment. Physical dexterity is necessary to effectively manipulate a keyboard. The incumbent can expect extended time spent in a sitting position. Three to seven nights a month may be needed to travel to other laboratory locations and attend professional seminars. Job Type: Full-time Requirements: Working knowledge of a broad range of plant medicine products, processes, and cultivation preferred (e.g. Cannabis, Hemp, CBD and Fungi). Working knowledge of regulations (local and federal), Good Laboratory Practices, and current official methods with at least 3 years experience working in an accredited laboratory. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated expertise in plant medicine safety, quality and value. Must have strong organizational, leadership, and customer service skills. Excellent interpersonal, communications, public speaking, and presentation skills. Intermediate knowledge of budgeting, sales, business development, and strategic planning. Ability to generate respect and trust from staff and external constituencies. BS/BA degree required, MS/MA degree preferred. Must be at least 21 years of age and pass required background check Physical Requirements These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions. While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is regularly required to communicate and converse with employees, clients and the public at work, trade shows, sales calls, business trips, and in the media. The employee is also expected to communicate via telephone and email 50% of the work day. The employee is required to sit 75% of most work days. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision while viewing a computer terminal or portable communication device. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 50lbs and pull up to 150lbs.