Laboratory Manager

Optify-Search is currently partnerd with a leading manufacturer of colourants and specialty chemical solutions serving Textiles, Construction, Coatings, Agriculture, Household & Industrial Cleaning, and other industrial markets. We are seeking a hands-on, technically strong Laboratory Manager to lead laboratory operations and support product development, quality, and technical service activities at one of the manufacturing facilities in South Carolina.Responsibilities: Manage daily laboratory operations, workflow priorities, and resource allocation.Lead formulation, testing, and analysis of pigments, dispersions, liquid dyes, and specialty chemicals.Oversee quality control programs to ensure product consistency, reliability, and compliance with specifications.Provide technical support to manufacturing, sales, and customers on product performance, troubleshooting, and applications.Drive process improvements, standardization, and laboratory efficiency initiatives.Maintain laboratory documentation, reports, specifications, and test records.Support scale-up and transfer of new products from development to production.Ensure laboratory equipment is properly maintained, calibrated, and operated.Maintain a safe, clean, and compliant laboratory environment.Leadership & Cross-Functional Support:Supervise laboratory personnel, assign priorities, and support training and development.Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Sales, Regulatory, Purchasing, and Technical teams.Lead troubleshooting investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.Support innovation and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with business objectives.Ensure compliance with laboratory safety, environmental, and quality standards.Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or related field required.Minimum 5 years of industry experience in colorants, dyes, pigment dispersions, coatings, textiles, or specialty chemicals.Prior laboratory leadership, supervisory, or project management experience preferred.Strong technical knowledge of pigment systems, dispersions, coatings formulations, and laboratory practices.Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.Ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate across departments.Proficiency in Microsoft Office and laboratory documentation/reporting systems.English proficiency required.This role offers a competitive salary, with a great compensation package, and a strong progression pathway.Please submit your CV/resume if you have the requisite skills as outlined above and are a highly competitive individual with excellent communication skills. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of expected responses we are only able to acknowledge successful applications. If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks, on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.About Optify SearchOptify Search is a leading executive search and selection business. From our offices in London we provide retained and contingency recruitment solutions across industry and have specialist recruitment consultants that work within the Healthcare, Ingredients, Chemicals, Contract Manufacturing, Packaging and Semiconductor sectors.