Job DescriptionThe Director provides strategic and operational leadership ensuring world class execution across quality, compliance, and scientific delivery. This role is critical to advancing our Chemistry business unit through strong regulatory stewardship, operational excellence, and the successful integration of new technologies.
In this role, you will set the vision and direction for the laboratory, cultivate a culture of quality and accountability, and collaborate cross-functionally to align laboratory capabilities with business priorities. You will also play a key role in transferring new technologies into the lab, driving innovation and expanding service offerings to meet evolving client and market needs.
Here's what you'll do:- Oversee operations across all phases of the laboratory process, including full P&L responsibility
- Establish governance for scoping and onboarding new work, ensuring appropriate prioritization, capacity planning, and alignment with strategic growth objectives
- Serve as final authority for the review and approval of technical outputs and study outcomes, ensuring scientific integrity, compliance, and client satisfaction
- Partner effectively with Project Management, Business Development, and other cross-functional teams to meet client needs and timelines
- Support client and internal audit processes by providing expertise, documentation, and timely responses to audit requests and findings, as applicable
- Support the company's quality improvement program and ensure quality systems are implemented, maintained, and monitored in compliance with regulatory and accrediting agencies
- Communicate company philosophies, goals, and objectives clearly and effectively to employees
- Develop and implement technical and administrative policies and procedures
- Lead the budgeting process and monitor departmental performance against financial goals
- Foster a collaborative team environment by sharing information and encouraging input from others
- Build and maintain a high-performing team through effective hiring, development, coaching, and performance management, including employee relations actions as needed
- Conduct regular staff meetings and ensure consistent, transparent communication
- Provide strategic leadership and direction to support the growth of the department
- Effectively manage conflicts and resolve issues involving matters of significance
- Make sound hiring and termination decisions in alignment with company policies
- Leverage a strong network of internal and external contacts
QualificationsThe ideal candidate:- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (e.g., MS or MA) preferred
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience managing laboratory operations
- Strong understanding of business operations and financial management
- Experience with P&L responsibility for a business unit
- In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements
- Proven ability to build teams, develop employees, solve problems, and manage budgets and fiscal responsibilities
- Ability to partner effectively with department managers to meet business objectives
- Strong collaboration and organizational development skills
- Exceptional leadership and decision-making capabilities
- Willingness to work outside normal business hours as needed
- Ability to travel up to 5%
Physical requirements- Physical dexterity sufficient to use hands, arms, and shoulders repetitively to operate a keyboard and other office equipment, use a telephone, access file cabinets and other items stored at various levels, including overhead
- Ability to speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly and understandably with sufficient volume to ensure an accurate exchange of information at a normal conversational distance, over the telephone, and in a group setting
- Ability to stand for extended periods of time as necessary in the laboratory (2 or more hours)
- Ability to lift and move items weighing up to 15 pounds
- Physical dexterity sufficient to move body frequently around laboratory equipment and instrumentation
- Ability to continuously operate a personal computer for extended periods of time (4 or more hours)
- Mental acuity sufficient to collect and interpret data, evaluate, reason, define problems, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, make valid judgments and decisions
Additional InformationThe position is full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm, with overtime as needed. Candidates living within a commutable range of Columbia, MO are encouraged to apply.
- Excellent full time benefits including comprehensive medical coverage, dental, and vision options
- Life and disability insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid vacation and holidays
