Job DescriptionDirector of Operations Strategy, Food Testing - Rapid MicrobiologyRole SummaryThe Director of Operations Strategy will own the operational strategy and performance roadmap for our rapid microbiology food testing laboratory. This leader will define capacity, workflow, method-deployment and productivity strategy, and will work closely with Laboratory Operations, Quality, Scientific/Technical, Commercial and Finance teams to deliver fast, accurate results at scale. The role requires someone who understands high-volume, turnaround-sensitive microbiology testing and can turn strategy into measurable operational execution.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategy and Planning- Develop and execute a multi-year operations strategy for rapid microbiology food testing (pathogens, indicator organisms, spoilage, environmental monitoring, shelf-life).
- Build capacity and demand plans that reflect seasonal volume swings and customer segments such as meat and poultry, dairy, produce, ready-to-eat, bakery, beverage, pet food and ingredients.
- Lead annual and long-range operating planning, including cost, headcount, throughput and capital targets.
Process Excellence and Turnaround- Own turnaround-time, on-time-delivery and throughput performance; identify and remove bottlenecks from sample receipt to report release.
- Lead lean and continuous improvement programs across sample receiving, preparation, testing, data review and reporting.
- Standardize workflows and best practices across lab teams and, where applicable, multiple sites.
Methods, Technology and Automation- Partner with Scientific leadership to evaluate and deploy rapid methods (PCR, immunoassay, automated and next-generation platforms), including validation, verification and rollout plans.
- Drive automation, LIMS and digital initiatives that improve productivity, data integrity and traceability.
- Build business cases for equipment, facility and capacity investments.
Quality, Compliance and Risk- Ensure operating plans support ISO 17025 accreditation, FDA/FSMA, USDA-FSIS, GFSI and customer audit requirements.
- Partner with Quality to reduce error rates, retests and nonconformances.
- Plan for business continuity, including reagent, consumable and supply chain resilience.
Cross-Functional Leadership- Align capacity and service commitments with Commercial on new programs, pricing and customer onboarding.
- Partner with Finance on cost per test, margin, labor productivity and P&L performance.
- Develop and mentor operations leaders and build the talent pipeline for technical and supervisory roles.
QualificationsQualificationsRequired- Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Food Science, Life Sciences, Engineering or a related field; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in laboratory operations, operations strategy, process improvement or business operations within testing laboratories, food safety, diagnostics or life sciences services; at least 5 years in a leadership role.
- Demonstrated track record of improving throughput, turnaround time and cost per test in a high-volume laboratory environment.
- Working knowledge of food microbiology, rapid methods and the regulatory and accreditation environment (FDA/FSMA, USDA-FSIS, GFSI schemes, ISO 17025).
- Strong financial acumen, including capacity modeling, budgeting and P&L management.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively with scientists, laboratory managers and senior customers.
Preferred- Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification.
- Experience with LIMS, laboratory automation and BI tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
- Prior experience with M&A integration, new site launches or multi-lab network standardization.
Key Competencies- Strategic and analytical thinking
- Operational rigor and process discipline
- Scientific credibility with technical teams
- Cross-functional leadership and collaboration
- Quality-first, customer-centric mindset
- Results orientation and accountability
Success Measures (First 12-18 Months)- Delivery of turnaround-time, on-time-delivery and cost-per-test targets for the rapid microbiology food portfolio.
- Documented multi-year capacity and operations roadmap approved by senior leadership.
- Measurable throughput and productivity improvement
- Successful launch or scale-up of at least two new rapid-method platforms or automation projects.
- Reduced retest and nonconformance rates, with clean audit outcomes.
What We Offer- Competitive base salary and performance-based bonus
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage
- 401(k) with company match, paid time off and holidays
- Opportunities for professional development within a global network
Additional InformationIn a fast growing group, successful leaders are frequently being offered increased areas of responsibility (subject to geographic mobility).
Eurofins offers international opportunities to strong performers.
