Chemistry Lab - General Manager

TITLE: General Manager - Chemistry Lab

Day to Day

As the General Manager, you will step into a dynamic leadership role tasked with overseeing, managing, and optimizing an established chemistry testing laboratory facility. You will directly manage a specialized leadership team consisting of an Operations Manager, a Quality/Regulatory Coordinator, and an IT Infrastructure Specialist. Your day-to-day focus will center on driving operational excellence, managing a comprehensive Profit and Loss (P&L) budget, coordinating vendor relationships for instrumentation maintenance, and executing strategic plans to manage and scale the existing facility's team up to 40–50 daily personnel.

Responsibilities

• Operational Oversight: Drive daily efficiency across internal departments, ensuring proper data transfer protocols, IT infrastructure troubleshooting, and safe laboratory operations without compromising staff morale or safety.
• Financial & Budgetary Management: Take full ownership of the business unit's budget, P&L statements, and financial performance to ensure long-term profitability, sustainability, and growth.
• Team Management & Scaling: Foster a positive, growth-mindset culture while managing the facility's team expansion up to 40–50 staff members.
• Quality Assurance & Compliance: Maintain absolute oversight of the Quality Management System, ensuring rigorous adherence to ISO/IEC 17025 standards and corporate policies.
• Instrumentation & Vendor Relations: Supervise instrument performance, coordination with equipment vendors, and implementation of operational improvements.
• Team Leadership & Human Resources: Manage strategic staffing, training, conflict resolution, and yearly performance evaluations for direct reports.
• Sales & Promotion: Work in tandem with sales teams to market laboratory services and drive corporate viability.
• KPI drive optimization: Ensure operational targets are met and key areas/services are managed as part of a continuous optimization environment

Required Skills

• Proven Lab Leadership: At least 10 years of experience working in a laboratory environment, with a minimum of 5 years serving in a direct supervisory or senior management role.
• Technical Expertise: Strong background in general chemistry with hands-on experience utilizing standard analytical laboratory instrumentation (e.g., IC, ICP/MS, GC/MS, GC/ECD, etc.).
• Quality Standards Mastery: Deep knowledge and practical application experience with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 quality standards.
• Financial Acumen: Direct experience developing budgets and a thorough understanding of financial statements, including profit/loss balances.
• Operational IT Literacy: Understanding of data transfer requirements, laboratory IT hardware/infrastructure, and technical troubleshooting.
• Human Resources & Management: Proven track record in hiring, interviewing, conflict resolution, and people management.
• Core Competencies: Exceptional organizational skills, high attention to detail, strong decision-making capabilities, and excellent oral/written communication skills.
• Education: University Degree or College Diploma in Chemistry, Life Sciences, or Engineering.

Nice to Have

• Post-graduate degree (Master’s degree or Ph.D. considered an asset).
• Bilingualism (English/French).
• Formal training in conflict resolution, financial management, or internal auditing.
• Previous experience holding overall improvement and facility management responsibility for a commercial testing laboratory.

Compensation:

$140,000 to $180,000 per year annual salary.

Exact compensation may vary based on several factors, including skills, experience, and education.

Benefit packages for this role may include healthcare insurance offerings and paid leave as provided by applicable law.