About the position
Are you a chemistry expert ready to take charge of 2 fast-paced, high-impact labs?
Our client, a leader in industrial elastomer compounding, is looking for a sharp, hands-on Laboratory Manager to oversee two laboratories focused on technical compound formulation for automotive and industrial applications.
A strong emphasis is placed on operational involvement, with accountability for daily lab outputs, reliability, and data-driven performance.
This role requires someone who is statistically oriented, thrives in a manufacturing environment, and is confident using LIMS, SPC, and working within ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
The ideal candidate holds an Honours degree in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or Biochemistry, with 3–5 years of management experience in a manufacturing laboratory setting.
If you're ready to lead from the front then this opportunity is for you.
Minimum requirements:
- Degree: Honours/BSc in Chemistry/Biochemistry or equivalent.
- Minimum 3 to 5+ years of experience in a managerial position within a laboratory environment (between 25 - 35 staff members).
- Previous experience in a chemical production industry or a similar environment.
- ISO 9001 quality system exposure.
- ISO 14001 environmental management system exposure.
- Excellent in report writing.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Supervision:
- Supervising the day-to-day activities of the laboratories.
- Technical Support:
- Process monitoring and overseeing the activities in the laboratory.
- Monitoring mixing data on a daily basis.
- Monitoring product testing data on a daily basis.
- Data analysis on the LIMS system.
- Compiling test reports and/or results.
- Reporting results to the customers, both internally and externally.
- Liaising with customers pertaining to product testing and results.
- Ensuring that all compounds, final products, and projects are tested in accordance with the correct methodology.
- Testing equipment, relevant specifications, and standards for release.
- Supporting and assisting the mixing, production, and technical teams with troubleshooting and corrective actions to ensure consistent production quality and continuous process improvement.
- Overseeing the conducting of tests, ensuring they are done to the correct specifications.
- Maintaining laboratory staff results/performance by counselling and disciplining employees, planning, monitoring, and appraising job results.
- Maintaining the laboratory information system by identifying information needs and problems, recommending improvements, establishing priorities, testing, writing user instructions, training employees, and maintaining the security and confidentiality of laboratory information.
- Authorising employees’ leave of absence and monitoring it.
- Maintaining quality results by participating in internal audits and external audits, reviewing quality control and quality assurance programmes, making adjustments in procedures, generating reports, and keeping records.
- Maintaining the performance of quality control laboratory equipment by establishing quality standards, developing operational, quality, and troubleshooting procedures, ensuring staff compliance, certifying instrument performance and calibration, and arranging equipment replacement, servicing, and repairs.
- Overseeing the management and filing of laboratory records.
- Providing monthly reports on productivity, which include statistical results.
- Providing analysis on product testing trends and inputs on how to improve.
- Analysing data provided by the laboratories, making suggestions on cost-saving projects for production.
- Overseeing the budgets of all laboratories.
- Mentoring:
- Mentoring staff on the following:
- Testing procedures.
- Statistical analysis.
- Psychological well-being.
- Health & Safety:
- Ensuring that Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality policies are observed, and that the necessary resources are sourced in accordance with ISO 14001.
Desired Skills:
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- #Laboratorymanager
- #labsupervisor
- #Laboratorysupervisor
Employer & Job Benefits:
- Medical Aid
- Provident Fund
