Scientific Laboratory Manager

Scientific Laboratory Manager

Bachelors degree in Chemistry or a closely related field. Eight years of relevant laboratory experience. Proficiency in Quality Control/Quality Assurance for agricultural and environmental laboratories. Experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems. Strong interpersonal skills to facilitate effective teamwork.

Serves as the Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) officer for ANSERV labs, overseeing data integrity and ensuring lab accreditation and proficiency testing. Responsibilities include:

- Administering annual training for all employees in QA/QC protocols to ensure data is collected, processed, evaluated, and correctly entered into the Laboratory Information Management Software.

- Reviewing all reports for ARL and EWQL, and supervising reviews for ESTL and LWTL.

- Coordinating biannual and triannual proficiency testing for NELAP and Agricultural Laboratory Proficiency (ALP) programs.

- Conducting annual internal audits of analytical lines and updating each analysts records with Demonstration of Capability.

- Preparing EWQL for biennial NELAP audits by the Florida Department of Health or other accreditation bodies, and managing other requirements for continued certification.

- Revising the Standard Operating Procedures manual and the Quality Assurance Plan as needed.

Manages and trains laboratory personnel and researchers in analytical procedures. Serves as the safety officer, utilizing LATCH (Laboratory Assessment Tool & Chemical Hygiene Plan) to oversee the roster, training requirements, inventory, and hazard assessment for the annual EH&S safety survey. Compiles monthly order lists for laboratory chemicals and supplies, conducts waste inventory, and submits requests for hazardous waste pickup as needed. Acts as an alternate Time & Labor Approver in the Director's absence.

Provides high level of customer support by providing timely and accurate information about ANSERV Labs capabilities, capacity, and processing times, which is crucial in high-volume and time-constrained analyses. Tracks the progress of sample analyses in all four laboratories and coordinate priorities with individual analysts.

Collaborates with Chemists and Lab Technicians to develop, modify, and implement analytical and laboratory procedures, enhancing labs capabilities and improving labs sample processing efficiency. Publishes significant method modifications in peer-reviewed literature. Provides technical support and assists with troubleshooting analytical methods and instrumentation. Plans and implements lab improvements effectively.

Oversees proper management of payments received by the ANSERV labs, including register reconciliation and deposits in MyUFL for public payments and creating invoices and journal entries for internal payments. Deposits money in the bank. Assists the Director with budgeting, especially in ordering supplies and managing external contracts for lab analyses

$70,000 - $87,600

The position requires excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with coworkers, clients, researchers from the University of Florida and collaborating institutions, and government agencies. Responsibilities include preparing reports for annual EH&S audits, biennial NELAP audits by the Florida Department of Health, and managing other NELAP certification requirements.

Masters degree in soil fertility, plant nutrition, soil science, environmental science, chemistry, or a related field. Seven years of relevant laboratory experience, including time at the rank comparable to Chemist II or higher.

- Experience supervising and managing teams in an analytical laboratory setting.

- Proficiency with analytical instrumentation, including maintenance, data generation, and troubleshooting. Specific experience with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), continuous flow and discrete colorimetric analyzers, and ion chromatography is advantageous.

- Interest in teaching and training laboratory personnel, undergraduate and graduate student.

- Experience working with instrument manufacturers for contract management and troubleshooting.

- Expertise in laboratory QA/QC methods and procedures for agricultural and environmental laboratories. Specific experience with NELAP certification is advantageous.

- Knowledge of laboratory safety procedures and waste management.

- Experience with laboratory inventory stocking and ordering.

- Proficiency with sample preparation, digestion, and extraction for soil fertility and plant nutrition.

- Experience with fiscal and employee time management such as myUFL, and checks, cash, payment cards, and deposits.

- Experience conducting scientific research, including data analysis, publication co-authorship, and presentations.

- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to self-learn.

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.