Lab Manager - Primient

Lab Manager | Primient

About Primient

Primient is a century old company with an entrepreneurial spirit. We are a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable sources. We deliver value through deep technical, commercial, and operational excellence that is backed by our long-standing corn wet milling heritage. Wherever we are in the process, from field to customer, our priorities are focused on ensuring we produce the safest, highest quality products through practices that uphold both our responsibility and commitments to the challenge and drive for excellence, our people and our planet. We are a privately held company with locations across the US, Mexico, Poland, and Brazil. We’re investing in our plants and people to unlock our potential in the industrial and food sectors. Guided by our values of Safety, Excellence, Integrity, and Growth, we’re focused on growing our business, our reputation, and the career of every teammate.

About the Role

The Lab Manager leads the Food Safety and Quality Programs for Laboratory and Plant Operations.

Main accountabilities

• Directly manage and provide guidance to Quality Lab Team to ensure smooth daily operation of the QC laboratory.
• Oversight of training of technicians and maintenance of all training records
• Responsible for laboratory safety activities and supporting all plant safety related policies:
  • Lead lab safety meeting
  • Ensure lab technicians complete all required safety related training and work in accordance to all safety policies.

• Responsible for maintaining area specific food safety and quality documents and activities:
  • Quality SOPs
  • Finished and raw material records
  • Assist/Lead Out of Specification investigation
  • Oversee Monthly EMP for Starch, Refinery & Dextrose
  • Assist in analyzing and responding to customer complaints
  • Preventive Controls training of technicians, as required
  • Oversee & work in conjunction with the instrument specialist and maintenance/calibration of the lab equipment (e.g., GC, HPLC, AA, pH, RI, RVA & YSI)
  • Oversee CRA program

• Provide guidance on testing requirements for all products
• Responsible for preparation and reporting of monthly quality results (product quality performance)
• Provide support for the Quality Assurance programs:
  • cGMP and quality system audits.
  • Customer tours and customer audits.
  • Participate in plant food safety programs
  • Preventive Controls and prerequisite programs
• Other tasks arranged by line manager

Skills and experience required

• Bachelor's degree in a Science related field, with 5-10 years food industry experience preferred.
• Experience in laboratory management and good laboratory practices required
• Knowledge of lab instrumentation and calibrations
• Must be persuasive, willing to take initiative, and possess adaptability and communication skills necessary for success in this position
• A working knowledge of SAP, SAP quality programs
• A working knowledge of quality and food safety systems (e.g., cGMP, HACCP, Sanitation, Maintenance, Calibration)
• Excellent organizational skills
• Self-Motivated
• Good problem solving skills
• Ability to build good relationships with internal and external peers

Physical Demands

This position requires the ability to safely perform the following tasks:

• Lifting of up to 55 pounds without mechanical assistance.
• Climb a vertical ladder up to 15ft
• Climb several flights of stairs, several times a shift
• Stand for up to 1 hour without sitting
• Bending and twisting motion at the waist and knees

Working with us in Decatur

Our Primient plant is the largest and most complex facility across our network, and has been part of the Decatur community for over 100 years. It has been a hub of innovation and technology and will continue to be a flagship facility for Primient. Today, more than 400 people work at our plant and administration building. We are proud of our strong union relations, our excellent safety record, and our local community outreach and service. Our promising future makes it an exciting place to be.

Successful candidates must also pass a computer test, drug screen, and background check.

Total Rewards

The annual pay range estimated for this position is $81,183.20 - $101,479.00 and is bonus eligible.

Please note that while this range reflects the full spectrum of compensation available for this role, individual compensation will be determined based on several factors including your experience, skills, and alignment with the role's responsibilities. During the interview process there will be an opportunity to discuss how your background fits into the pay range.​

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We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• Competitive Pay​

• Multiple Healthcare plan choices​

• Dental and vision insurance​

• A 401(k) plan with company and matching contributions ​

• Short- and Long-Term Disability​

• Life, AD&D, and Voluntary Insurance plans​

• Paid holidays & vacation​

• Floating days off​

• Parental leave for new parents​

• Employee resource groups​

• Learning & development programs​

• Fun culture where you have an opportunity in shaping our future

Career Path & Culture

Primient is committed to a workplace that is all in – ensuring everyone has the opportunity to develop and shape a career that matters in an open culture which embraces equity, diversity and belonging. We challenge old ways of thinking; and encourage employee voices to be a guiding force for ongoing learning. ​

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Primient supports a culture of inclusion that respects individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe our differences make better decisions, drive excellence, and deliver better business results. Primient employees experience autonomy and accountability in their role. Here, employees control their destiny as there is opportunity for career growth and pathways outside the norm.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

We are believers in the power of difference. We strive to represent the communities in which we operate and to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment for all. We want Primient to be a place where every employee feels they belong and knows they are seen, heard, valued and safe to speak up. Our aspiration is to unlock the full potential in diverse perspectives, while offering everyone an equal chance to grow,

Primient is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.

California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA")

The Company is committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and all data privacy and laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. We collect the following categories of personal information for the purpose of hiring the best qualified applicants and to comply with applicable employment laws: Name and contact information; Job preference and work availability; Social Security Number and/or other identification information; Education and qualifications; Employment history and experience; Military service; Reference and background check information, including relevant criminal history and credit history; Social media information; Pre-employment test results; Post-offer medical examination information and results, including drug test results; Voluntary self-disclosure information regarding minority, veteran, and disability status; and Information provided by you during the hiring process.