Laboratory Director - Element Materials Technology

Element has an opportunity for a Laboratory Director in our Santa Fe Springs, CA laboratory. In this role, you will be responsible for driving operational excellence, fostering colleague engagement, and delighting our customers. Reporting to the Division Director, you will work closely with laboratory staff, quality teams, and support functions to ensure we deliver on customer commitments while creating a safe and efficient work environment.

The pay range for this position is set between $200-$250k + Management Bonus Plan, but will vary depending on the background of the candidate. 

Responsibilities:

• Lead and inspire a culture of safety first
• Responsible and accountable to drive and deliver to annual Operational Plan commitments including: revenues, profit, working capital, and operational performance
• Responsible to work with location support functions and systems including QA, Safety and Health, Sales and Strategic Accounts, Finance, Human resources, Business Improvement, and Operational Excellence
• Work with quality leaders to improve processes, compliance, and integrity of data
• Develop and execute short and long term business plans and strategies to include operational goals, equipment needs, and staffing for the location
• Capacity planning in core service areas
• Customer engagement, focusing on customer retention, conflict resolution, and growth alignment
• Drive accountability and timely completion of needed tasks to accomplish lab goals
• Provide managerial guidance to staff on reporting needs and requirements
• Prepare and submit accurate forecasts as required, maintain acceptable levels of working capital, and determine and execute on corrective actions necessary to achieve plan goals
• Provide guidance, direction, and developmental opportunities that allow staff talents to be identified and groomed
• Provide positive leadership and representation of Element to the public, customers, vendors, and to all employees through membership in professional organizations, serving on Company Task Forces, conducting employee meetings, and visiting work areas
• Ensure compliance with all Element policies including but not limited to Terms and Conditions, trade compliance, treatment of others, and the moral code of conduct
• Ensure adherence to all local, state, and federal laws pertaining to safety, environment, and corporate governance
• Fully accountable and ultimately responsible for all hired personnel dedicated to the location
• Work with assigned staff to ensure work schedules are maintained and balanced
• Maintain an environment of respect and dignity within the location covering employee interactions and problem solving while ensuring work rules are known and followed

• Working knowledge of laboratory safety
• A bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) from an accredited 4-year college or university in chemistry or science discipline. Advanced degree preferred
• A minimum of 10 years of pharmaceutical experience, with exposure to analytical testing, stability, extractables and leachables, and biologics.
• A minimum of 10 years related experience managing an enterprise with at least 40-50 employees with 3-6 subordinate exempt level managers / supervisors over multiple shifts
• Understands that all functions within the lab fall under his/her/their direct purview
• Technical leadership is vital to the production and operation of assigned tests and to the overall operation of the entire lab
• Must possess a strong ability to communicate (written and oral) effectively with clients and colleagues with great attention to detail and timing of results
• Ability to organize the lab as a whole in line with the strategic, operational, and technical goals of the entire company
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills to effectively establish and maintain two-way communications to understand the needs and concerns of all departments
• Ability to effectively provide managerial guidance to all staff on all functions within the lab
• Ability to deeply analyse and resolve operational, finance, and other significant business issues on a daily basis
• Proven track record of success with regard to managerial, technical, and operational competency both inside and outside of the lab

#LI-TK1

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’.

When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.

While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) 

“If you need an accommodation filling out an application, or applying to a job,  please email Recruitment@element.com”