QC Supervisor, Chemistry - Natural Alternatives International, Inc.

Since 1980, NAI has been a leader in nutritional health, bringing whole food-based supplements to a global population. NAI is a leading expert and manufacturer of dietary supplements. We are involved in every facet of the industry, including research, development, manufacturing and marketing and advocacy. As a company, we continue to grow with manufacturing locations in Vista and Carlsbad, CA. We are looking for seasoned and entry level candidates that are interested in working for a great company with opportunities to grow, competitive pay and benefits.

Benefits

• Free medical (one plan) and other medical plan options
• Dental, vision, life insurance and other voluntary benefit options.
• $1,000 Employee Referral Bonus
• 3 weeks’ vacation and 11 paid holidays
• 401K including company matching and profit sharing
• Opportunities for advancement
• Comprehensive training
• Tuition Reimbursement and more!

Summary

• Responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating routine and non-routine activities of the QC chemistry staff in support of operations, planning, production, R&D, QA and in full compliance with cGLP/cGMP regulations and NAI policies.

Responsibilities:

• Ensures all QC staff receive training in cGMPS, SOP’s, and company policies and as per associated JD curriculum.
• Writes, revises, and reviews QC SOPs.
• Develops and implements corrective actions to support continuous improvement activities in the company.
• Manages OOS notifications and investigations from contract laboratories.
• Oversee the day-to-day chemistry laboratory operations to ensure that production and R&D needs are met.
• Plan the daily and weekly work assignments of the chemistry analysts.
• Collaborate with the lab administrative team and the director to assign and revise testing priorities.
• Provides technical guidance to staff in the performance of all approved laboratory procedures.
• Review analyst work and notebook, prepare final reports. Ensure that proper record is kept both in printed and electronic forms. Ensure that accurate results are reported in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Evaluate and improve lab procedures.
• Performs out-of-specification (OOS) and out of trend (OOT) investigations.
• Communicate with other NAI departments about samples and projects status.
• Manage the qualification, validation and maintenance program for chemistry lab equipment.
• Assists with laboratory equipment maintenance and calibration programs, including troubleshooting efforts.
• Provide technical leadership for instruments such as HPLC, HPTLC, UPLC/MS, etc.
• Oversee the chemistry inventory to support effective lab operations.
• Communicate with contractors regarding lab equipment and with vendors regarding specialty consumables.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervise the QC chemistry staff to include hiring, training, scheduling, evaluating competency, mentoring, disciplining.
• Manage the training program for chemistry analysts regarding laboratory procedures, analytical instruments and testing methodologies.
• Ensure that adequate and up-to-date training records are kept for lab staff.
• Oversee a proficiency testing program to monitor the efficacy of the training program.
• Review staff performance, address deficiencies and perform annual review assessments.

Safety Responsibilities:

• Maintain a safe, organized and clean work environment in the chemistry lab.
• Assist in the management of NAI Chemical Control Program.
• Oversee the lab Chemical Hygiene Plan.
• Manage the lab hazardous material disposal program and oversee the proper disposal of all NAI wastes.
• Maintain an up-to-date inventory of hazardous materials with regulatory agencies.
• May act as a QC representative to the Safety committee.

Quality Responsibilities:

• Maintain cGLP and cGMP standards and ensure that all NAI procedures and policies are followed within the chemistry Lab
• Review and revise Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and other QC documents.
• Participate actively in audits (internal and external) and in remedial actions for any non-compliance observations made in the chemistry lab.

Other Responsibilities:

• Perform special projects as assigned by the QC Director.
• Perform duties of the QC Director in the absence of the Director.

Qualifications:

• Education: BA/BS, MS or Ph.D. degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years (BA/BS) or 4 years (MS) or 2 years (Ph.D.) of analytical chemistry in a cGLP/cGMP lab is a must. Preferably in the dietary supplement, food or pharmaceutical industry.
• Minimum 2 years supervisory/leadership experience.
• Requires strong analytical and technical troubleshooting skills, especially with chromatography instrumentation such as HPLC. Ability to investigate and resolve chromatographic, physical and wet chemical issues.
• Experience with Empower and Mass Lynx software preferred.

Additional Skills:

Decision Making

• Decisive, analytical, self-starter, excellent problem solving skills

Communication

• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively with staff, other NAI departments, contract labs, clients, vendors, service technicians, etc. Ability to write quality reports, SOPs and other work related documents.

Planning

• Ability to multi task and perform under stressful conditions

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop and kneel; talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and stand.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust and focus.
• Lifting requirement: Up to the maximum safety-recommended 50 pounds.

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable individuals with qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Work Environment

• QC Lab with various analytical instruments and various lab equipment, chemicals and solvents where PPE is required (lab coat, gloves and protective glasses). Also, computer workstation and climate-controlled office environment. May occasionally enter production areas where PPE might be required to prevent or lessen exposure to airborne-borne powdered nutritional supplement substances and/or prevent manufacturing materials from contamination.

NAI is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

Following a conditional offer of employment, satisfactory completion of a background check (including criminal records check) is required prior to beginning employment. Any offer of employment may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current NAI employee who was conditionally offered the position.