Quality Control Laboratory Leader

Novonesis; Valinhos; On-site; BRL 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Novonesis in Valinhos, Brazil, seeks a Group Leader to head the Quality Control Laboratory team. You will ensure proper execution of tests, align with production schedules, and deliver high-quality results.

You will lead a culture of trust and continuous improvement, develop the team, and collaborate with QA, regulatory, planning and supply chain to meet safety, data integrity and quality standards while traveling as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, or related field.
• Advanced English communication and reading proficiency required.
• Active or in-progress CRQ registration.
• Experience in laboratory analyses (physicochemical and/or microbiological), preferably in Quality Control laboratories.
• Experience managing teams.
• Strong communication to align with stakeholders locally and globally.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organization, proactivity, and commitment to deadlines and quality.
• Ability to make decisions, set priorities, and act with urgency.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational performance of the laboratory team, ensuring tests are conducted properly and in line with protocols and production schedules.
• Plan and coordinate the laboratory’s routine to ensure timely delivery of results.
• Monitor performance indicators and mitigate risks.
• Identify development opportunities within the team and support company values.
• Coordinate and participate in local implementation of new methodologies from global teams.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and quality standards.
• Train the local team to operate the laboratory effectively.
• Interpret results and prepare detailed reports.
• Lead continuous improvement and productivity initiatives.
• Participate in audits and provide technical support in the lab area.
• Collaborate with colleagues across regions to share learnings and align efforts.
• Promote collaboration with stakeholders in Production, QA, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, Planning, and other functions.
• Ensure speed does not compromise quality, data integrity, safety, or compliance.
• Travel nationally and internationally as required.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, or a related field

Advanced English communication

Lab analyses experience (physicochemical/microbiological)

Team management

Stakeholder communication

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Decision making

Job description

Interested in a career that matters?

This position leads a Quality Control Laboratory team in Valinhos, São Paulo, ensuring the efficient execution of laboratory activities, proper operational planning, and timely delivery of high-quality results. The role works closely with Production, Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, Planning, and other business partners to maintain operational excellence while meeting regulatory, safety, data integrity, and quality requirements.

The Role & Your Impact

As Group Leader, you will combine technical expertise with inspiring people leadership. You will create an environment built on trust, collaboration, accountability, and commitment to deadlines and quality.

Your leadership will be essential to ensuring that the team understands and lives the company culture in its daily work, remains engaged in continuous improvement initiatives, and has opportunities to develop and grow. By enabling the team to deliver consistent and sustainable results, you will contribute directly to the reliability and agility of the Quality Control Laboratory.

Your Key Responsibilities in this role:

• Lead the operational performance of the assigned laboratory team, ensuring that laboratory tests are conducted properly, efficiently, and in accordance with official company protocols and production schedules;
• Plan and coordinate the laboratory’s operational routine, ensuring timely and reliable delivery of results;
• Monitor operational and team performance indicators, taking proactive action to mitigate risks and remove obstacles;
• Identify development opportunities within the team and support the consistent application of company values and expectations;
• Coordinate and actively participate in the local implementation of new methodologies developed by global teams, as well as in the optimization of methods applicable to the area;
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, procedures, and company quality standards;
• Ensure that the local team is appropriately trained to operate the laboratory effectively;
• Interpret laboratory results and prepare detailed technical reports when required;
• Lead continuous improvement, process simplification, and productivity initiatives;
• Participate in internal and external audits, providing technical support related to the laboratory area;
• Collaborate regularly with colleagues from different regions, sharing learnings and ensuring alignment across teams;
• Promote effective collaboration with local stakeholders in Production, Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, Planning, and other business functions;
• Ensure that operational speed never compromises quality, data integrity, employee safety, or regulatory compliance;
• Travel nationally and internationally when required.

What you'll need to be successful in this role:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, or a related field;
• Advanced English communication and reading proficiency;
• Active or in-progress CRQ registration;
• Experience in laboratory analyses, including physicochemical and/or microbiological testing, preferably in Quality Control laboratories;
• Experience managing teams;
• Strong communication skills to ensure effective alignment and relationships with stakeholders across the organization, both locally and globally;
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills;
• Strong organization, proactivity, and commitment to deadlines and quality;
• High attention to detail, strong time-management skills, and the ability to solve diverse technical and operational problems;
• Ability to make decisions, set priorities, and act with a sense of urgency;
• Availability for occasional national and international travel, including work on weekends when required;
• Availability to work on-site in Valinhos, PR, from Monday to Friday, 07h30 to 16h30, with occasional weekend activities.

Additional Skills & Interests We Value:

• A proven track record of developing talent and building engaged teams;
• Excellent ability to communicate and influence at different levels of the organization;
• Strong stakeholder management and collaboration skills;
• A resilient, collaborative, and solution-oriented mindset;
• A continuous improvement and simplification mindset;The ability to balance operational excellence, people development, and focus on internal customers and business needs.

Our purpose guides the way

In Novonesis, we know that solutions rooted in biology can help solve humanity's biggest challenges. Since we began more than a century ago, this has been our guide. It's how we've gotten so far. And it's how we'll impact the future. Now, more than ever, the world needs change. And with biosolutions, the possibilities for transformation are endless.

Opportunities for everyone

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and equal opportunity for all applicants.

We make all employment decisions based on business needs and welcome candidates with a wide range of backgrounds, including ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.