Lab Coordinator

Gay Lea; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 52,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Retirement savings plan

Paid vacation

Other perks and opportunities

Job summary

Gay Lea Foods in Hamilton, Ontario is seeking a Lab Coordinator to oversee day-to-day operations of the R&D Analytical Laboratory and Pilot Plant, ensuring efficient execution of product development, testing, and innovation activities.

This role supports laboratory readiness, equipment maintenance, inventory management, sample coordination, documentation, and compliance while facilitating smooth execution of R&D projects and trials to full scale production.

Qualifications

• Minimum College diploma in Food Science/Food Technology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology.
• Valid G2 or G license with daily access to a car.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Work primarily on days, but must be able to work flexible hours based upon business needs.
• Understand federal and provincial Government Regulations.
• Knowledge of ingredients functionality and processes typically used in dairy.

Responsibilities

• Schedule daily laboratory and pilot plant activities to support R&D project timelines and priorities.
• Maintain laboratory readiness, GMP compliance, and safe working practices.
• Coordinate sample receiving, preparation, testing, storage, retention, and disposal activities.
• Support pilot plant and plant trial preparation and execution activities as required.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance, calibration, servicing, and repairs for laboratory and pilot plant equipment.
• Maintain equipment inventories, service records, and calibration schedules.
• Support installation, commissioning, and decommissioning of new laboratory and pilot plant equipment.
• Liaise with facilities teams, and internal stakeholders to resolve equipment and facility issues in a timely manner.
• Manage inventory of ingredients, chemicals, laboratory supplies, and office supplies.
• Coordinate purchasing activities and maintain appropriate stock levels to support project needs.
• Monitor ingredient shelf life and coordinate inventory rotation and disposal.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, regulatory, and internal requirements.
• Coordinate student schedules, resources usage, and support R&D projects.
• Ensure analytical testing, data collection, and reporting is complete and accurate.
• Support sensory evaluations, shelf-life studies, and external laboratory submissions.
• Up to 20% travel to plants or picking up supplies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Flexible hours

GMP awareness

Education

College diploma in Food Science/Food Technology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology

Tools

G2/G license with car

Job description

Job Description

Posted Monday, August 17, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Department: Research & Development

Reports to: Food Technologist Supervisor

Location : Onsite in Hamilton (R&D Centre)

The payrange for the role is $52,300 to $87,100 plus bonus, comprehensive benefits, retirement savings plan, paid vacation, and other perks and opportunities.

Purpose:

The Lab Coordinator reporting to Food Technologist Supervisor is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operations of the R&D Analytical Laboratory and Pilot Plant to ensure efficient execution of product development, testing, and innovation activities. This role supports laboratory readiness, equipment maintenance, inventory management, sample coordination, documentation, and compliance while facilitating smooth execution of R&D projects and trials to full scale production.

Key Responsibilities:

Laboratory Operations

• Schedule daily laboratory and pilot plant activities to support R&D project timelines and priorities.
• Maintain laboratory readiness, organization, GMP compliance, and safe working practices.
• Coordinate sample receiving, preparation, testing, storage, retention, and disposal activities.
• Support pilot plant and plant trial preparation and execution activities as required.

Equipment & Facility Coordination

• Coordinate preventive maintenance, calibration, servicing, and repairs for laboratory and pilot plant equipment.
• Maintain equipment inventories, service records, and calibration schedules.
• Support installation, commissioning, and decommissioning of new laboratory and pilot plant equipment.
• Liaise with facilities teams, and internal stakeholders to resolve equipment and facility issues in a timely manner.

Inventory & Procurement

• Manage inventory of ingredients, chemicals, laboratory supplies, and office supplies
• Coordinate purchasing activities and maintain appropriate stock levels to support project needs.
• Monitor ingredient shelf life and coordinate inventory rotation and disposal.

Documentation & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, regulatory, and internal requirements.

Project & Technical Support

• Coordinate student schedules, resources usage, and support R&D projects.
• Ensure analytical testing, data collection, and reporting is complete and accurate
• Support sensory evaluations, shelf-life studies, and external laboratory submissions.
• Up to 20% travel to plants or picking up supplies
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum College diploma in Food Science/Food Technology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology
• Valid G2 or G license with access to a car daily
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Work primarily on days, but must be able to work flexible hours based upon business needs
• Understand federal and provincial Government Regulations
• Knowledge of ingredients functionality and processes typically used in dairy

Gay Lea Foods is a Canadian, dairy farmer-owned co-operative with a clear purpose: to enrich life with dairy. Founded in 1958, the co-operative produces high-quality dairy products while creating lasting value for farming families, meaningful opportunities for employees, and positive impact in communities across Canada. As a co-operative, Gay Lea Foods believes that when the business succeeds, its members, people, and communities should succeed along with it. To learn more, visit gaylea.com .

Gay Lea Foods is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity in our workplace.

Reasonable accommodation is available upon request throughout our recruitment and selection process.

Gay Lea Foods may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support aspects of the recruitment process, including screening and assessment.

We are currently accepting applications for this open position.

Thank you for your interest in Gay Lea Foods.

Wishing you all the best with your career search!