Laboratory Supervisor

Seeka Limited; Kerikeri; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full-time position

Insurance benefits

Collaborative environment

Skill development

Career growth in NZ business

Live in Northland

Job summary

VerifiedLab Services (VLS), a trading division of Seeka Limited in Kerikeri, New Zealand, is seeking an experienced Laboratory Supervisor to lead the laboratory team and ensure accurate, timely results within required standards.

The role focuses on technical leadership, quality systems, and efficient operations in a dynamic horticultural setting. Applicants must be based in New Zealand and able to work seasonal hours, including weekends if needed.

Qualifications

• General degree with the scholastic skills to analyse, evaluate and interpret information.
• 3-5 years' experience in a similar role, with highly relevant experience in a specific area of work.
• Experience working within horticulture or primary industry.
• Experience extracting useful information from data and translating it into actionable objectives.
• Experience producing accurate reports to set criteria.
• Experience using software and computer-based technology, including industry-specific programmes or similar platforms.
• Experience implementing company processes or policies.
• Experience working with and a good understanding of numerical or financial information.
• Experience effectively managing a team and following best-practice HR processes.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills.
• Ability and willingness to become and maintain Key Technical Person (KTP) accreditation, if required.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the day-to-day operations of the laboratory and helping ensure workflows and priorities are managed efficiently.
• Providing technical support to the seasonal laboratory team, including operating and maintaining laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Carrying out laboratory testing and monitoring as required, particularly during busy periods.
• Training and supporting seasonal laboratory supervisors and assistants to ensure technical requirements and operational standards are understood and maintained.
• Providing leadership, guidance and support to staff and assisting with the resolution of team issues.
• Supporting appropriate staffing levels and managing laboratory rosters to meet operational requirements.
• Supporting quality assurance, quality control and proficiency programmes within the laboratory.
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date laboratory documentation and ensuring information is communicated to the appropriate parties.
• Analysing and reporting data to identify opportunities to improve laboratory processes and operations.
• Contributing to improvement initiatives across laboratory programmes, operations and databases.
• Assisting the Lab Operations Manager with assigned projects, planning and budget activities.
• Supporting Health and Safety standards across the laboratory, including PPE compliance, hazard identification and incident and near-miss reporting.
• Providing proactive support to the Lab Operations Manager and undertaking other duties as reasonably required.

Skills

Leadership

Laboratory operations

Data analysis

Communication

Training

Education

General degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Laboratory instruments

Job description

VerifiedLab Services(VLS) provides high quality, timely and cost-efficientmaturity and technical services to our customers. VLS has been providinglaboratory services for kiwifruit for over 22 years. VLS is a trading division of Seeka Limited, New Zealand’s largest producer of kiwifruit.

At VLS weare nothing without the talents of our people; we are authentic, skilled andcurious, earning respect through our actions. Our inspirational people arepassionate, ambitious and demonstrate a passion for excellence andself-leadership.

We are looking for an experienced and technically minded LaboratorySupervisor to join our laboratory team in sunny Kerikeri. This is a greatopportunity to build your career in a dynamic horticultural environment whileenjoying the lifestyle of beautiful Northland.

Working closely with the Operations Manager, you'll providetechnical and operational support across the laboratory, helping ensurelaboratory outcomes are delivered accurately and within required timeframes. You'll also provide leadership and guidance to the laboratory team, supportquality systems and help ensure the laboratory operates efficiently and to therequired standards.

What you'll be doing:

• Supporting the day-to-day operations of thelaboratory and helping ensure workflows and priorities are managed efficiently
• Providing technical support to the seasonallaboratory team, including operating and maintaining laboratory instruments andequipment
• Carrying out laboratory testing and monitoringas required, particularly during busy periods
• Training and supporting seasonal laboratorysupervisors and assistants to ensure technical requirements and operationalstandards are understood and maintained
• Providing leadership, guidance and support tostaff and assisting with the resolution of team issues
• Supporting appropriate staffing levels andmanaging laboratory rosters to meet operational requirements
• Supporting the maintenance of IANZ, Zespri, MPI,industry and quality requirements and documented procedures
• Supporting quality assurance, quality controland proficiency programmes within the laboratory
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date laboratorydocumentation and ensuring information is communicated to the appropriateparties
• Analysing and reporting data to identifyopportunities to improve laboratory processes and operations
• Contributing to improvement initiatives acrosslaboratory programmes, operations and databases
• Assisting the Lab Operations Manager withassigned projects, planning and budget activities
• Supporting Health and Safety standards acrossthe laboratory, including PPE compliance, hazard identification and incidentand near-miss reporting
• Providing proactive support to the LabOperations Manager and undertaking other duties as reasonably required
• Due to seasonal demands within the widerbusiness, working within the team to test and report data may involve weekendand night work, as well as extended hours during the season

What you'll bring:

• Strong technical understanding and an ability towork confidently with laboratory equipment and processes
• Experience providing leadership, guidance andtraining to a team
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills,with the ability to use data to identify improvements
• Excellent communication and interpersonalskills, with the ability to work effectively with people at different levels
• Strong organisation, time management andprioritisation skills
• A flexible, adaptable and resilient approach toworking in a changing environment
• Good decision-making skills and the ability totake ownership of outcomes
• Strong written communication skills and theability to produce clear and accurate reports
• A proactive and collaborative approach, with astrong focus on achieving team outcomes
• A high level of professionalism, confidentialityand maturity

Qualifications and experience:

• General degree with the scholastic skills toanalyse, evaluate and interpret information
• 3-5 years' experience in a similar role, withhighly relevant experience in a specific area of work
• Experience working within horticulture orprimary industry
• Experience extracting useful information fromdata and translating it into actionable objectives
• Experience producing accurate reports to setcriteria
• Experience using software and computer-basedtechnology, including industry-specific programmes or similar platforms
• Experience implementing company processes orpolicies
• Experience working with and a good understandingof numerical or financial information
• Experience effectively managing a team andfollowing best-practice HR processes
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills
• Ability and willingness to become and maintainKey Technical Person (KTP) accreditation, if required

What we offer:

• Permanent full-time position
• Health, life and trauma insurance benefits
• Supportive and collaborative working environment
• Opportunity to develop your technical andleadership skills
• Opportunity to grow your career within a largeand successful New Zealand business
• The opportunity to work and live in beautifulNorthland

If you're an experienced laboratory professional who enjoysworking with people, solving problems and getting involved in the day-to-dayoperation of a busy laboratory, we'd love to hear from you!

Applicants must currently be living in New Zealand and holda valid work visa.