Americas Lab Capabilities Lead

Barry Callebaut Manufacturing Iberica SA.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Paid time off

Workplace flexibility

Professional growth

Diversity & Inclusion

Job summary

Barry Callebaut is seeking a Regional Laboratory Capabilities Lead to drive strategic vision and oversee operational excellence for all NA laboratory functions (Canada, USA, Mexico). You will optimize capabilities, drive process improvements, and ensure compliance with food safety, quality, regulatory and EHS standards.

The role demands leadership in audits, cross-functional collaboration, and implementation of systems like SAP, QNECT, OPUS NIR, and LIMS across sites, with travel across the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s and/or Master’s in Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry or Food Science
• Hands-on laboratory testing experience
• Experience leading food testing laboratories
• Experience leading external audits
• ISO 17025 Laboratory Management System and Audit Systems preferred
• Willingness to travel regionally (approx. 30–50%)

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute audits of internal and external microbiology and analytical labs per ISO17025, GLP, and internal standards
• Manage CAPA and report audit data; oversee audit program performance
• Develop and implement regional lab strategy aligned with corporate objectives
• Standardize lab processes and optimize workflows across the North America region
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality regulations and lab protocols across labs
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with QA, R&D, Operations and suppliers
• Develop training programs for lab personnel and monitoring KPIs to improve performance
• Lead regional lab projects from conception to delivery and manage budgeting

Skills

Lab management

Audit management

Data analysis

Leadership

Statistical knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or Food Science

Tools

SAP

QNECT

OPUS NIR

Rheometer

LIMS

APOLLO

Job description

At Barry Callebaut, we are on a journey to transform the cocoa and chocolate industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, our actions truly shape the future of our industry. We are a business-to-business company, serving the entire food sector, from the cocoa bean to the finest chocolate product. We are a company with a purpose, we believe in doing well by doing good and reinvesting in the communities we operate. We have a long-standing commitment to sustainability and our goal is to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future. We are headquartered in Zurich, and have more than 12,000 passionate Employees working in more than 40 countries worldwide. We are very proud of who we are and what we do. And of course, we are always looking for talented people to help us have a positive impact on our industry and beyond!

About the role:

Barry Callebaut is a global organization poised for growth; a company that has embraced the vision to delight its customers while out-performing its competitors, a business that is committed to sustainability, has innovation in its DNA, is a leader in complex manufacturing and supply chain solutions and is focused on being a best-in-class employer. Barry Callebaut seeks diverse and passionate people who thrive in a dynamic environment, focused on continuous learning, living BC’s Values, and of course, loving chocolate.

The Regional Laboratory Capabilities Lead is responsible for driving the strategic vision and overseeing the operational excellence of all laboratory functions across the North America region (Canada, USA, Mexico). He/she needs to develop and implement long-term initiatives at optimizing laboratory capabilities, driving process improvements, fostering innovation in testing, analysis and laboratory management while ensuring compliance to food safety, quality, regulatory and EHS standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lab Audits: plan and execute physical audits of internal and external microbiology labs in the region according to audit plan, and subsequently coverage will be extended to analytical labs. Audits should are based on ISO17025 requirements and GLP and BC internal auditing standards.
• Audit Management & CAPA Follow-up: ensure follow-up and closure of audit findings through effective CAPA management, consolidate and report audit data, and maintain overall oversight of the audit program performance
• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement the regional laboratory strategy aligned with corporate objectives, driving operational efficiency, innovation and continuous improvement across all laboratory functions.
• Laboratory Optimization: Lead initiatives to standardize micro, physical and chemical laboratory processes, optimize workflows and enhance data management systems to ensure consistent and reliable results across the region.
• Lab Quality and Compliance Management: Ensure that all approved laboratories in the region (external and internal) operate in full compliance with industry regulations, safety standards and quality protocols. Establish and lead laboratory audits, global ring tests and performance evaluations. Oversees regular review of corrective action plans to ensure effective implementation across all local laboratories in the region.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with key stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, Global Quality, R&D, operations and quality assurance teams to integrate laboratory efforts into broader business strategies and continuous improvement initiatives. Acts as a liaison between laboratory operations and senior leadership, providing updates and recommendations for regional improvements aligned with organizational goals
• Talent Development: Build and align training programmes for laboratory personnel, supporting laboratory managers to ensure high standards of performance, technical expertise and compliance with qualifications and certifications.
• Performance Monitoring and Reporting: Implement key performance indicators (KPIs) to track and assess lab performance, using data driven insights to drive decision making and improve laboratory operations
• Project Management: Lead regional laboratory projects from conception to implementation, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and timely delivery of results.
• Cost Management: Optimize laboratory resource allocation and budgeting, identifying opportunities for cost savings while maintaining high levels of operational efficiency and service quality.
• Power User: Oversee and coordinate implementation of laboratory quality and data management systems such as SAP, QNECT, OPUS NIR, Rheometer, LIMs and APOLLO. This includes guiding the local sites on the initial set up and regular reviews of the system usage by the local sites.
• Subject Matter Expert: Technical expert for microbiological and analytical testing programmes, laboratory safety and maintenance. Provides guidance and support to local sites when additional troubleshooting is required. Leads lab related discussions and provides explanations/statements when there are queries from customers, internal QA and non-QA department that are out of the capability of the local sites.
• Basic statistics: Understand statistics and lab analytics related statistical terms such as Repeatability/reproducibility/Measurement Uncertainty/Variance/etc.
• Promote Quality & Continuous Improvement Culture in Laboratories: Recognize good laboratory practices and personnel. Promote and share good laboratory culture and improvement programmes.
• Innovation and Technology Integration: Champion the adoption of new technologies and methodologies, driving laboratory modernization efforts to stay ahead of industry trends and maintain a competitive edge.

About you:

• Bachelors and/or Master’s Degree in Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or Food Science or equivalent
• Hands on laboratory testing experience.
• Experience in leading and managing food testing laboratories.
• Experience in leading external audits
• Formal training and certification in ISO 17025 Laboratory Management System and Laboratory Audit Systems preferred.
• Strong laboratory management and data analysis skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, analytical ability, leadership strengths and ability to work effectively with a team.
• Willingness to travel within the region on a regular basis (approx. 30%), with flexibility to increase travel up to 50% during initial rollout and peak audit periods.

What you can expect from Barry Callebaut:

Competitive salary ($110 - $125K based on experience and geographic location) and comprehensive benefits package

Paid time off, plus generous holiday time

Environment that welcomes workplace flexibility

Ability to grow personally and professionally within an organization that values development and internal career growth

Be part of our mission in making sustainability the norm through Forever Chocolate with priorities centered around prospering farmers, zero child labor, carbon and forest positive, and creating 100% sustainable ingredients in all of our products.

At Barry Callebaut, we are committed to Diversity & Inclusion. United by our strong values, we thrive on the diversity of who we are, where we come from, what we’ve experienced and how we think. We are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment where people can truly be themselves, grow to their full potential and feel they belong.

We encourage you to learn more about Barry Callebaut and to share your feedback. https://www.barrycallebaut.com