Analytical Chemistry Supervisor

Certified Group; Tustin (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Certified Group is seeking an Analytical Chemistry Supervisor to lead daily lab operations for nutraceutical and functional food testing. You will supervise staff, manage instruments, and optimize workflows to ensure timely, accurate results while upholding stringent quality standards.

This hands-on leadership role requires deep knowledge of analytical chemistry, GMP/ISO systems, and a commitment to safety and continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of laboratory experience, 3+ years instrumentation (LC/GC/ICP) experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Experience in high‑throughput analytical lab environments, preferably nutraceutical/functional foods.
• Familiarity with GMP, ISO quality systems, and lab operational processes.

Responsibilities

• Direct day-to-day activities of laboratory staff to ensure accurate, efficient testing per quality standards.
• Manage lab workflows, scheduling, and resources to meet turnaround targets.
• Oversee operation, maintenance, and use of lab instrumentation used in chemical testing.
• Monitor performance metrics and implement improvements for efficiency, accuracy, and throughput.
• Ensure safety and quality standards are met within lab procedures.
• Lead, mentor, and develop laboratory staff and recruit/train team members.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Analytical thinking

Communication

Problem solving

Multitasking

Instrumentation troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Tools

LIMS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Certified Group is committed to partnering with customers to deliver innovative scientific solutions and expertise – So The World Can Trust In What It Consumes™. Our network of 30+ North American and European laboratories serves the food & beverage, dietary supplements, cosmetics, OTC, tobacco/nicotine, cannabis, and hemp industries.

Our Brands

Certified Group is comprised of a set of specialized brands that collectively deliver laboratory testing, regulatory consulting, and certification & audit services across highly regulated industries:

• Certified Laboratories – Provides comprehensive analytical and microbiological testing, primarily supporting food, beverage, cosmetics, OTC, and dietary supplement industries.
• Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) – A leading network of ISO-accredited laboratories across North America, focused on food safety testing, operational support, and technical services for the food industry.
• Labstat – A global leader in contract research and testing for nicotine, tobacco, cannabis, hemp, and next-generation products, with deep expertise in analytical chemistry and toxicology.
• EAS Consulting Group – A regulatory consulting firm offering expert guidance, training, and auditing support across FDA, USDA, and other regulated sectors, powered by a large network of independent advisors.
• FSNS Certification & Audit – Provides accredited third-party auditing and certification services, including food safety, animal welfare, and GMP programs.

Position Overview:

The Analytical Chemistry Supervisor is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the laboratory to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of analytical results. This role oversees laboratory staff, instrumentation, and workflows supporting chemical testing for nutraceutical and functional food products.

The Analytical Chemistry Supervisor partners closely with the Lab Director to support operational strategy while ensuring laboratory activities meet quality, regulatory, and client expectations. The successful candidate is a proactive and resourceful leader who drives operational excellence, fosters innovation, and maintains a strong focus on client satisfaction and team development.

This role requires a hands-on leader who can balance technical oversight, staff management, and operational performance in a fast-paced testing environment.

Responsibilities:

Laboratory Operations

• Direct the day-to-day activities of laboratory staff, ensuring testing is performed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with quality standards and laboratory procedures.
• Manage laboratory workflows, scheduling, and resource allocation to meet turnaround time and productivity targets.
• Oversee the proper operation, maintenance, and utilization of laboratory instrumentation used in chemical testing.
• Monitor performance metrics and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and throughput.
• Ensuring safety and quality standards are consistently met within the laboratory safety and quality procedures.
• Promote a culture that inspires operational excellence.
• Proactively identifies operational bottlenecks and process gaps, establishing robust SOPs and streamlined workflows that prevent recurring errors.

Technical & Analytical Oversight

• Provide technical guidance and oversight for analytical chemistry testing performed within the laboratory.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex technical challenges, supporting root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Ensure analytical results consistently meet internal quality standards and external audit requirements.
• Maintain awareness of new technologies, instrumentation, and methodologies relevant to personal care testing.
• Demonstrates strong diagnostic skills to quickly isolate method or instrument issues and implement effective, compliant solutions.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure laboratory operations comply with ISO, GMP, and internal quality system requirements.
• Oversee execution of QA/QC programs, documentation practices, and laboratory procedures.
• Support the development and implementation of laboratory methods, SOPs, and policies.
• Participate in internal and external audits and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Serve as a technical resource for clients, providing scientific insight and guidance related to testing processes and results.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure testing programs meet client expectations for accuracy, reporting format, and turnaround time.
• Support strong client relationships by delivering reliable results and responsive communication.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Analyze laboratory operations and implement improvements that enhance productivity, turnaround time, and data quality.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, facilities, and workspaces to ensure operational efficiency and safety.
• Prepare operational reports and provide recommendations for strategic and operational improvements.
• Management of housekeeping schedule and cleanliness in lab.
• Lead, mentor, and develop laboratory staff to ensure strong technical capability and professional growth.
• Participate in recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance evaluations.
• Foster a collaborative, safety-focused, and innovative laboratory culture.
• Address performance issues and partner with HR on employee development and disciplinary processes when needed.
• Ability to motivate, reward and correct the activities and behavior of members of the team.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or a related scientific field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of laboratory experience, 3+ years of instrumentation (LC/GC/ICP) experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Experience working in a high-throughput analytical laboratory environment, preferably supporting nutraceutical and functional food products testing.
• Familiarity with GMP, ISO quality systems, and laboratory operational processes.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of laboratory instrumentation and analytical testing workflows.
• Strong method/instrumentation troubleshooting skills.
• Experience working with LIMS systems and laboratory data management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Utilizes statistical tools to track testing trends, perform standard deviation and recovery analyses, and maintain laboratory measurement accuracy.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and team development abilities.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking capabilities.
• Ability to build collaborative, trust-based relationships across teams.
• Must be able to work cooperatively in a team environment
• Organization of tasks to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work while under pressure and with various distractions.
• Strong ability to pivot quickly and reorganize daily tasks based on shifting business priorities and critical operational needs.
• Demonstrates a strong bias for action and rapid capability building—quickly assimilating complex workflows to deliver high-quality, timely outcomes in fast-paced operational environments.

Schedule: 8:00AM-5:00PM, Monday-Friday

The compensation details provided below reflect the expected pay range for this role, based on the selected compensation structure and applicable guidelines. Actual pay within this range may vary depending on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, and geographic location. Additional components of total rewards—such as bonuses, benefits, or incentives—may also apply where applicable.

Salary Range for Pay Transparency

$80,000 - $100,000 USD

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