Environmental Laboratory Director

Spllabs; Conroe (TX); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

401(k) with company match

Life and AD&D insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Employee Assistance Program

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

SPL in Conroe, TX is seeking an experienced Laboratory Director to lead its full-service, accredited environmental laboratory.

You will oversee laboratory personnel, operations, quality systems, client service, and financial performance, ensuring safe, accurate, compliant, and efficient delivery of testing services. The role demands progressive leadership, team development, and data integrity, with a hybrid onsite schedule and occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, or related scientific discipline.
• 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in multi-level analytical lab operations within a NELAP-accredited lab.
• Working knowledge of TNI standards and Texas environmental regulatory requirements.
• Advanced knowledge of environmental laboratory instrumentation and analytical testing methodologies.
• Strong business and financial acumen including budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and profitability management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the laboratory’s strategic plan, priorities, and performance objectives.
• Lead laboratory managers and functional leaders; strengthen accountability and leadership development.
• Drive financial performance through budgeting, forecasting, pricing, profitability, and investments.
• Direct workforce, capacity, technology, facility, and service-expansion strategies.
• Maintain oversight of quality systems, accreditation, regulatory compliance, and risk.
• Shape market strategy, proposals, pricing decisions, and growth initiatives with leadership.
• Serve as executive contact for key clients, regulators, vendors, and partners.
• Lead organizational change and standardization initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Strategic planning

LIMS proficiency

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry/Biology/Environmental Science

Master's degree preferred

Tools

LIMS

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Description

At SPL, the work you do matters. Our teams provide trusted environmental testing and measurement solutions that protect communities, support critical infrastructure, and safeguard the environment. With a nationwide footprint and opportunities to grow across multiple locations and disciplines, SPL is a place where you can build a meaningful career and make a real-world impact.

We’re looking for an experienced and strategic Laboratory Director to lead SPL’s full-service, accredited environmental laboratory in Conroe, TX.

In this role, you’ll lead laboratory personnel, operations, quality systems, client service, and financial performance while ensuring safe, accurate, compliant, and efficient delivery of environmental laboratory services. The Conroe laboratory provides drinking water, wastewater, groundwater, soil, solid, sediment, waste-characterization, and environmental toxicology testing, including Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing and effluent biomonitoring. The ideal leader brings demonstrated progressive leadership experience and a strong record of developing teams, improving performance, and delivering reliable, defensible data.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute the laboratory’s strategic plan, annual operating priorities, and performance objectives
• Lead laboratory managers and functional leaders while strengthening accountability, succession planning, and leadership development
• Drive financial performance through effective budgeting, forecasting, pricing, profitability management, capital planning, and investment decisions
• Direct long-term workforce, capacity, technology, facility, and service-expansion strategies
• Establish and monitor performance expectations across safety, quality, compliance, turnaround time, client service, productivity, and financial results
• Maintain executive oversight of quality systems, accreditation, regulatory compliance, and operational risk
• Shape market strategy, major proposals, pricing decisions, and growth initiatives in partnership with business development and senior leadership
• Serve as an executive point of contact for key clients, regulatory stakeholders, vendors, and strategic partners
• Lead major organizational change, integration, standardization, and operational transformation initiatives
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, or a related scientific discipline; Master Degree in a related field preferred
• 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience managing multi-level analytical laboratory operations, personnel, resources, and performance objectives within a NELAP-accredited environmental laboratory
• Working knowledge of TNI standards and Texas environmental regulatory requirements
• Advanced knowledge of environmental laboratory instrumentation and analytical testing methodologies supporting water, wastewater, groundwater, soil, solids, sediment, waste characterization, environmental toxicology, WET testing, or related specialty services
• Strong business and financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, pricing strategy, capital planning, equipment investments, productivity, and profitability management
• Proven success developing organizational strategy, improving laboratory performance, optimizing processes, building high-performing teams, and leading organizational change
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation package
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Employer-paid life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• Paid time off, sick leave, and paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development support

Work Schedule & Travel

• Full-time, hybrid leadership position with regular onsite presence required
• Flexibility to work outside normal business hours as needed to support a laboratory operating 365 days a year, meet deadlines, or respond to time-sensitive operational needs
• Occasional travel may be required to support laboratory operations, training, audits, meetings, or other business-related activities

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

At SPL, we believe that a diverse team is a strong team. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive. We make all employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities or for sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable laws. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process, please let us know.

Visa Sponsorship

At this time, SPL is not able to offer visa sponsorship for this position. We sincerely appreciate your interest and understanding, and we encourage you to explore other opportunities with us that may be a fit in the future.