General Manager

Certified Group; Burbank (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Certified Group is seeking a General Manager for its Personal Care & Cosmetics laboratory in Burbank, CA. This role involves full responsibility for operations, financial performance, and compliance, within a GMP-regulated setting. The candidate should have over 10 years of leadership experience and deep expertise in analytical chemistry, particularly with chromatography.

The General Manager will drive business performance and ensure exceptional service, managing a high-performing team and fostering a culture of compliance and scientific rigor.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience in a GMP-regulated laboratory environment.
• Experience as a General Manager, Site Leader, or Laboratory Director.
• Demonstrated P&L ownership and financial management expertise.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall site strategy, performance, and growth initiatives.
• Own full site P&L, including revenue growth and margins.
• Ensure compliance with GMP and applicable regulatory standards.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Chromatography

Executive leadership

Financial management

GMP compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or related scientific field

Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D.) and/or MBA

Tools

HPLC

GC

LC-MS

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.

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 Summary

Certified Group is seeking a General Manager to lead its Personal Care & Cosmetics laboratory operations in Burbank, CA. This executive-level role carries full responsibility for site operations, financial performance, technical execution, and regulatory compliance.

The General Manager will drive business performance within a GMP-regulated environment, lead a high-performing technical and operational team, and ensure exceptional client service. This role holds full P&L ownership and is accountable for operational excellence, quality systems, employee engagement, and long-term strategic growth.

The ideal candidate brings strong business acumen and proven site leadership, combined with deep technical expertise in analytical chemistry—particularly near-expert knowledge of chromatographic operations. This individual must confidently guide technical decision-making, assess analytical challenges, and communicate risks, root causes, and solutions effectively.

Responsibilities

Strategic & Site Leadership

• Lead overall site strategy, performance, and growth initiatives
• Develop and execute annual operating and business plans
• Drive continuous improvement across operations, quality, and technical capabilities
• Serve as the senior escalation point for operational, technical, quality, and client issuesAlign site strategy with long-term growth across personal care, cosmetics, OTC, and regulated testing
• Integrate commercial priorities with operational execution and sound scientific judgment

Financial & Business Performance

• Own full site P&L, including revenue growth, margins, and EBITDA
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes
• Monitor KPIs such as utilization, turnaround time, productivity, and capacity
• Partner with commercial teams on client retention, pricing, and growth opportunities
• Support capital investments in instrumentation, automation, and infrastructure
• Evaluate financial performance in the context of laboratory operations and technical complexity

Quality & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure compliance with GMP and applicable regulatory standards
• Maintain inspection readiness and lead audits (regulatory and client)
• Champion data integrity, documentation, and quality system effectiveness
• Ensure methods are scientifically sound and properly validated/verified
• Oversee investigations (OOS/OOT, deviations, CAPA) and technical issue resolution
• Lead in complex technical scenarios involving chromatography, method performance, and data quality
• Foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and scientific rigor

Operational Management

• Oversee laboratory functions including Chemistry, Microbiology, Stability, and Sample Management
• Align staffing and resources to meet operational and business needs
• Optimize workflows to improve efficiency, turnaround time, and quality
• Ensure proper equipment, methods, training, and controls are in place
• Drive improvements in instrument utilization, sample flow, and cross-functional coordination
• Support expansion of technical capabilities (e.g., LC, GC, wet chemistry)
• Maintain strong technical oversight of chromatography-driven operations

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead and develop a cross-functional leadership team
• Build a high-performance, accountable, and engaged culture
• Drive succession planning and talent development initiatives
• Promote safety, collaboration, and continuous learning
• Mentor teams in technical problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision-making
• Ensure strong competency in analytical chemistry, chromatography, and GMP practices
• Establish high standards for analytical rigor and data-driven decisions

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or related scientific field (required)
• Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D.) and/or MBA (preferred)

Experience

• 10+ years of leadership experience in a GMP-regulated laboratory environment
• Experience as a General Manager, Site Leader, Laboratory Director, or similar role
• Demonstrated P&L ownership and financial management expertise
• Proven experience with regulatory inspections and client audits
• Background in personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, biotech, OTC, or contract lab services (preferred)
• Strong experience leading analytical chemistry operations, including chromatography and wet chemistry
• Deep technical expertise in chromatographic systems (HPLC, UPLC, GC, GC-MS, LC-MS, LC-MS/MS)
• Proven ability to troubleshoot, interpret data, and lead root cause investigations
• Strong foundation in classical/wet chemistry techniques

Core Competencies

• Executive leadership and strategic thinking
• Financial and operational acumen
• Deep knowledge of GMP quality systems
• Advanced expertise in analytical chemistry and chromatography
• Strong technical judgment and problem-solving ability
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly
• Client-focused mindset
• Change leadership and organizational development
• Executive presence and strong communication skills

Salary Range for Pay Transparency

$180,000 - $215,000 USD

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and make employment decisions without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law.