Geotechnical Laboratory Supervisor

Terracon Consultants, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Terracon is seeking a skilled Geotechnical Laboratory Supervisor to coordinate and manage a geotechnical laboratory. You will oversee testing (general and specialized), ensure safety and adherence to Terracon quality protocols, and lead or coordinate staff training and equipment maintenance.

The role involves ensuring timely lab outputs, supervising operations, and supporting proposals and cost estimates while maintaining high standards of safety and quality in laboratory work.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience performing laboratory tests on construction and geotechnical materials.
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history.
• Certification by qualified national, regional or state authorities (ACI, NICET, DOT) or inhouse certification in areas such as concrete, aggregates, soil and rock, or road and paving materials.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering technology or related field is preferred; 5 years’ experience; or a minimum of 9 years’ related experience in lieu of degree.

Responsibilities

• Provides supplemental operating policies and procedures unique to the laboratory to ensure that testing services are accomplished per Terracon’s quality protocol.
• Assists Department Management during proposals and cost estimates for laboratory testing services to properly scope services, manpower, and pricing.
• Ensures laboratory personnel are trained, supervised and equipped to ensure personal safety in the office and laboratory.
• Supervises or monitors laboratory activities to ensure work is on time and in accordance with client/project requirements and company policies.
• Ensures laboratory processes and personnel adhere to the Quality program and the Construction Materials Quality Management System (QMS).
• Evaluates performance of all employees and assists in their professional development.
• Oversees utilization of facilities/equipment and requests additional resources as needed to meet demand.
• Oversees calibration and maintenance of laboratory equipment and keeps the area clean and organized.
• Directly supervises administrative systems to ensure reports, proposals, and client information are prepared and reported.
• Plans, recruits and trains department staff in collaboration with the Department Manager.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree in engineering technology or related field

9 years’ related experience in lieu of degree

Job description

General Responsibilities:

Responsible for coordinating or managing the activities of a Geotechnical Laboratory (testing includes materials such as general testing (sample prep, moisture, atterbergs, percent passing no. 200, unconfined compressive strength, density, sieve analysis, density, hydrometer testing), and specialized testing (CBR, UU testing, CU Testing, Hydraulic Conductivity, swell testing, consolidation testing, direct shear testing). This includes ensuring that the laboratory testing services are conducted in a safe manner and consistent with company quality protocols, project requirements, and in a timely manner. Oversee or coordinate the training and utilization of laboratory staff. Oversee or coordinate the maintenance and cleanliness of the laboratory and testing equipment.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities:

Job Description

• Provides supplemental operating policies and procedures unique to the laboratory to ensure that the testing services are accomplished consistent with Terracon’s quality protocol and in an orderly and efficient manner.

• Assists Department Management during preparation of proposals and cost estimates for laboratory testing services to ensure a proper scoping of services, availability of manpower, and appropriate pricing to render a profit.

• Ensures that laboratory personnel are properly trained, supervised and equipped with the necessary tools and equipment to ensure their personal safety in the office and laboratory.

• With oversight from Department Management, supervises or monitors laboratory activities to ensure that the work is executed on time and in accordance with the client and project requirements and within company policies, procedures and standards.

• Ensures that laboratory processes and personnel adhere to the requirements of the company Quality program and the Construction Materials Quality Management System (QMS).

• Evaluates the performance of all employees within the laboratory and assists them in their professional development and growth, consistent with company policies and procedures.

• Supervises the efficient utilization of facilities and equipment assigned to his or her area and makes requests for additional equipment and facilities as needed to meet the client’s demands.

• Oversees calibration and maintenance of the laboratory equipment. Ensures the proper organization and appearance of the laboratory area for which he/she is responsible, including keeping the area and equipment clean and uncluttered.

• Provides assistance to the Department Manager, directs the short-range business development activities of laboratory personnel to ensure that adequate fees are available to support the manpower staffing levels.

• Directly supervises the administrative systems of the laboratory to ensure that reports, proposals, and information required to serve the client are properly prepared and reported.

• Ensures that laboratory personnel follow company administrative policies. Examples of such policies include, but are not limited to, time sheets, expense reports and purchase order requirements.

• With the assistance from the Department Manager, plans, recruits, selects and provides training for personnel in the department.

• Performs construction and geotechnical related laboratory testing. Develop understanding and be aware of project-related risk. Be familiar with what could go wrong on a project and how to protect the Company. Be familiar with company risk policies.

• Lead safety efforts for team and ensure team follows safety rules and guidelines. Responsible for creating and modeling a safe work environment; demonstrates safety practices. Promote pre-task planning for all projects.

• Promote continuous quality monitoring and improvement on projects. Monitor quality standards and practices. Engage APRs on projects at their onset.

Requirements:

Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Minimum 3 years’ experience performing laboratory tests on construction and geotechnical

• materials.

• Valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history.

• Certification by qualified national, regional or state authorities (ACI, NICET, DOT) or inhouse certification is required in areas such as concrete, aggregates, soil and rock, or road and paving materials.

Physical requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and smell. The employee is periodically required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 30 pounds, and periodically lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high, precarious places; outside weather conditions; extreme cold and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but will periodically be loud and require the use of hearing protection.

Overnight travel may be required of this position.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering technology or related field and 5 years’ experience

performing laboratory tests on construction and geotechnical materials.Or, in lieu of a

degree, a minimum of 9 years’ related experience.