Lab Coordinator

NMSU; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

New Mexico State University’s Food Safety Laboratory in Las Cruces, NM is seeking a Laboratory Coordinator to support operations, quality management, and growth of an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab. You will coordinate daily activities, testing schedules, and client service while ensuring compliance with procedures.

The role requires an Associate’s Degree plus 2 years of experience or a Bachelor’s degree, with a Master’s degree and QA/QC expertise preferred.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree plus 2 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree.
• Master’s degree in food science, microbiology, biology, or related field preferred.
• Experience with ISO/IEC 17025 quality management, lab accreditation, QA/QC programs preferred.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily operations of the NMSU Food Safety Laboratory, including sample processing, testing activities, workflow, and laboratory resources.
• Maintain and continually improve the ISO/IEC 17025 quality management system and ensure compliance with accreditation requirements.
• Coordinate QA/QC activities, doc control, recordkeeping, quality monitoring, corrective actions, and continual improvement.
• Support internal audits, external assessments, surveillance visits, proficiency testing, and other accreditation activities.
• Review laboratory documentation and testing records for accuracy, completeness, traceability, and compliance with procedures.
• Support development, revision, verification, validation, and implementation of laboratory methods, SOPs, and quality procedures.
• Perform and/or oversee food microbiology testing and related activities within the lab’s scope.
• Coordinate training and provide technical guidance to staff and students.
• Assist with equipment calibration, maintenance, verification, inventory, and documentation.
• Assist with sample receiving, accessioning, tracking, testing, reporting, and records management.
• Support laboratory safety, biosafety, and contamination-control practices.
• Assist with client services and research projects as needed.

Skills

Organizational skills

Analytical

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Associate's Degree + 2 years of relevant experience OR Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree in food science, microbiology, biology, or related field

ASQ CQA / CQIA or related certification (preferred)

ISO/IEC 17025 training or certification (preferred)

Tools

Laboratory information management systems (LIMS)

Job description

Department Contact: Luis Sabillon Galeas, 575-646-3936, [e-mail]

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Advertising Summary: The NMSU Food Safety Laboratory is seeking a Laboratory Coordinator to support the operation, quality management, and continued growth of an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited food safety testing laboratory. The position will coordinate laboratory activities and provide technical and quality assurance support for food microbiology testing, laboratory documentation, quality control, internal audits, corrective actions, and accreditation requirements. The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining and continually improving the laboratory’s ISO/IEC 17025 quality management system while supporting day-to-day laboratory operations, testing activities, personnel coordination, and client service. This position offers an opportunity to work in a dynamic, student-supported laboratory environment focused on food safety testing, research, and applied services for industry, government, and other stakeholders.

Position Details

PositionTitle: Lab Coordinator

College/Division: Agricultural Experiment Station

Department: 317775-BIO SECURITYAND FOOD SAFETY CENTER

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status:Exempt

Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Contingent Upon Funding:Not Applicable

Standard Work Schedule:Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule:

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate daily operations of the NMSU Food Safety Laboratory, including sample processing, testing activities, workflow, and laboratory resources.
• Maintain and continually improve the laboratory’s ISO/IEC 17025 quality management system and ensure compliance with accreditation requirements.
• Coordinate quality assurance and quality control activities, including document control, recordkeeping, quality monitoring, corrective actions, and continual improvement.
• Support internal audits, external assessments, surveillance visits, proficiency testing, and other laboratory accreditation activities.
• Review laboratory documentation and testing records to ensure accuracy, completeness, traceability, and compliance with established procedures.
• Support development, revision, verification, validation, and implementation of laboratory methods, SOPs, and quality procedures.
• Perform and/or oversee food microbiology testing and related laboratory activities within the laboratory’s scope of services.
• Coordinate training and provide technical guidance to laboratory personnel, students, and other staff on testing methods, quality requirements, and laboratory procedures.
• Support equipment calibration, maintenance, verification, inventory, and associated documentation.
• Assist with sample receiving, accessioning, tracking, testing, reporting, and records management.
• Support laboratory safety, biosafety, and contamination-control practices.
• Assist with client services, laboratory projects, research activities, and other operational needs of the Food Safety Laboratory.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:Associate's Degree + 2 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree.

Equivalent Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:Master’s degree in food science, microbiology, biology, or a closely related field; professional experience in a food, environmental, clinical, or other analytical laboratory; demonstrated experience with laboratory quality assurance and quality control programs; experience developing, implementing, maintaining, or continually improving an ISO/IEC 17025 quality management system; experience supporting laboratory accreditation, internal audits, external assessments, corrective actions, and proficiency testing; knowledge of food microbiology, microbiological testing methods, molecular methods, and laboratory quality control practices; experience with laboratory information management systems, technical documentation, equipment calibration, method verification/validation, and data review; experience training and supervising laboratory personnel, students, or technicians; and strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Special Certification/Licensure:Certification as a laboratory quality professional, such as ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA), or related credential, is preferred but not required. Formal training or certification in ISO/IEC 17025, laboratory auditing, quality management systems, food microbiology, biosafety, or related areas is also preferred. No specific professional license is required.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed indoors.

Physical Effort: Light physical effort. Effort applies to no more than two (2) hours per day.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions.