Manager - Operations

CJ3 Environmental Science, LLC; Mount Juliet (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental vision

401K retirement savings

Job summary

Pace is seeking an Organics Operations Manager to lead the Organics Laboratory. You will oversee production workflows, instrumentation, quality performance and EPA compliance to deliver accurate data.

Responsibilities include staffing, scheduling, budgeting, and cross-functional collaboration to drive operational excellence and customer satisfaction. Strong leadership in a high-volume lab is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, environmental science, or closely related field and 5 years experience; 3 years supervision preferred.
• Experience managing environmental organics testing operations and high-volume laboratory production workflows.

Responsibilities

• Manage staff hiring, training, development and engagement.
• Oversee schedules, services, results and functional programs to achieve operational results.
• Provide oversight of organics testing activities and instrumentation.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and defensible analytical results as per EPA methodologies.
• Monitor metrics and ensure customer satisfaction and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Organics testing

LIMS

VOC/SVOC analysis

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

GC/FID

GC/MS

LC-MS/MS

Job description

Shift: Monday 8A-5P

Are you ready to work making the world a safer, healthier place? Join our mission to continuously move science forward; to innovate and advance all aspects of our business to improve the health and safety of our communities and lives.

Excited to grow your career? We value our talented team, and whenever possible, strive to help one of our employees grow professionally before recruiting new talent to our open positions.

Our people make all the difference in our success. Make an Impact. Build a Career. At Pace®, everything we do is built upon an unwavering commitment to making the world a safer, healthier place.

Since 1978, we’ve continued developing innovative practices that drive sustainability and empower our partners with accurate quality data at every critical moment and milestone. That's why we need you—your curiosity, your talents, and your drive—to help us advance this important work, and your career.

We’re seeking curious, motivated individuals who are passionate about protecting our environment and the communities we serve. If you’re looking to develop your skills, contribute to meaningful scientific work, and build a long‑term career in environmental science, Pace® could be the perfect place for you.

Responsible for managing the development and implementation of laboratory services, programs, policies, and procedures from a functional and technical perspective, including validating and auditing results, scheduling services, and resolving service and customer concerns for the entire department. This position provides advanced professional assistance to management staff and serves as a leader within the Organics Laboratory. Areas are typically varied and intermediate to complex in nature. The Organics Operations Manager provides oversight of environmental organic chemistry testing operations, including laboratory production workflows, analytical instrumentation, quality performance, and regulatory compliance associated with EPA methodologies and accredited laboratory practices. The role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of accurate, timely, and defensible analytical data while supporting operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Manages staff including hiring, training, development and engagement of self and team members, evaluating performance, providing compensation recommendations, and performance management. Manages implementation and oversight of schedules, services, results and related functional programs to achieve desired operational results; aligns leadership and resources required and ensures effective administration. Provides input and advice regarding developing and aligning strategies and programs to manage laboratory operations, policies and procedures for the function, group or area. Provides operational and technical oversight of environmental, extractable organic chemistry testing activities, ensuring accurate, timely and defensible analytical results. Supports laboratory operations involving organic analytical methods and instrumentation, including GC/FID, GC/ECD, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, LC/MS/MS and related technologies.Monitors laboratory production metrics, turnaround times, quality objectives and resource utilization to ensure customer expectations and business goals are achieved. Collaborates with Quality Assurance and technical leadership to maintain compliance with EPA methodologies and other applicable accreditation requirements. Manages and participates in operational, instrumentation and equipment reviews; assists with ensuring compliance with federal, state, local and institutional standards, regulations and policies. Provides observations and recommendations to leadership for improvement of organizational policies, procedures and practices related to laboratory operations. Manages expectations of leaders, managers, staff and operations; facilitates communication on customer needs and business requirements and establishes performance metrics. Resolves escalated, technical or sensitive customer and operational issues; works with internal groups and external agencies as needed and oversees successful resolution. Manages departmental budgets including allocating resources and approving expenditures. Oversees or participates in special projects by identifying company, department, customer or service priorities; communicates, coordinates and evaluates results. Maintains knowledge of laboratory regulations, industry trends, current practices, new developments, applicable laws and related legislation. Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of departmental services by offering recommendations and participating as an active member of the leadership team. Promotes and supports the overall mission of Pace® by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with customers and staff and fostering a positive workplace culture.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, environmental science, or a closely related field; AND five (5) years of experience, typically has experience as a lead or supervisor; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Three (3) years of supervisory experience is strongly preferred. Experience managing environmental organics testing operations and high-volume laboratory production workflows is preferred.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Comprehensive principles, practices and techniques of lab, services or field areas, such as biology or chemistry.
• Understanding of the development and implementation of area programs, policies and procedures.
• Principles and practices of developing teams, motivating employees and managing in a team environment.
• Basic principles and practices of budget development and administration.
• Applicable lab, services, or field laws, codes and regulations.
• Computer applications and systems related to the work.
• Understanding of dealing with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, occasionally where relations may be confrontational or strained.
• Principles and techniques of providing effective oral presentations.
• Principles and practices of program planning, development and evaluation.
• Principles and techniques of making effective oral presentations.
• Correct business English, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Required Skills

• Performing comprehensive professional-level lab, services or field duties in a variety of assigned areas.
• Overseeing and administering comprehensive and varied area functions.
• Supervising and evaluating employees and providing related recommendations.
• Training others in policies and procedures related to the work.
• Applying more standard business and project management methodologies with a focus on implementing plans to achieve goals.
• Developing effective work teams and motivating individuals to meet goals and objectives and provide customer services in the most cost effective and efficient manner.
• Interpreting, applying and explaining applicable laws, codes and regulations.
• Providing consulting services to supervisors and staff.
• Preparing functionals reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Using initiative and independent judgment within established organizational and department guidelines.
• Using tact, discretion and prudence in working with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Performing effective oral presentations to large and small groups across functional peers and the department.
• Contributing effectively to the accomplishment of team or work unit goals, objectives and activities.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of individuals contacted in the course of the work.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Leadership experience within an environmental testing laboratory.
• Experience overseeing organics testing operations, including VOCs, SVOCs, pesticides, herbicides, or related environmental analyses.
• Experience managing high-volume production laboratories and laboratory performance metrics.
• Experience working with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Experience leading continuous improvement or operational excellence initiatives.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Mobility to work in a lab and office setting, use standard office and lab equipment and stamina to sit for extended periods of time; exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or move objects; vision to read printed materials and computer screens; and hearing and speech to communicate in person or over the telephone.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in lab, office and field settings. Work is subject to exposure to blood or bodily fluids, chemicals, fumes, gasses, noxious odors and related items in a lab and environmental setting. Work can also be subject to travel. Please note that you must be in your current position for a minimum of 6 months to be eligible to apply for other internal positions.

Benefits

When you join Pace®, you commit to work that makes a positive impact on our communities and our world. We commit to supporting you with benefits and perks that make a positive impact on your life.

• competitive salaries
• medical
• dental vision
• 401K retirement savings plan (100% vested immediately in the employer match)
• life
• disability
• voluntary benefits
• paid time off for holiday, sick and vacation days
• HSA
• wellness program
• flexible spending accounts
• tuition reimbursement
• Employee Assistance program
• parental leave
• optional legal coverage and ID theft

Equal Opportunity Employer

Pace® provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, creed, color, religion, genetics, protected veteran status, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Find Your Place at Pace - We need you - your curiosity, your talents, and your drive - to help us advance this important work.

Pace® makes the world a safer, healthier place. We partner with clients to provide the service, science, and laboratory data needed to make critical decisions that benefit us all. Through a nationwide laboratory network, Pace® advances the science of businesses, industries, consulting firms, government agencies, and others. More at PACELABS.com.