Quality Assurance Director - Laboratories

Onterris Payroll, LLC; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Job summary

Onterris Payroll, LLC is seeking a Quality Assurance Director to lead QA across the Orange Laboratory operations. You will oversee the Quality Management System, support accreditation efforts, and drive continuous improvement to ensure data integrity and compliance with regulatory standards.

You will mentor staff, manage internal and external audits, and partner with laboratory leadership to elevate performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, environmental science, or related field; master's degree preferred (aligning with TNI requirements).
• Minimum five (5) years of QA experience in an environmental laboratory, including at least two (2) years in a leadership role.

Responsibilities

• Lead the quality assurance team by fostering a culture of responsiveness, leadership, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor staff to enhance performance and support professional growth.
• Partner with laboratory leadership to identify inefficiencies and implement solutions.
• Oversee QA/QC and data integrity improvement activities.
• Plan, conduct, and document internal audits and external audits with third-party assessors.

Skills

Leadership

QA Management

Regulatory compliance

TNI/EPA knowledge

Data integrity

Audits

LIMS

Statistical analysis

Education

Bachelor's in chemistry/environmental science

Master's degree preferred

Tools

LIMS

Job description

About UsAt Onterris, we build careers grounded in purpose, responsibility and real-world impact. "For Planet and Progress" is our north star that guides everything we do. We believe environmental responsibility and human progress are interconnected, interwoven and international. Our scientists, engineers, field teams, consultants and professionals collaborate across disciplines and geographies, guiding industries and governments, ensuring that communities and environments thrive. When you join us, you're not just forging a career, you're joining a movement. A movement for better thinking, smarter solutions and lasting impact. Together, we will advance our way of life and protect the integrity of our environment every step of the way.

A Day in the LifeLead quality. Elevate performance. Create impact. As a Quality Assurance Director, you'll champion quality across our Orange Laboratory operations. In this influential leadership role, you'll oversee the Quality Management System for designated laboratories and service centers, support accreditation and compliance efforts, drive continuous improvement, and serve as a trusted partner to operational teams. You'll lead the strategies and systems that uphold our standards, strengthen our processes, and ensure confidence in every result we deliver within your area of responsibility. With deep expertise in laboratory quality and regulatory requirements, you'll help shape a culture where excellence is expected and continuous improvement never stops.

The compensation range for this role is $100K - $120K, in addition to an annual bonus of 8%, commensurate with experience, skills, and geographic location.

Responsibilities

• Leading the quality assurance team by fostering a culture of responsiveness, leadership, and continuous improvement.
• Mentoring and guiding staff to enhance performance and support their professional growth.
• Partnering with the laboratory director and operations managers to identify inefficiencies and implement solutions.
• Leading cross-functional change initiatives to optimize processes.
• Dedication to upholding the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism, ensuring confidentiality and discretion when handling sensitive company, personnel, and client information.
• Strategically managing laboratory accreditations, monitor regulatory updates, and maintain relationship with accrediting bodies while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., TNI).
• Supervising proficiency testing, evaluating results, and developing corrective actions for any identified failures.
• Resolving non-conformances promptly.
• Overseeing the laboratory's QA/QC and data integrity improvement activities.
• Ensuring standard operating procedures are accurate, well-organized, technically sound, aligned with operational goals, and compliant with applicable guidelines.
• Overseeing personnel training records (e.g., demonstration of capability), ensuring completion, documentation, evaluation for improvements while meeting accreditation requirements.
• Managing non-conformances, corrective actions, and preventative actions by utilizing root cause analysis tools to document, resolve, monitor outcomes effectively to prevent reoccurrences.
• Collaborating with the laboratory team to evaluate and implement efficiency, accuracy, and safety improvements.
• Leading the development and execution of operational goals, efficiency plans, and enhancing the QA program and the QA Manual by integrating best practices such as statistical control and risk-based approaches.
• Developing and delivering QA/QC training to engage staff and promote compliance with ethical standards.
• Documenting validations of new test and measurement services.
• Planning, conducting, and documenting internal audits, data assessments, and external audits with third-party assessors, clients, and accrediting bodies.
• Addressing deficiencies and providing actionable insights to laboratory leadership while planning, implementing, and addressing corrective actions. All findings must be addressed to promptly respond to assessors.
• Developing and monitoring QA performance indicators, reporting findings to management, and identifying improvement areas.
• Completing standard reporting requirements and ensuring compliance with health and safety plans to promote and maintain a secure working environment.
• Taking on additional responsibilities as needed to support QA department and laboratory success.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, environmental science, or related field; master's degree preferred (aligning with TNI requirements).
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant QA experience in an environmental laboratory, with at least of two (2) years of in a leadership role such as Group Leader, Project Manager, or comparable experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job.
• At least 2 years in a supervisory role overseeing compliance to TNI and other accrediting bodies.
• Proven track record of driving operational excellence and quality assurance in an environmental laboratory.
• Meets all minimum requirements of accrediting bodies.
• Technical expertise in environmental testing methods, including method validation and data interpretation.
• Proficient in root cause analysis, statistical tools, and LIMS systems, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Extensive working knowledge of industry regulations including USEPA, TNI 2016 Standard, 40CFR, and other regulated environments (i.e., USDA Soils Permit, DoD).
• Proven leadership skills with experience mentoring QA staff, developing high performers, and driving quality initiatives.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to liaise effectively with regulators, clients, and internal stakeholders.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

The physical and environmental requirements below reflect what's typically needed to perform the essential functions of this role safely and effectively. We may provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, consistent with applicable law, to support performance of the essential functions. May require working weekends, holidays, and after-hours based on operational demands or team scheduling. Ability to lift 20-30 pounds using company-provided equipment, as necessary. Ability to remain stationary for approximately 70% of the workday. Frequent use of computers and other office productivity equipment is required.

Onterris is a leading global environmental solutions company partnering with organizations to solve complex challenges where environmental pressures, regulatory expectations and operational risks intersect. Guided by our mission to advance the way of life without compromising the integrity of our environment, we believe environmental responsibility and human progress are fundamentally connected. Our scientists, engineers, field teams and consultants apply systems thinking that unites science, data and practical expertise to deliver solutions that strengthen our clients' resilience, mitigate risk and protect the air, water and soil that sustain communities, while uncovering responsible paths forward for planet and progress. For more information, visit www.onterris.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We acknowledge that these experiences and perspectives help to enrich our teams and contribute to our ongoing success. We are committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in our employment for all applicants. For US residents, click here to learn more.