Wetlab Supervisor, Surgical Training Research & Development Process & Product Design

Alcon MX; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 103,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Flexible time off

Job summary

Alcon is seeking an R&D Lab Supervisor to guide and coordinate a team of Lab Technicians, aligning tasks with project priorities. You will collaborate with R&D Leadership and engineers to ensure the right skillsets are deployed and on-time project deliverables are met.

The role requires ensuring quality, data-driven decisions, and adherence to GxP in a regulated environment. Expect to mentor staff and manage lab resources in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent year of directly related experience (or high school +13 yrs; Assoc. +9 yrs; B.S. +5yrs; M.S. +2yrs; PhD +0yrs)

Responsibilities

• Assist R&D Management as required
• Conduct Lab tours and organize wet-labs and/or clinical simulations
• Coordinate and balance lab workload and forecast resources
• Ensure Good Laboratory Practices and safety of R&D Labs and personnel

Skills

English fluency

R&D supervision

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent

Job description

At Alcon, we're passionate about enhancing sight and helping people see brilliantly. With more than 25,000 associates, we innovate fearlessly, champion progress, and act swiftly to impact global eye health. We foster an inclusive culture, recognizing your contributions and offering opportunities to grow your career like never before. Together, we make a difference in the lives of our patients and customers. Are you ready to join us?

The R&D Lab Supervisor will be responsible for providing guidance, scheduling, and coordinating the day-to-day activities of a team of R&D Lab Technicians.

Primary responsibilities will include but are not limited to: supporting design and development activities on R&D Projects, organizing and prioritizing competing objectives, assigning and following up on assigned tasks, reviewing and approving timesheets, participate and/or coordinate Pre-Clinical and/or Simulated Use Wet Labs.

The R&D Lab Supervisor must be able to partner with R&D Leadership and/or project engineers to understand project priorities and deliverables to ensure the right skillsets are selected or hired to ensure project deliverables and tasks are completed correctly and on time.

This role requires excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills to interact and collaborate with medical professionals, regulatory agencies as well as cross-functional teams and external vendors.

The R&D Lab Supervisor will need to be able to identify and analyze complex problems and implement creative solutions with minimal supervision.

This position will require a good understanding of mechanical and electrical engineering principles to ensure that all technical and/or functional specifications and requirements needed in the development and testing of electro-mechanical medical devices are met.

Will also require supporting and participating in test fixture design, development, fabrication, prototyping, testing, as well as authoring/reviewing protocols and/or test reports.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience working in a regulated GxP environment and have a combination of technical and people management skills.

This position is a leadership role with direct reports that requires leading by example with the ability to assist and mentor less experienced Lab Technicians and/or project teams.

The role requires someone who is a self-starter with the initiative to take on unfamiliar tasks, work effectively within tight timeframes, and possess a demonstrated commitment to quality and data driven decisions.

Travel Requirements: 10-35% domestic and international on an as needed basis.

In this role, a typical day will include:

• Assist R&D Management as required
• Conduct Lab tours and organize wet-labs and/or clinical simulations
• Assist /collaborate with project teams and engineers with work requests
• Work with outside vendors ordering lab / project supplies
• Coordinate shipping and receiving activities (including international shipping) when needed
• Amend and generate blanket purchase orders
• Coordinate and balance lab workload and able to Forecast resources
• Arrange offsite testing as needed
• Manage lab supplies and test equipment
• Generate CAR, MRO and purchase requisition
• Ensure Good Laboratory Practices and safety of R&D Labs and personnel

Key Requirements/Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent year of directly related experience (or high school +13 yrs; Assoc. +9 yrs; B.S. +5yrs; M.S. +2yrs; PhD +0yrs)
• The ability to fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English
• 2+ yrs of relevant experience

Relocation Assistance: Not Available

Sponsorship Available: Not Available

Alcon provides robust benefits package including health, life, retirement, flexible time off for exempt associates, and much more!

Alcon’s Total Rewards programs are designed to align incentives with business objectives, support our values, and deliver long‑term value. Our compensation approach includes a combination of fixed and variable pay, with short‑term and long‑term incentive opportunities for eligible roles. Our benefits offerings are designed to support associates and their families across key life events, including programs that promote health and well‑being, provide financial security, and support retirement planning.

The salary range posted represents the anticipated hiring range for this role. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as experience, skills, location, and internal equity, and may fall outside the posted range.

Pay Range 102,850.00 - 133,100.00 Pay Frequency Annual

Alcon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. Alcon takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment and our policies are not to discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

At Alcon, we are committed to helping people see better. We believe patients should have access to quality eye care regardless of their economic circumstances; however, barriers to good eye health exist for patients in both developed and emerging markets. Alcon develops and manufactures innovative devices to serve the full life cycle of eye care needs. Its surgical group is one of the largest makers of equipment used for cataract removal and laser vision correction. Its consumer products include the well‑known Opti‑Free line of contact lens solutions and related products. Alcon, which was founded in 1945, sells its products in 180 countries worldwide.