Assistant/Trainee Laboratory Manager (Various Sites)

SGS; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company in Cape Town is seeking an Assistant/Trainee Laboratory Manager to support laboratory operations. Key duties include assisting the Laboratory Manager, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, and maintaining laboratory equipment. Candidates should possess a relevant diploma and have at least ten years of related experience. This role offers an opportunity to develop skills in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Qualifications

• 10 years of relevant experience with a National Diploma, or 3 years with Grade 12.
• Familiarity with Civil Engineering Test Methods.

Responsibilities

• Assist with accreditation and Health and Safety compliance.
• Verify correct test methods and report deviations.
• Support administrative duties such as payroll and leave forms.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Ability to follow instructions

Team leadership

Education

Relevant National Diploma or equivalent

Driver's License

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Company Description

SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance, and sustainability.

SGS South Africa, Matrocast Division, is seeking to fill a key role in its Civil Engineering Site Laboratories in the Western Cape Region. This role includes assisting the Supervisor/Laboratory Manager with all managerial and laboratory-related tasks, both on site and in the commercial laboratory. Responsibilities include ensuring equipment is cleaned and maintained regularly, completing materials testing across all laboratory divisions (soils, asphalt, seals, concrete, aggregate), and performing bench calculations as needed. The Assistant/Trainee Laboratory Manager will also ensure the laboratory remains clean and will carry out instructions from technicians, supervisors, or authorized personnel.

The ideal candidate will possess integrity, good interpersonal skills, and the ability to command respect. They should have energy and passion to maintain positive staff relationships and a track record of delivering performance against strategic objectives, ensuring all quality and testing methods are observed, and deviations are reported promptly.

Job Description

• Assist with accreditation and Health and Safety regulations compliance in the laboratory.
• Verify correct test methods are followed and report deviations.
• Adhere to all quality and safety requirements of the SGS management system.
• Assist technicians on site and in the laboratory as per instructions.
• Perform other tasks assigned by supervisors or regional management.
• Maintain operations in the absence of the Laboratory Manager.
• Support administrative duties such as payroll and leave forms.
• Provide training to reporting staff as needed.

Qualifications

• Relevant National Diploma or NQF 6 / Grade 12 or NQF4 equivalent, or recognized through RPL.
• Driver's License.
• For example, a National Diploma with ten years relevant experience, or NQF 6 with ten years, or Grade 12 with three years, or NQF 4 with fifteen years of relevant experience.
• Familiarity with all Civil Engineering Test Methods under THM1 and SANS.

Additional Information

• Competent in testing across all laboratory divisions.
• Qualified in laboratory control and implementation.
• Capable of supervising and executing fieldwork.
• Familiar with COLTO standards.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety regulations.
• Computer literate (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Physically capable of handling samples and equipment.