Laboratory Manager

SGS SA; Brits; On-site; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

SGS SA is seeking a Laboratory Manager to oversee the laboratory's operations, ensuring quality and compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, while delivering reliable results to customers and regulatory bodies. The role emphasizes safety, QMS integration, and staff leadership in a mining context.

The successful candidate will manage technical direction, budget for projects, and drive improvements in tools, procedures, and service development. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience leading laboratory operations in a mining environment.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025 is essential.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operation of the laboratory and ensure quality and compliance
• Maintain ISO/IEC 17025 compliance and deliver results to customers and regulators
• Promote health and safety and ensure QMS is part of daily operations
• Provide technical direction and supervision to staff
• Budget involvement for projects and new services

Skills

Leadership

Verbal communication

Written communication

Health and Safety

Quality management

Education

BSc Chemistry or equivalent

Geochemical laboratory experience

Job description

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 97,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

Job Description

The Laboratory Manager has overall responsibility for the operation and all the functions associated with the Laboratory. Accountabilities include the effectiveness and efficiencies of the laboratory and overall quality. The Laboratory Manager has overall accountability for maintaining laboratory compliance to ISO/IEC 17025 and delivers results to meet both the customers and the regulatory requirements.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Promotes and monitors all aspects of Health and Safety in the workplace.
  • Promotes the highest level of quality and ensures that the QMS is part of the day-to-day operation, with all policies and procedures followed as documented.
  • Communication with all staff and other management.
  • Responsible for providing technical support or direction for customer services and external clients.
  • Ensuring compliance with all analysis standards.
  • Adhere to all aspects of SGS policies, procedures, and the Management and Quality Management system.
  • Assisting in the budgeting process for specific projects and new service development.
  • Added value
    • Development and implementation of operational tools and guidelines.
    • Methodology/Procedures.
  • In-house Laboratory Training.
  • Liability protection (e.g., integrity of all correspondence and reports).
  • Ensure effective use of communication tools.
  • Assist in resolving technical situations of unusual complexity or sensitivity and take quick action to resolve such issues.
  • Ensure consistency and accuracy of policies, quotations and procedures and strategic planning; evaluate activities to recommend changes in processes, regulations and other programs and procedures to improve customer service, review and edit documents to ensure compliance with regulatory and company requirements.
  • Responsible for the direction of laboratory staff and program activities.
  • Independent decision-making responsibilities regarding the division.
  • Ensure Environmental policies are being kept and followed.
  • Adhere to all quality and safety requirements of the SGS management system.
  • Perform any other reasonable tasks as assigned by the direct line manager.
• SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES
  • Manage and maintain the accredited Quality Management System in accordance with ISO 17025.
  • Provide supervision and leadership to staff.
  • Authorized to evaluate and report all analytical results.
  • Any person has the right to refuse to perform work that may damage the environment imminently and seriously and to report such a situation. The employee has the responsibility to protect the environment as well.
  • Cease the use of any equipment that may be deemed to constitute a safety hazard or entry to hazardous environments without the necessary knowledge and protection and take action to address the hazard.
  • Cease to carry on with work that may affect the quality (integrity) of services and take action to address the issue.
  • Initiate a formal improvement request when a deviation of the system occurs, possible improvements are identified or when nonconformity is identified.
• SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES
  • Manage and maintain the accredited Quality Management System in accordance with ISO 17025.
  • Provide supervision and leadership to staff.
  • Authorized to evaluate and report all analytical results.
  • Any person has the right to refuse to perform work that may damage the environment imminently and seriously and to report such a situation. The employee has the responsibility to protect the environment as well.
  • Cease the use of any equipment that may be deemed to constitute a safety hazard or entry to hazardous environments without the necessary knowledge and protection and take action to address the hazard.
  • Cease to carry on with work that may affect the quality (integrity) of services and take action to address the issue.
  • Initiate a formal improvement request when a deviation of the system occurs, possible improvements are identified or when nonconformity is identified.

Qualifications

Education

• BSc Chemistry or equivalent
• Extensive laboratory experience in a mining environment
• Strong organisational, verbal and written communication skills are required

Experience

• 5 years' supervision at management level in a geochemical field.
• Extensive experience with laboratory operations
• Demonstrated interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Must have a good working knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025.
• Must be self-motivated, able to multi-task, and possess good verbal and written communication.
• Must have previous management experience and can create a work environment that fosters a team approach
• Acts quickly and decisively; able to make tough calls
• Able to coordinate and motivate a team towards a common goal
• Able to work independently and to coordinate several activities simultaneously
• Is innovative with a systematic approach to problem-solving
• Works well under pressure

Additional Information

COMPLIANCE & AUTHORITY

• Cease the use of any equipment that may be deemed to constitute a safety hazard or entry to hazardous environments without the necessary knowledge and protection, and take action to address the hazard.
• Cease to carry on with work that may affect the quality (integrity) of services and take action to address the issue.
• Initiate a formal improvement request when a deviation of the system occurs, possible improvements are identified, or when nonconformity is identified.