LABORATORY SUPERVISOR / ASSISTANT MANAGER

Farm Manager SA; Grabouw; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

Farm Manager SA is seeking an experienced Laboratory Manager in the Western Cape region to oversee the daily operations of the laboratory and ensure adherence to SANAS accreditation standards. The role focuses on quality management, customer liaison, and business development within the fruit sector.

You will lead the lab team, manage budgets, implement ISO17025 guidelines, and drive process improvements, including training staff and developing new testing methods to meet client requirements.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary diploma or degree
• Minimum 2 years relevant experience in fruit quality management
• In-depth knowledge of SANAS accreditation and IAF/ILAC guidelines

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of the laboratory
• Overall responsibility for actions when nonconforming work occurs
• Authorize resumption of work after nonconforming results
• Manage human resources including personnel contracts and salaries
• Responsible for business development and identifying new markets
• Develop and implement marketing strategies
• Plan and manage the laboratory budget
• Liaise with customers and address queries/complaints
• Implement ISO17025 and related guidelines
• Oversee stock control and procurement
• Troubleshoot equipment and techniques in the lab
• Ensure turnaround times are met
• Develop new methods to meet customer requirements
• Manage master validation plans and method validation procedures
• Ensure staff training and training schedules
• Maintain good housekeeping and health & safety systems
• Ensure audit trails and service agreements with customers
• Conduct literature searches for new methods

Skills

Leadership

Managing Projects

Managing Budgets

Managing Conflicting priorities

Creative problem solving

Skills development

Education

Relevant tertiary degree

Job description

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Relevant tertiary diploma or degree
• Minimum of 2 years relevant experience in the field of fruit quality management is required
• Expert skill and knowledge in the methods used
• Must have sufficient current knowledge of the methods used, as well as the objectives of the tests performed in the laboratory
• Must have in depth knowledge of al SANAS requirements relating to accreditation/compliance, including those specifies in any accreditation standard, guide, regulation and/or any IAF/ILAC mandatory document which applies to the organization, and those specific to the responsibilities of the technical signatories and to the scope of accreditation.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Leadership
• Managing Projects
• Managing Budgets
• Managing Conflicting priorities
• Creative problem solving
• Skills development

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO

• Oversee daily operations of the laboratory
• Overall responsibility for actions be that has to be taken when nonconforming work occur
• Overall responsibility for authorizing the resumption of work when nonconforming work occur
• Management of huma resources i.e. employment contracts of personnel, salaries
• Responsible for business development
• Identify new markets and trends
• Develop marketing strategies
• Plan and manage the budget of the laboratory
• Liaise with customers on a continual basis and attend to any queries or complaints
• Implement and maintain ISO17025: and other relevant guidelines
• Overall management of stock control and procurement procedures
• Fulfil a key role with regards to understanding and trouble shooting of equipment and techniques used in the laboratory
• Ensure that the laboratorys turnaround times are met
• Develop and implement new methods to meet customers requirements
• Implement the master validation plan of the laboratory and manage method validation procedures
• Ensure that personnel are adequately trained and implement training schedules and procedures where necessary
• Ensure the good housekeeping (GHK) procedures and health & safety systems are in place
• In collaboration with the quality manager of the company ensure that all results have audit trails (hard copies and electronics records) and that the service agreement to the customer is fulfilled
• Conducting literature searches and gathering information on new methods etc.