LABORATORY SUPERVISOR / ASSISTANT MANAGER

Farm Manager SA; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Farm Manager SA in the Western Cape region seeks an experienced Laboratory Manager to oversee daily lab operations, ensure compliance with ISO17025 and SANAS accreditation requirements, and drive business development. The role involves budget planning, staff management, and collaboration with customers.

The candidate will lead method development, validation, and training, ensuring timely turnaround and high-quality results aligned with client needs.

Qualifications

• Requires a relevant tertiary diploma or degree.
• Minimum of 2 years relevant experience in fruit quality management.
• Expert knowledge of methods used and current laboratory testing objectives.
• Deep knowledge of SANAS requirements relating to accreditation/compliance and IAF/ILAC documents.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of the laboratory.
• Take responsibility for actions when nonconforming work occurs and authorize resumption of work.
• Manage human resources including contracts and salaries; handle budgeting and procurement.
• Develop business and marketing strategies; identify new markets and trends.
• Plan and manage laboratory budget; liaise with customers and handle queries.

Skills

Leadership

Managing Projects

Managing Budgets

Managing Conflicting priorities

Creative problem solving

Skills development

Education

Relevant diploma/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 laboratory’s turnaround times are met
• Develop and implement new methods to meet customer’s 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.