LABORATORY SUPERVISOR / ASSISTANT MANAGER – FM2741

Farm Manager SA; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

Farm Manager SA in Western Cape, South Africa, seeks a Laboratory Supervisor / Assistant Manager to lead daily lab operations and ensure ISO17025 compliance. The role covers nonconformity handling, personnel management, and business development within a growing agricultural testing context.

The successful candidate will oversee testing methods, customer liaison, and procurement while maintaining high quality and safety standards in a dynamic laboratory environment.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum 2 years in fruit quality management.
• Expert skill in the methods used in the laboratory.
• Current knowledge of methods and objectives of tests.
• Deep knowledge of SANAS accreditation/ILAC documents and applicable standards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily laboratory operations.
• Authorise resumption of work after nonconforming results.
• Manage HR aspects including contracts and salaries.
• Responsible for business development and identifying new markets.
• Develop marketing strategies and budget for the lab.
• Liaise with customers and address queries or complaints.
• Implement ISO17025 and other relevant guidelines.
• Manage stock control and procurement procedures.
• Troubleshoot equipment and lab techniques.
• Ensure turnaround times are met.
• Develop and implement new methods to meet customer requirements.
• Implement master validation plan and method validation procedures.
• Ensure personnel are trained and training schedules are in place.
• Maintain good housekeeping and health & safety systems.
• Ensure audit trails and service agreements are fulfilled.

Skills

Managing Projects

Managing Budgets

Managing Conflicting priorities

Creative problem solving

Education

Tertiary diploma or degree

Job description

LABORATORY SUPERVISOR / ASSISTANT MANAGER – FM2741

Western Cape, South Africa

November 9, 2026

Full-time

Elgin Area, Western Cape Province – South Africa: Exciting vacancy awaits the successful candidate.

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 creditation.

SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Managing Projects
• Managing Budgets
• Managing Conflicting priorities
• Creative problem solving

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 occurManagement 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.

ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted