Department Supervisor (Microbiology and Food Testing)

Overview

Element Materials Technology has an opportunity in Fort Wayne, Indiana for a Department Supervisor in its Food Testing Laboratory. This lab plays a leading role in food testing and environmental monitoring, ensuring a safe food supply in the Midwestern food market and beyond. The Department Supervisor is a key member of the department's quality and safety teams, ensuring quality data is produced on time and in a safe and reliable manner. You will be relied upon heavily by other colleagues such as technicians, peers, management and beyond. In this role you will be working alongside the technicians to support and guide staff in timely completion of daily work. You will also be interacting daily with other internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary subject matter expert for microbiological and chemical food testing
• Under the direction of the Operations Manager, assist in the efficient operation and growth of the lab
• Provide direct supervision of laboratory technical staff
• Responsible for ensuring laboratory coverage 365 days a year by planning weekend and holiday rotations
• Provide professional and timely customer service to both internal and external customers
• Provide status updates, quote assistance and other customer service responsibilities as needed
• Participate in supervisory responsibilities including hiring decisions, performance management input, decisions and execution, and approval of timecards and overtime
• Understand the customer needs to translate and deliver desired customer results
• Adhere to, support and follow all Element safety guidelines
• Review and manage inventory to ensure critical supplies are maintained in stock
• The position is a working supervisor that will be able to fill in at the bench level where required due to staffing shortages or sample volume surges

Skills / Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in food safety, microbiology, biochemistry, or another related technical field with at least one year of supervisory experience is required. A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a supervisory role in an industry similar or related to food testing and/or food quality assurance with college courses in microbiology or food safety may substitute for a bachelor’s degree
• Applicants that possess food microbiology specific experience in a commercial lab that tests food for target pathogens using molecular and cultural techniques as well as quantitative analysis of typical indicator parameters are preferred
• Familiarity with FDA BAM, USDA MLG, and AOAC methods is recommended
• Working knowledge of laboratory quality and safety
• Strong computer skills and basic mathematical skills with the ability to apply concepts of basic algebra
• Experience with LIMS data entry and data review
• Capacity to lift <50 lbs. often and > 50 lbs. on occasion and stand on feet for long periods of time
• Ability to work primarily alone and make independent decisions during the course of the work day
• Proven ability to read, understand and interpret program or test requirements and able to analyze and translate into finished testing or report data
• Able to communicate and demonstrate the importance of meeting all applicable requirements of the food laboratory
• Interpersonal skills essential to relate to and coach a diverse multicultural and multigenerational team
• Excellent communication skills as well as email and telephone etiquette
• Proven and recognized ability to provide accurate and timely status reports to internal and external customers
• Capable of tracking multiple testing jobs / programs from start to finish and assist with contract review of job status daily, including follow-up emails and phone calls daily to and from internal and external customers

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Diversity Statement

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.