The Shepherd Chemical Company manufactures metal-based chemicals that are essential to technologies for consumer safety, environmental sustainability, advanced product performance and industrial process efficiency. Partnering with industries from fragrance and personal care to petrochemicals and polyurethanes, we are working to solve some of our customer’s most complex problems through the synthesis, scale up, and commercialization of inorganic and organic metal compounds.

Our employees scale projects from “concept to container”, travel the world to visit customers, attend industry conferences, and participate in community initiatives for health, wellness, safety and philanthropy. Doing meaningful work with trusted, talented colleagues is our formula for success and being a great place to work. Every day, our employees relentlessly pursue Shepherd’s core purpose of Creating Value and Brightening Lives.

The Quality Control (QC) Laboratory supports the business of The Shepherd Chemical Company by performing lab analyses and tasks related to the manufacturing of specialty chemicals. We are seeking a Laboratory Manager to lead all the activities of the QC Lab and provide support to our customers, operations, and technical and commercial teams. You will be responsible for overseeing the personnel development, laboratory facility improvements and the analytical method development required to safely support analytical needs in the organization. 

The Lab Manager provides systems and processes to ensure finished products are compliant with customer requirements. You will ensure that department and test procedures are in place to prevent quality escapes to customers, detect incoming raw material quality problems and support the other needs of the organization. You will also ensure customer quality issues are dealt with systematically and customer requests and specifications are consistent with Shepherd process capability.

Job Responsibilities

• Model and teach Shepherd Core Values.
• Build strong teams by leading and mentoring QC chemists and the QC supervisor.
• Coordinate quality team activities to meet the needs of the organization.
• Own processes for customer requests and complaints.
• Participate in Quality incident investigations and risk assessments. 
• Provide the systems to develop, manage and maintain records and procedures for the laboratory.
• Oversee all technical aspects of laboratory activities including instrumentation, test methods, calibration, and infrastructure and quality assurance.
• Development, implementation, and support of analytical measurements (e.g., method, equipment) and statistical analysis activities including GR&R, blind sampling and SPC. 
• Support and guide analytical method development for new product and new process development priorities.
• Facilitate transition of new methods into routine use by the laboratory staff.
• Manage lab-related processes associated with raw material receiving and COA generation.
• Manage attendance, productivity and conduct of laboratory technicians and chemists in alignment with company policies and core values.
• Ensure good documentation of team coaching and personnel records are kept up to date with HR.
• Hire and ensure proper training of laboratory personnel.
• Work with laboratory personnel at all levels to develop professionally.
• Oversee and manage laboratory budgets.
• Oversee performance to fulfill laboratory goals and metrics.
• Use improvement tools to continually improve laboratory operations and team engagement.
• Interact with internal and external customers to meet business needs.
• Ensure that good safety and health practices are utilized throughout the laboratory.
• Reinforce knowledge and application of Safestart principles and good laboratory safety practices in all work areas.
• Maintain knowledge and awareness of current best laboratory practices and analytical methodology.
• Support annual physical inventory activity

Education/Experience

• Master’s degree required, Chemistry or other science degree preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of laboratory supervisor experience required

Required Skills

• Proven leadership skills to lead and direct professional and laboratory personnel.
• Interpersonal and communication skills needed to interface with colleagues at all levels, as well as customers.
• Demonstrated analytical and data-based problem-solving skills.
• Organizational skills - able to manage multiple priorities in fast paced environment.
• Experienced with analytical methods and laboratory best practices.
• Excellent technical writing skills.
• Proficient computer skills Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Manufacturing experience preferred
• SAP experience preferred

Benefits

Full-time team members receive:

• Competitive Pay
• Health and Life Insurance (eligibility date of hire)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Company 401K Contribution (eligibility date of hire)
• Company Bonus eligibility
• Fitness Membership subsidy
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Career Development

EEO Statement

The Shepherd Material Science Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age (40 or over), disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.