What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lab operations & Transformation Lead Scientist position at The Fountain Group?
Details for the position are as follows:
- 12-month contract to start with the possibility of extension or conversion depending on performance and business needs
- Rate: $66-76 an hour
- Location: Richmon, VI 23230 - this will be a Hybrid role
- Seeking a Transformation Lead Scientist to lead end-to-end laboratory and process transformation across Product Integrity, Analytical Sciences, R&D, and Manufacturing Quality laboratories within a highly regulated consumer products environment. This role supports laboratories focused on tobacco, nicotine, aerosol, and next-generation product testing, ensuring analytical and quality operations are efficient, compliant, and scalable. The successful candidate will assess current capabilities across multiple sites while working alongside business-as-usual (BAU) lab operations, driving measurable improvements in throughput, data quality, and regulatory readiness.
- Lead process transformation across Analytical Sciences production labs, Foundational Chemistry labs, R&D environments, and Manufacturing Quality Services labs
- Map current-state capabilities while operating in parallel with business-as-usual (BAU) activities
- Identify gaps, redundancies, and inefficiencies across laboratory operations and service delivery models
- Evaluate workflows across multiple sites, teams, and laboratory functions
- Develop and implement skills matrices to assess workforce capabilities and identify proficiency gaps
- Align resources, roles, and processes to optimize efficiency and scalability across the network
- Define and analyze key performance metrics, including samples processed per role, non-conformance/error rates, and time per sample
- Leverage data-driven insights to drive process optimization and continuous improvement
- Implement scalable solutions that enhance throughput, data quality, compliance, and overall operational performance
- Design and implement systems and tools to capture, track, and report key laboratory performance metrics
- Establish standardized methods for data collection, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and traceability
- Enable real-time or near-real-time visibility into operational performance to support decision-making and continuous improvement
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Microbiology, Analytical Sciences, or a related scientific discipline Minimum of 5-10 years of hands-on laboratory experience in a regulated environment (e.g., consumer products, pharmaceutical, or similar) An Associate's degree in a life science field plus 15 years of laboratory experience
- Hands-on experience with analytical instrumentation (e.g., chromatography, spectroscopy, or automated lab systems)
- Proven experience in process transformation and operational excellence, including assessing workflows and implementing scalable improvements
- Strong data analytics capability with experience defining, tracking, and interpreting key performance metrics (e.g., throughput, error rates, cycle time)
- Experience developing or leveraging systems and tools (e.g., LIMS, ELN, dashboards) to capture, manage, and visualize operational data
- Effective leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and communicate insights clearly
- Familiarity with regulatory frameworks such as FDA, ISO, GLP/GMP, and data integrity standards Experience with digital lab systems and tools (e.g., LIMS, ELN, data visualization platforms)
Salary : $66 - $76