Inorganic Group Leader

Job Title: Inorganic Group LeaderJob Description

The Inorganic Group Leader leads the daily operations of the Inorganic Chemistry laboratory, ensuring high-quality analytical testing, efficient sample flow, regulatory compliance, and ongoing team development. This role combines hands-on inorganic analytical chemistry expertise with leadership responsibilities and serves as a key technical resource for internal teams and external clients. The position is ideal for a scientist with strong inorganic chemistry experience, proven leadership skills, and a passion for mentoring laboratory staff while advancing laboratory capabilities in support of global food health and safety.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Inorganic Chemistry laboratory to ensure smooth, efficient, and compliant workflows.
• Ensure timely sample throughput and delivery of accurate, reliable analytical results that meet quality and regulatory standards.
• Manage laboratory workload, staffing levels, and resource allocation to optimize productivity and turnaround times.
• Supervise, coach, and develop Chemist I, II, and III team members, providing regular feedback, guidance, and support.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, and career development for laboratory staff.
• Perform analytical testing and technical responsibilities as needed, maintaining hands-on involvement with laboratory work.
• Lead method development, validation, troubleshooting, and implementation of new inorganic analytical technologies and techniques.
• Collaborate closely with quality assurance leadership to maintain regulatory compliance, QA/QC standards, and laboratory accreditation.
• Manage laboratory supplies, instrumentation, and maintenance, ensuring equipment is properly operated, calibrated, and serviced.
• Serve as a technical resource for sales teams, supporting customer inquiries and providing scientific insight on testing capabilities.
• Participate in conferences, trade shows, networking events, and market research initiatives to stay current with industry trends and opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across laboratory operations and workflow efficiency, focusing on safety, quality, and productivity.
• Implement and enforce laboratory procedures, safety protocols, and best practices to maintain a safe and compliant work environment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including operations, quality assurance, sales, and leadership, to support business and client needs.
• Balance technical responsibilities with personnel management duties, ensuring both scientific excellence and strong team performance.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor"s degree in Chemistry or a related scientific discipline.
• Extensive experience with inorganic analytical instrumentation, including operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
• Strong experience in method development, validation, and troubleshooting for inorganic analytical chemistry.
• Hands-on expertise with inorganic chemistry techniques and instrumentation such as ICP-MS and ICP-OES.
• Leadership experience managing chemists and laboratory operations in a commercial or analytical testing environment.
• Experience training, mentoring, and developing scientists or laboratory personnel.
• Familiarity with laboratory business operations and commercial testing environments, particularly in food safety and process contaminant analysis.
• Experience working within QA/QC frameworks and maintaining accreditation compliance.
• Ability to balance technical laboratory responsibilities with personnel management and operational oversight.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to handle complex technical challenges.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects, tasks, and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Acrobat for documentation, reporting, and communication.
• High emotional intelligence with strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Collaborative leadership approach with strong mentoring and team-building capabilities.
• Strong organizational abilities, adaptability, and sound business acumen.
• Continuous improvement mindset focused on enhancing laboratory capabilities and efficiency.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Prior supervisory or management experience in a laboratory or scientific environment.
• Experience with advanced analytical technologies such as HRMS, MS/MS, Orbitrap, or similar high-resolution mass spectrometry platforms.
• Experience with new instrument implementation, validation, and integration into routine laboratory workflows.
• Sample extraction and processing method development experience, particularly for complex matrices.
• Experience with pesticide and food contaminant testing, including process contaminant analysis and food safety testing.
• Business development and client-facing experience, including supporting sales teams and customer discussions.
• International laboratory experience or exposure to global analytical testing practices.
• Strong adaptability to evolving business needs and market demands.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in conferences, trade shows, and networking opportunities to represent laboratory capabilities.

Work Environment

This role is based fully onsite in a laboratory environment in Oregon, with a schedule of Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, including an unpaid 30-minute lunch. Hours may vary based on business and team needs, and remote or hybrid work arrangements are not offered. The position operates within an international analytical testing laboratory focused on food safety and public health, utilizing advanced extraction and analytical instrumentation such as ICP-MS, ICP-OES, HRMS, MS/MS, and Orbitrap systems. Employees may be exposed to laboratory chemicals and solvents and are expected to adhere to strict safety, quality, and regulatory standards at all times. The environment is highly collaborative, requiring regular interaction across laboratory operations, quality assurance, sales, and leadership teams. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, including annual bonus opportunities, medical insurance with high employer contributions, dependent medical coverage, vision and dental insurance, an HSA plan with company-paid premiums and contributions, long-term disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, supplemental insurance options, legal and identity protection services, a 401(k) plan, paid time off, 13 paid holidays, and access to select employee stores. The culture emphasizes teamwork, continuous improvement, scientific excellence, and a strong commitment to food safety and public health.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Portland, OR.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $79200.00 - $79200.00/yr.

Benefits: Medical/vision insurance (company covers 100% of EE premium and 90% of dependent and HSA- company covers 100% of premium and contributes to HSA every month), dental insurance, LTD, FSA, supplemental insurance, LegalShield/IDShield, 401(k), PTO, 13 paid holidays, and partnership with Adidas and Columbia employee store.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Portland,OR.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 24, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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