Laboratory Group Leader - LC/GC & Mass Spectrometry

Position Overview

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise daily operations for an analytical chemistry testing group.
• Manage laboratory workflow to ensure timely sample processing and accurate, consistent, and complete analytical results.
• Maintain continuous sample flow while balancing staffing, equipment availability, testing priorities, and client deadlines.
• Provide hands-on analytical and technical support when needed.
• Supervise, mentor, train, and develop Chemists across multiple experience levels.
• Assign work, monitor performance, provide technical guidance, and support employee development.
• Coordinate staffing, instrumentation, laboratory supplies, and other departmental resources with laboratory management.
• Collaborate with other laboratory groups and department leaders to balance workloads and optimize laboratory operations.
• Lead analytical method development, optimization, troubleshooting, validation, and implementation.
• Research and implement new analytical technologies, instrumentation, and testing methodologies.
• Troubleshoot analytical instruments, methods, sample preparation processes, and data-quality issues.
• Review analytical data packages and support data validation activities.
• Maintain internal quality control procedures and ensure analytical data meets established quality standards.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to support the laboratory's Quality Management System and maintain applicable accreditations.
• Investigate QA findings and implement corrective actions within the department.
• Support new instrument implementation, qualification, and validation.
• Ensure laboratory operations comply with established safety procedures and requirements.
• Serve as a technical resource for client questions and support sales teams with technically complex inquiries.
• Participate in technical training, conferences, industry events, and other professional development opportunities.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in laboratory processes, technology, testing capabilities, and operational efficiency.

Technical Focus

• Liquid Chromatography (LC)
• Gas Chromatography (GC)
• LC-MS/MS
• GC-MS/MS
• High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)
• HR-MS/MS
• Orbitrap technology
• Conventional and mass-selective detectors
• Analytical instrument maintenance and troubleshooting
• Sample preparation and extraction
• Analytical method development and validation
• Data review and validation

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a closely related scientific discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant laboratory experience.
• Professional experience working in an analytical laboratory environment.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of LC and/or GC analytical instrumentation.
• Experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting sophisticated analytical instrumentation.
• Experience with mass spectrometry-based analytical techniques.
• Demonstrated analytical method troubleshooting and development experience.
• Experience training or mentoring laboratory personnel in analytical techniques, instrumentation, extraction procedures, or testing methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, testing requirements, and deadlines in a production laboratory environment.
• Experience collaborating across laboratory, quality, operations, and business functions.
• Strong technical communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to write and interpret SOPs, analytical methods, technical reports, and laboratory documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.