Operations Manager

Pace® Analytical Services

Pace® makes the world a safer, healthier place. Committed to advancing the science of businesses, industries, consulting firms, government agencies, and others, Pace® offers local-level service backed by a national laboratory network. Through in-lab and emergency onsite services, Pace® ensures our air, water, soil, and more are safe.

Laboratory Operations Manager

Summary: Responsible for managing the development and implementation of lab, services, and field programs, performance and metrics, policies and procedures from a functional or technical perspective, including validating and auditing results, scheduling and services, and resolving service and customer problems for the entire department; provides advanced professional assistance to management staff in the area of assignment and related matters.  Oversight includes multiple departments/functions.  

Essential Functions: This class specification lists the major duties and requirements of the job and is not all-inclusive. Incumbent(s) may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge and skills. 

1. Manages staff including hiring, training, development and engagement of self and team members, evaluating performance, providing compensation recommendations, and performance management. 

2. Manages implementation and oversight of schedules, services, results and related functional programs to achieve desired and operational results, aligns leadership and resources required, and ensure effective administration; may include multiple to broad areas.   

3. Provides input and advice regarding developing and aligning strategies and programs to manage the lab, services or field programs, policies and procedures for the group or areas.   

4. Manages and participates in operational, instrumentation and equipment reviews; assists with ensuring compliance with federal, state, local, and institutional standards, regulations and policies, uses fair practices in the handling of area related issues. 

5. Provides observations and recommendations to leadership for improvement of the organizations policies, procedures and practices on lab, services or field matters. 

6. Manages expectations of leaders, managers, staff and operations, facilitates communication on customer needs and business requirements, and establishes performance metrics; contacts are diverse and very complex. 

7. Resolves escalated, technical or sensitive customer and operational problems or conflicts; works with internal groups or external agencies as needed and oversees the successful resolution; areas are very complex to specialized. 

8. Manages the group or area budget including allocating resources and approving expenditures under control; budget is large in nature and includes multiple areas. Develops and manages metrics. 

9. Oversees or participates in special projects by identifying company, department, customer or service issues and priorities; communicates, coordinates, and evaluates results. 

10. Maintains currency of lab, services, and field regulations, industry trends, current practices, new developments, applicable laws, and related legislation. 

11. Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the department's service to its customers by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active member of a work team. 

12. Promotes and supports the overall mission of Pace Analytical by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with customers and staff; acts in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace environment.  

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or a closely related field; AND seven (7) years of progressive leadership experience, including five (5) years of managerial experience; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.  

Required Knowledge and Skills: 

Required Knowledge:   

• Comprehensive principles, practices and techniques of lab, services or field areas, such as biology or chemistry; areas are very complex to specialized in nature. 
• Understanding of the development and implementation of area programs, policies and procedures; includes multiple or broad areas. 
• Principles and practices of developing teams, motivating employees and managing in a team environment. 
• Basic principles and practices of budget development and administration. 
• Applicable lab, services or field laws, codes and regulations. 
• Computer applications and systems related to the work. 
• Understanding of dealing with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, occasionally where relations may be confrontational or strained. 
• Principles and techniques of providing effective oral presentations. 
• Principles and practices of program planning, development and evaluation. 
• Principles and techniques of making effective oral presentations. 
• Correct business English, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.  

 Required Skills:  

• Performing comprehensive professional-level lab, services or field duties in a variety of assigned areas.  
• Overseeing and administering comprehensive and varied area functions. 
• Supervising and evaluating employees and providing related recommendations.  
• Training others in policies and procedures related to the work. 
• Applying business and project management methodologies with a focus on implementing plans to achieve goals.  
• Developing effective work teams and motivating individuals to meet goals and objectives and provide customer services in the most cost effective and efficient manner. 
• Interpreting, applying and explaining applicable laws, codes and regulations. 
• Providing consulting services to supervisors and staff. 
• Preparing functionals reports, correspondence and other written materials.  
• Using initiative and independent judgment within established organizational and department guidelines. 
• Using tact, discretion and prudence in working with those contacted in the course of the work. 
• Performing effective oral presentations to large and small groups across functional peers and the department. 
• Contributing effectively to the accomplishment of team or work unit goals, objectives and activities.  
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of individuals contacted in the course of the work. 

Physical/Mental Requirements: The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Mobility to work in a lab and office setting, use standard office and lab equipment and stamina to sit for extended periods of time; exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or move objects; vision to read printed materials and computer screens; and hearing and speech to communicate in person or over the telephone.  

Working Environment: Work is performed in lab, office and field settings.  Work is subject to exposure to blood or bodily fluids, chemicals, fumes, gasses, noxious odors and related items in a lab and environmental setting.  Work can also be subject to travel.   

Benefits

80 hrs of paid vacation per year, 7 paid holidays per year, 2 floating holidays per year (prorated based on start date), 40 hrs paid sick time per year, paid bereavement leave (days based on relation to the employee), 8 hrs paid volunteer time per year, medical, dental, vision, voluntary short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, voluntary supplemental life insurance, traditional 401k and ROTH 401k with a company match, HSA, FSA, employee referral bonus, employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement program, employee recognition program, voluntary ID theft coverage, voluntary legal coverage, voluntary accident insurance, voluntary hospital indemnity insurance, and voluntary critical illness insurance.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Pace® provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, creed, color, religion, genetics, protected veteran status, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.