Manager - Food & Water Laboratory

Join Bureau Veritas, a global leader committed to quality assurance, health and safety, risk mitigation, environmental protection, and social responsibility. This role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to shaping a world of trust within an inclusive, flexible, and diverse work environment. As Assistant Manager of the Food & Water Laboratory, you will play a pivotal role in managing laboratory operations, ensuring compliance with international standards, and driving continuous improvement to support business growth and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Manage the daily operations of the Food & Water Laboratory, ensuring timely and accurate testing and reporting within agreed turnaround times. Lead the implementation and ongoing enhancement of the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Quality Management System, maintaining the technical validity and integrity of all laboratory activities. Oversee laboratory personnel, focusing on competency development and performance monitoring, while ensuring compliance with client, regulatory, and company requirements.

Provide technical expertise by ensuring all testing is performed according to validated methods and relevant standards. Review and approve test reports, technical records, and documentation. Coordinate proficiency testing (PT) and inter-laboratory comparison (ILC) programs, and supervise method validation, verification, and measurement uncertainty estimation. Manage equipment calibration, preventive maintenance, and traceability of measurements. Investigate non-conformities and implement corrective actions, supporting technical troubleshooting and problem resolution.

Support business objectives by evaluating new testing opportunities and expanding laboratory capabilities. Manage inventory and procurement to maintain cost-effective operations. Collaborate with sales and operations teams to ensure service delivery excellence, and participate in customer audits and technical meetings as required.

Demonstrate leadership, accountability, and professionalism by adhering to the Bureau Veritas Code of Ethics, maintaining confidentiality, and completing assigned objectives and reports on time. Continuously update technical knowledge and regulatory awareness to stay current in the field.

Maintain strong customer focus by responding promptly to client queries, investigating complaints, and ensuring effective resolution. Foster positive client relationships through professional communication and technical support, promoting customer satisfaction and service excellence.

Adhere strictly to Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) policies and legal requirements. Maintain a safe and hazard-free work environment, report hazards and incidents immediately, participate in risk control measures, and cooperate fully in investigations. Take personal responsibility for your own health and safety and that of others.

Required Qualifications

A Bachelor’s (Hons.) or Master’s degree in Food Science & Technology, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or a related field is essential. A minimum of eight years of relevant laboratory experience is required, including at least three years in a supervisory or management role. Proven experience in implementing and maintaining ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is mandatory, along with familiarity with accreditation audits, proficiency testing schemes, method validation, and laboratory quality systems.

Technical expertise must include food and water chemical testing, laboratory quality management systems, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards, method validation and verification, measurement uncertainty, proficiency testing and ILC programs, equipment calibration and maintenance, root cause analysis, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and audit management.

Preferred Qualifications and Training

Candidates should have completed ISO/IEC 17025:2017 internal auditor training, method validation and measurement uncertainty courses, internal audit and risk assessment training, laboratory safety and QHSSE programs, proficiency testing and inter-laboratory comparison training, and LIMS training.

Performance Monitoring and KPIs

Success in this role will be measured by 100% compliance with turnaround times, maintenance of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, closure of audit findings, active participation in PT and ILC schemes, zero major non-conformities during audits, minimal customer complaints, effective inventory and equipment management, zero lost time injuries, and achievement of annual competency and training goals.

This position reports directly to the Product Line Manager within the Agri-Food & Commodities department and offers a dynamic environment to grow professionally while making a significant impact on laboratory quality and business success.