What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lab Supervisor position at Alta Genetics?
Primary Objectives
To administer key operations in assigned areas and participate in establishing measurable short- and long-term goals. To manage personnel and provide leadership of laboratory staff. Responsibility will reach across the Global Operations Division, requiring effective teamwork with other Lab Supervisor’s from around the business. Will be the main point of contact for all lab related needs and production site.
This position will be responsible for maximizing scheduling for semen collection and production of a high-quality product. In addition, this position will process, evaluate, extend, freeze, and package semen while ensuring a quality product.
Primary Responsibilities
- Coordinate and manage the day-to-day activities in the laboratory
- Ensure compliance with laboratory SOP’s, CSS and USDA directives, worker safety regulations, and any other necessary oversight
- Work alongside staff to observe, assess, instruct and assist as needed
- Ensure the efficiency of production and provide high-quality semen
- Identify, communicate and remove semen that fails to meet standards for quality, sanitation, sire: semen ID, or regulatory compliance for export
- Manage complaints and ensure excellent customer service is provided
- Schedule bulls utilizing production goals, collection priorities and inventories
- Maintain an adequate supply of all inventories
- Maintain accurate and complete electronic records
- Benchmark KPI generation and analysis for the lab
- Provide initial assessments on semen quantity and quality
- Maintain the export certification of the processing lab
- Perform and/or assign staff to conduct equipment function checks, schedule annual and periodic maintenance and repairs to equipment as needed and maintain laboratory supplies
- Ensure established laboratory procedures are adhered to when operating equipment
- Calibrate lab equipment on a routine basis
- Coordinate/assist with routine maintenance, cleaning, and minor repairs to equipment
- Coordinate/assist with building, cleaning and maintaining AV’s, semen extenders and semen dilution
- Ensure proper operation and maintenance of straw printing equipment, filling/sealing machine, and semen freezing equipment
- Interview, hire, mentor, coach and train staff members
- Maintain adequate staffing to maintain efficient laboratory functions
- Ensure all PEAK and URUS polices are being followed
- Schedule and verify staff work schedules and PTO to ensure proper staffing daily
- Approve PTO and payroll via ADP
- Establish performance goals and objectives for direct reports
- Conduct performance evaluations and goal setting sessions with direct reports
- Provide training and development to staff
- Provide continual feedback and coaching for direct reports
- Create and facilitate an atmosphere that fosters teamwork
- Ensure new staff are following proper onboarding procedures
- Assist in achieving the goals of the laboratory
- Provide leadership, instruction, make daily work assignments, ensure safety compliance, maintain records, and assist in development of budgets, develop budgets for area of responsibility
- Organize regular staff meetings
- Provide input and feedback regarding staffing needs, SOP’s, and laboratory facilities
- Ensure all staff are current on URUS University learning courses as required
- Coordinate with other laboratories to maintain a consistent and aligned approach
- Champion change as needed to improve our processes and product
- Provide a safe, functional, and presentable environment for staff
- Instruct staff to follow safe work practices and enforce use of personal protective and safety equipment as required. Promote safety awareness and ensure workers are trained or certified as required. Correct unsafe acts and conditions and ensure equipment is properly maintained. Report and investigate all accidents/incidents and inspect own area to take remedial action to minimize or eliminate hazards.
- Mentor, Coach, and Train staff members; Interview and Hire as needed
- Maintain adequate staffing
- Ensure all PEAK and URUS polices are being followed
- Schedule staff to ensure that workload is adequately covered
- Approve PTO and payroll via ADP
- Establish performance goals and objectives for direct reports
- Conduct performance evaluations and goal setting sessions with direct reports
- Provide training and development to staff
- Provide continual feedback and coaching for direct reports
- Create and facilitate an atmosphere that fosters teamwork
- Ensure new staff follow proper onboarding procedures
- Perform other duties and assume other responsibilities as assigned
Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, animal or life sciences is preferred
- Previous management experience
- PEAK lab experience preferred
- Ability to operate URUS Production System (UPS2) and assist others preferred
- If a current PEAK employee, must be compliant on all safety measures and current on all URUS University learning courses
- Basic knowledge of laboratory procedures and equipment (such as microscopy, cryopreservation, media preparation, record keeping, sterilization, etc.)
- Ability to frequently lift and/or move 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 45 pounds
- Detail-oriented, responsible, and ability to multi-task
- Comfortable and willing to work with liquid nitrogen and in a cold room
- Fluent computer skills in Microsoft Office
- Ability to work on feet and stand for long periods of time
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, team environment as well as possess effective communication skills
- Motivated and able to influence others
- Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills
- Willingness to develop and grow both personally and professionally.
Responsibility for Work of Others
Supervise direct reports within assigned area(s)/department(s)/division(s)
Physical Demands
The employee is occasionally required to sit, stand, and examine material for long periods of time. Handling dexterity is required for manipulation of equipment and small objects. The employee must frequently life and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 45 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, and peripheral vision; color recognition; depth perception, and ability to adjust to focus. Good or corrected eyesight is required to enable assurance of printing on small items, at times in a foggy atmosphere. The employee is occasionally required to drive a company vehicle.
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional laboratory that routinely uses standard lab equipment such as beakers, test tubes, flasks, thermometers, computers, and mechanized equipment. The employee frequently enters cold rooms and works with liquid nitrogen and other hazardous chemicals.