Lab Assistant (Quality Assurance)

Analytical Resource Laboratories (ARL) is a third-party contract laboratory specializing in microbiological and chemical testing of food, cosmetics, and dietary supplements. ARL has been offering analytical testing services for 23 years. We are looking for a team member with a background in analytical chemistry, microbiology, biophysics, or a closely related field, who is highly motivated, has great desire to learn, a quick learner, competent, meticulous, tech-savvy with excellent communication and organizational skills, personable, and proactive individual who is willing to wear multiples hats and embrace a "can-do" attitude to join our laboratory. 

Our team is seeking a team player who can thrive in a fast-paced and high pressured work environment to join our robust, hardworking, intelligent, responsible, adaptive, positive, accountable, and amazing team! The successful candidate has the drive to thrive in a fast-paced, high pressured work environment. This is an excellent entry-level position for individuals who love science in a to gain valuable experience and cultivate industry knowledge and skills in a third-party laboratory industry. 

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Quality Assistant, under the direction of Quality Management, will be responsible for maintaining controlled documents, including drafting updates and managing versioning. The incumbent will also be required to assist with maintaining quality related systems and any quality related projects, including CAPA investigations quality process training, and auditing. The incumbent will perform clerical filing, copying, and issuing of controlled documents for the lab and quality management. The incumbent may also be tasked with overseeing projects under the direct supervision of Quality Management. 

Essential duties and responsibilities, while under the supervision of a scientist and/or Team lead, include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead multiple projects with a focus on quality
• Assist Quality Management with vendor audits, internal audits, and customer audits
• Assist in governmental and ISO accreditation audits
• Review and update Standard Operating Procedures
• Review documents, including laboratory notebooks, calibration records, and raw data
• Organize and file controlled documents
• Assist in internal audits
• Work with Quality Management to ensure corrective actions and complaints are addressed promptly
• Participate in professional development courses and conferences as they pertain to the duties of this position and as directed by Quality Management
• Address quality concerns and complaints, initiating CAPA as necessary
• Create Laboratory Quality Reports for Quality Management
• Schedule, participate in, and/or lead Quality Management meetings
• Communicate the status and any issues regarding verbally and in writing
• Adhere to all GLP, GMP, and ISO regulations as they pertain to the position’s functions and duties
• Document all activities, results, and report back to supervisor
• Report work progress 
• Stay informed with the latest industry trends, techniques, and best practices
• Successfully complete all training, including skills and proficiency testing, within required timeframe
• Assist with SOP, protocol, and work instruction creation and revisions, under supervision
• Help ensure laboratory compliance with relevant regulations and standards at all levels
• Perform all duties and projects, as assigned by Quality Management

HIRING REQUIREMENTS & EXPECTATIONS

The candidate should demonstrate the following background, skills, abilities, and qualities, and availability:

• Minimum Education: Current matriculation in an accredited university, majoring inBachelor’s degree in Food Science, BioPhysics, Microbiology Analytical Chemistry, Biotechnology, or a closely related field
• Minimum Experience: Scientific research and technical writing; must be able to interpret and apply federal and ISO regulations applicable to work being done at ARL (i.e., ISO 17025:2017, FDA, cGMP, and GLP regulations)
• Preferred Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, BioPhysics, Microbiology Analytical Chemistry, Biotechnology, or a closely related field
• Preferred Experience: 1 years experience in Quality, with at least 2 years in lab leadership experience and knowledge of laboratory techniques and advanced understanding of laboratory procedures; internal audit experience/ASQ certified internal auditor
• Knowledge of metric system, scientific applications, experimental design, and data evaluation
• Clear understanding of the importance of maintaining a clean workspace by following approved procedures and laboratory regulations for testing, health, and safety.
• Critical and analytical thinker
• Fluency in English a must
• Must live within 50 miles of location
• Ability to work in GMP/GLP environment
• An excellent ability to keep calm under pressure and stay focused to successfully fulfill responsibilities
• Ability to maintain and build team morale at all times
• Ability to skillfully and professionally adapt to changing demands
• Strong attention to detail
• Responsibility and accountability
• Strong work and professional ethics
• Excellent communication
• Commitment to and history of compliance with rules, procedures, policies, and regulations
• Able to skillful and professionally adapt to changing scheduling and procedural demands
• Able to converse fluently in English, verbally and in writing
• Be able to lift at least 50lbs.
• Able to work within a schedule that allows for testing to be completed and reported on time.
• Must be able to work 5 days a week onsite (This is not a remote work position.)
• Able to travel up to 15% of work hours
• Comfortable working in a BSL II lab
• Available to work weekends whenever necessary
• Good understanding of laboratory information systems and laboratory equipment.
• Abide by ARL’s drug testing, background check, and drug-free policies.
• Comply with ARL quality protocols.
• Follow work schedule and attendance/time off requirements.
• Comply with ARL’s values and workplace policies
• Communicate professionally with team members and leadership to resolve any issues.
• Contribute to a positive and ethical work environment.
• Follow established and proper procedure for conflict resolution.
• Able to handle fast-paced, high-pressured work demands with confidence and professionalism.
• ARL does not offer work sponsorship for foreign workers. All individuals offered position must have U.S. work authorization in order to be employed.

COMPENSATION COMMENSURATES WITH EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

ABOUT ARL

Analytical Resource Laboratories LLC is a third-party quality testing laboratory in the food, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and pharmaceutical industry. It was established on January 1, 2000. In 2015, ARL partnered with Tentamus North America, Inc., a network of laboratories headquarter in Germany, to form International Contract Laboratories, LLC. We celebrate 22 years of serving the industry. We offer microbiology and chemistry testing services, as well as method development, to manufacturers, retailers, raw material providers, and even consumers. On June 1, 2021, ARL acquired EuTech Scientific Services, Inc. ARL laboratories are located in Utah, Arizona, Florida, and New Jersey. We continue to grow and expand to serve our partners across the United States.
ARL’s motto of “Doing it right, on time, every time,” not only means executing the right work to produce quality results professionally but doing what is right legally, morally, and ethically. Our greatest strength is in walking the moral high ground that drives our work, relationships, character, and leadership. They are reflected in the way we build our success and in the way we treat each other and our colleagues in the business, even our competitors. Doing it right is what sets us apart.

VISION

“To be the best quality lab in the industry founded on a championship culture of leaders who inspire good and elevate life wherever we go, doing what we exist to do”

MISSION

We exist to provide experience, professionalism, and value in world-leading analytical testing services at the highest level of integrity, reliability, timeliness, and accuracy by the best and greatest people. 

VALUES 

Experience: We stand for the highest level of performance, proficiency, and drive because ...

… we perfect our craft and seek learning anywhere, anytime.

… we don’t just avoid errors; we achieve excellence.

… we state our intentions and take deliberate actions.

… we embrace change and better ways of thinking.

This is how we do it right.

Professionalism: We manifest total commitment to doing our absolute best because …

… we exercise integrity, honesty, and transparency.

… we are effective, accountable, and reliable.

… we demonstrate that leadership is an active choice, not a passive position. 

… we deliver accuracy and quality in all our work.

… we take ownership of our stewardship.

This is who we are.

Value: We empower ourselves to bring value to those whose lives we impact by …

… building bridges of partnerships and service.

… inspiring moral discipline and character.

… creating authentic chemistry in our relationships.

… elevating the world through the results of our work.

The world is a better place because we are here. 

OUR WORK

We often hear the phrase “Don’t overpromise and under-deliver.” We do not make promises we cannot keep and represent what we aren’t. ARL is committed to truth and honesty. In our partnerships, our on-time timeline is driven by professional ethics to do the right work to produce correct results. We strive to fulfill the quality needs of our partners by setting reasonable expectations and realistic results. In our journey with our team, we do the same. No, we do not overpromise and under-deliver. Our goal is to deliver the unexpected. We set performance standards and realistic expectations for growth from advancement to progression. When you grow, we grow. When you perform, we deliver. We want you to trust that we will take your needs seriously without sacrificing integrity. It is the same conviction we take to our partners. There is no double standard.

OUR RELATIONSHIPS

When we say we care, we actually do something about it. We personally care about our success and how we serve yours. ARL is available for our partners as best as humanly possible, but we are present any time for our people. We make people care our priority, personally and inherently. Our commitment to long-lasting relationships started long before you joined our team. This is not just business for us; it is who we are. Doing it right and doing what is right are our creed to build a better everything for you and for the ARL family.

OUR CHARACTER

ARL’s team is hand-picked. Our team is a team of abundant thinkers. We think big. We think plenty, not empty. The strength of our performance comes from an attitude of gratitude and a marathon of moral altitude. Non-abundant thinkers don’t last. Our identity in the profession go hand in hand with our core values. While the work that we do are founded on expertise, knowledge, proficiency, and experience, we stake our professional dealings on integrity, charity, respect, and all that is ethical, right, and true. Our people strive to exemplify a higher standard and choose to take the better path. This means we do not sacrifice long-term relationships for short-term gains. We do not seek to win at any cost.. Rather, we seek to do it right by our people, our partners, and our planet. 
At ARL, we understand the importance of never burning a bridge. (We never know when we might have to cross that bridge again.) It is reflected in our external behavior and practices in developing trust in our professional and personal relationships within our team, with our partners, and with our community.

OUR LEADERSHIP

We seek to build a team of leader-leaders. Our goal is to give you the tools to be technically competent so that we can trust you to actively and effectively deliver results at the level we seek to achieve. More importantly, we want you to be able to embrace your stewardship and take your place in our team so that you can achieve a sense of meaning and purpose in your work. Leader-leaders don’t wait for growth to happen. Leader-leaders bring stability to chaos. They seek out weaknesses and turn them to strengths. They don’t sit in the cart as someone else pushes and pull to the finish line. They put their shoulders to the wheel because they can and because they will. Leader-leaders at ARL make things happen. Leader-leaders keep a positive eye on possibilities and opportunities to grow our work, our relationships, our character, and our potential for leadership. 

We treat fumbles and tumbles as opportunities to become stronger than we were the day before. Our focus is on building, maintaining, and supporting a team that does it right, on time, every time, and delivering the unexpected. This is the cornerstone of who we are.

If you resonate with our philosophy, we just might be the lab for you. Send us your application.