Bioassay Department Manager

Come join our family! Microbac Laboratories is an essential business offering competitive pay and benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, generous paid time off including vacation, holidays and flex-time, a wellness program, referral bonus, tuition reimbursement and more!

Whether you are just starting your career in science or looking to further it, Microbac will put you on the path of an exciting career with room to grow. Quality, safety, giving back to our communities, diversity and inclusion, customer success and employee wellbeing are part of our core culture. We are looking for experienced and motivated individuals to join our family as a Bioassay Department Manager in our Biomonitoring (Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing) Department.

ABOUT MICROBAC

Microbac serves our clients with the utmost expertise and respect for their market requirements, constraints and challenges. We embody a company-wide commitment to exceptional customer experience, which has been refined over nearly 50 years of trusted, analytical and measurement experience.

Through our network of laboratories, offices, and field services, we have the flexibility to meet the unique requirements for each client, project and scope.

As a privately held third-party testing company, Microbac operates with a commitment to safety, quality and compliance. Our diverse work portfolio includes broad accreditation offerings and tested insights across the environmental, food and nutrition and life science markets.

JOB SUMMARY

The Department Manager, working in an accredited commercial laboratory in Louisville, KY, performs a variety of routine scientific tasks in the biomonitoring department while also performing management functions and providing close supervision to the staff. Provides specific and detailed instructions as to required tasks and performance expected.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Analyzing wastewater effluent samples according to EPA Acute and Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity test methods and corresponding Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) using the following organisms:
  • Ceriodaphnia dubia
  • Pimephales Promelas (Fathead Minnow)
  • Daphnia magna
• Culturing and maintaining these organisms according to EPA Methods and SOPs
• Scheduling, directing and managing all activities and staff in the department
• Monitoring the stock of supplies and making orders as needed
• Perform statistical analyses using CETIS software
• Compile final reports to be issued to the customer
• Maintaining records of all quality activities as documented in SOPs and test methods
• Reviewing / writing SOPs and test methods
• Maintaining, calibrating, and troubleshooting scientific equipment
• Working closely with the Quality Assurance Manager to address all reported deficiencies or malfunctions in the department
• Improving laboratory and/or quality activities on a continuous basis

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• At least 2 years’ experience supervising or managing a Biomonitoring laboratory performing the above-mentioned EPA tests
• High School Diploma
• Basic knowledge of principles, terminology, practices, techniques and instrumentation commonly used in a laboratory setting
• Ability to effectively prioritize work and manage resources to meet deadlines
• Computer literacy
• Ability to work with delicate laboratory equipment
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and sit.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
• The temperature in the laboratory is maintained at 80 Fahrenheit.
• Exceptional near vision eyesight is required for seeing and manipulating very small organisms.

Working Conditions:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Weekend work is typically required on a scheduled basis.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.