Manager - Central Quality/ Food Safety Testing Lab

Role & responsibilities

Functional

• Monitor and ensure smooth functioning of the overall laboratory operations with goal of accomplishing excellence in customer satisfaction and business profitability
• Liaison with service & application engineers on matters related to equipment, including breakdown, maintenance and parts replacement. Maintain relevant files.
• Responsible to establish Lab Quality manual /SOPs/Checklists and revision from time to time
• Submitting the relevant reports as per SOP and track the samples for unfinished tests
• Implement and monitor all the safety measures across the lab.
• Handle technical queries and complaints of customers and other staff.
• Ensure adequate stock of all reagents and consumables by guiding the technicians in preparing indent and approving the same.
• Take an active role in internal & external audits, assist the reporting manager in resolving queries and implementation of corrective and preventive actions for the NCs.
• Prepare agenda for monthly team meeting, prepare minutes and circulate to all concerned
• Maintain files related to registration, accreditation and statutory requirements.
• Maintain personal competency in all areas of work undertaken to meet the requirements of accreditation and statutory bodies like NABL and FSSAI and other applicable statutory
• Timely Reporting of Sample Tests as per TAT (Turn Around Time)
• Ensuring TAT of outsourced tests is maintained
• Timely checking all the pending report status in the system
• Implementation of 5s across lab operations
• Timely delivery of reports. Train evaluate skills and guide lab technicians in the performance of tests.
• To train all the staff thoroughly, sample processing, QC and calibration, maintenance, and reporting
• Prepare & submit weekly reports.
• Daily meetings with the staff discussing issues and challenges
• Ensure that technicians are maintaining all files related to QC, Calibration and other applicable activities performed

Accreditations and continual improvements

• Responsible to coordinate with NABLand FSSAI authorities to get lab certified and sustained
• Drive for continual improvement in terms of results accuracy targeting nil error
• Responsible to drive the lab operation cost and appropriate measures to reduce the waste or non-value added activities
• Putting constant efforts in adding new testing procedures /equipments in order to keep the pace with current trends in analytical field

People development

• Take overall responsibility for people development initiatives and building up in-house capabilities for the employees in the department
• Drive a performance driven culture in the team by timely monitoring, review of performance parameters and feedback to the team members
• Contribute towards development of talent for the department by providing subordinates with adequate exposure and growth opportunities to enable readiness for higher roles
• Directing and leading the team personnel. Imparting continuous on job training to the workforce.
• Actively participate in HR initiatives to drive overall employee engagement and motivation
• Coordination with Internal /external customers
• Handling/training of shop floor manpower
• Resolve internal staff conflicts efficiently and to the mutual benefit of those involved

Any other additional responsibility could be assigned to the role holder from time to time as a standalone project or regular work. The same would be suitably represented in the Primary responsibilities and agreed between the incumbent, reporting officer and HR.