Microbiology Lab Lead

Job Description

Job DescriptionSalary: Evaluated based on experience

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 greatdesire 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.

Summary

The Microbiology Lab Lead plays a critical role in overseeing microbiological testing operations, ensuring compliance with all quality and safety standards, and supporting ARLs mission of delivering accurate and timely results. This position requires strong technical skills, leadership abilities, and the capacity to manage site operations while coordinating with multiple ARL locations

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Laboratory Testing & Analysis

• Process samples and perform routine as well as advanced microbiological tests.
• Assist in method validation projects as directed.
• Classify and label samples according to established protocols.
• Complete sample preparation and testing in compliance with approved SOPs and correct techniques.
• Record, analyze, document, and review test results.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records in compliance with quality standards.
• Review data for accuracy and completeness before reporting.
• Adhere to all GLP, GMP, and ISO regulations related to microbiology laboratory functions.
• Stay current on industry trends, techniques, and best practices.
• Monitor and resolve control failures.

Instrumentation & Facility Maintenance

• Demonstrate skill in maintaining analytical instruments and troubleshooting issues.
• Maintain and calibrate laboratory equipment as assigned.
• Clean and sterilize laboratory workspace and equipment.
• Support lab-specific waste management practices.
• Maintain cleanliness in ARLs Lehi Microbiology facilities assigned under your leadership.

Compliance & Documentation

• Follow all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and workplace policies.
• Work with management to ensure SOPs are up-to-date and match current processes.
• Comply with all ARL health, safety, and regulatory standards.
• Document all activities, results, and communications with accuracy.
• Report work progress, testing readiness, and any issues to the supervisor in a timely manner.
• Successfully complete all assigned training, skills, and proficiency testing within required timelines.

Leadership & Support

• Serve as a voice and leader for both day and night crew teams, ensuring communication, collaboration, and consistency between shifts.
• Lead, support, and report lab services.
• Oversee scheduling to ensure workload balance and productivity.
• Coordinate and perform operational tasks.
• Work closely with cross-functional departments to align with ARLs mission, vision, and objectives.
• Cultivate team members by conducting performance reviews, 1-on-1s, and technical trainings in order to achieve established KPIs.
• Cultivate team members for future professional growth opportunities.
• Monitor and report KPIs to upper management.
• Be available to cover weekend shifts, when necessary.

Special Projects

• Complete special projects as assigned by management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Biology, or a related scientific field.
• Minimum 4 years of hands-on experience in a pharmaceutical or related microbiology laboratory.
• Proven experience in performing microbiological tests.
• Strong understanding of microbiological principles, including aseptic technique, media preparation, and data analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
• Experience with GMP/GLP regulations preferred.

COMPENSATION RATE DEPENDENT ON RELEVANT INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

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.
ARLs 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 dont 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 Dont overpromise and under-deliver. We do not make promises we cannot keep and represent what we arent. 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

ARLs 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 dont 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 dont wait for growth to happen. Leader-leaders bring stability to chaos. They seek out weaknesses and turn them to strengths. They dont 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.