Pharmaceutical Microbiology Team Lead

Summary:

ARL is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Laboratory Supervisor/Lead Microbiologist to join our team. In this role, you will oversee the day-to-day operations of the pharmaceutical microbiology laboratory, mentor junior microbiologists, and ensure the highest quality of microbiological testing services for our clients.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Technical Expertise:

• Perform complex microbiological testing procedures, including but not limited to sterility testing, bioburden determination, endotoxin testing, antimicrobial effectiveness testing, and environmental monitoring.
• Independently analyze microbiological data, interpret results, and prepare accurate and concise technical reports.
• Develop and validate new microbiological test methods as needed.
• Troubleshoot instrument issues and ensure proper equipment maintenance and calibration (e.g., autoclaves, incubators, laminar flow hoods).
• Communicate with partners and other departments to help interpret results and answer technical questions as necessary
• Stay up to date of the latest advancements in pharmaceutical microbiology techniques and industry best practices.

Team Leadership:

• Supervise and mentor junior microbiologists, providing training and guidance on aseptic technique, microbiological media preparation, and safety procedures.
• Manage weekly and holiday schedule for team members.
• Manage weekend shifts and cover for team members when needed.
• Assign and monitor work assignments, ensuring timely completion of projects and adherence to deadlines.
• Conduct performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members.
• Foster a positive and collaborative work environment.

Laboratory Operations:

• Oversee the daily operations of the pharmaceutical microbiology laboratory, ensuring efficient workflow and compliance with all relevant regulations (e.g., GMP, GLP, ISO).
• Maintain accurate and complete laboratory records and documentation.
• Ensure proper inventory management of microbiological media, reagents, and supplies.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment.
• Participate in internal and external audits and inspections.

Quality Assurance:

• Investigate and resolve any microbiological discrepancies or out-of-specification results.
• Implement and maintain quality control procedures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of all microbiological data.
• Collaborate with the Quality Control team to ensure compliance with all quality standards.

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 such as sterility testing, bioburden determination, endotoxin testing, antimicrobial effectiveness testing, and environmental monitoring.
• 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.
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.

Salary : $60,000 - $70,000