Laboratory NA Sr Manager

The Laboratory Senior Manager leads laboratory operations across two sites in Puerto Rico and Atlanta, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant analytical testing to support manufacturing and supply continuity. Beyond analysis and product approvals, the role drives the transformation and digitalization of laboratory processes to improve efficiency, data integrity, and decisionmaking. Working closely with Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Digital teams, the Laboratory Senior Manager standardizes practices, develops talent, and advances innovation while ensuring full compliance with regulatory and company quality standards across North America.

What You'll Do for Us

• Laboratory Operations & Service Excellence
  
  
  • Lead laboratory operations across North America (Puerto Rico and Atlanta), ensuring timely, accurate, and reliable analytical testing to support manufacturing, quality release, and continuity of supply.

• Ensure laboratories meet service level expectations for analysis, approvals, and technical support to Operations and Quality teams.

• Standardize laboratory processes, methods, and performance management across both sites.

• Ensure full compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements related to laboratory operations, quality, and food safety.

• Achieve, maintain, and continuously improve ISO 17025 accreditation for applicable laboratories, including scope management, method validation, proficiency testing, and competency requirements.

• Lead preparation, execution, and followup for internal, external, regulatory, and corporate audits, including ISO standards (17025, 9001, 14001, 45001, 22000), KORE, Finance Corporate Audits (as applicable to lab processes), and other required company or regulatory audits.

• Own corrective and preventive action (CAPA) management for audit findings, ensuring timely and sustainable closure.

• Partner closely with QSE and Quality Assurance teams to ensure alignment of laboratory quality systems with overall plant and CPS NA quality frameworks.

• Lead the transformation and digitalization of laboratory processes to improve efficiency, data integrity, traceability, and decisionmaking.

• Drive the implementation and optimization of digital tools such as LIMS, electronic records, automation of sample handling, and advanced data analytics.

• Identify and deploy innovative analytical technologies and methodologies to enhance speed, accuracy, and cost effectiveness.

• Promote continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies within laboratory operations.

• Lead, coach, and develop laboratory supervisors, scientists, analysts, and technicians across both sites.

• Build a highengagement culture focused on technical excellence, compliance, accountability, and innovation.

• Ensure appropriate training, certification, and competency management in line with ISO 17025 and company requirements.

• Drive succession planning and capability building for critical laboratory roles.

• Partner with Manufacturing, PQA, Engineering, Automation, Supply Chain, and Digital teams to support product launches, process changes, and issue resolution.

• Provide technical input to capital projects, new technologies, and equipment commissioning impacting laboratory operations.

• Act as the primary laboratory interface for corporate, regional, and global quality and technical networks.

• Own laboratory KPIs related to quality, service, cost, productivity, and compliance.

• Manage laboratory budgets, resources, and external testing services, identifying optimization and costreduction opportunities.

• Ensure effective planning and prioritization of laboratory work to meet business needs.

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Production, Chemistry Engineer, of Foods, or similar graduation. Specialization in Production Engineering and Desirable MBA.
• 10+ years of work experience with progression of quality systems management in a manufacturing environment preferably in the consumer good industry.
• Desirable Technical
  
  
  • Operations knowledge
  • Financial management
  • SAP-S4 knowledge
  • Operational Excellence - Lean Manufacturing.
  • Quality assurance
  • Production Process Optimization.
  • New Technologies/Automation.
  • Food Safety.
  • Warehouse Management
  • Production process in Food industries/Beverage (desirable).
  • Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
  • Additional Fundamental / Personal
  • Cope and perform under uncertainty.
  • Strategic Thinking.
  • People and Customer oriented.
  • Changes Management.
  • Structured Problem Solving.
  • Adjustment /Flexibility.
  • Assertive Communication in all levels or the organization
  • Team Leadership.
  • Innovation.
  • Self-Development.
  • Negotiation

• Purpose Driven: Purpose driven approach that empowers our people to protect the environment and communities we serve while delivering safe & quality products.
• Global Connections: Allows you to develop, enhance and maintain global connections that allow us to move faster and learn from others.
• Community of Belonging: We're an organization that believes our ability to continually grow and build the right atmosphere where people feel safe and empowered allows you bring your best self to work.