Laboratory Manager jobs in Peoria, IL

BASIC FUNCTION:

Carthage Veterinary Service is seeking a Manager for our Diagnostic Laboratory located in Carthage, Illinois. The Diagnostic Laboratory Manager will be responsible for delivering high-quality service through training, experience, and diagnostic data management. Their core purpose is to maintain adherence to established diagnostic standards, regulations, and best practices, ensuring reliable results and consistent service to our clients. Your leadership will be pivotal in maintaining operational functionality, efficiency, and fostering growth and development of the laboratory team.

This position will lead the team in performing technical lab work, including ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and rt-PCR (Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction).  The Diagnostic Laboratory Manager will assist and manage the processing of specimens, perform molecular techniques associated with PCR, perform immunoassay (ELISA) and report diagnostic results to the veterinary team.  This position will report directly to the General Manager.

The position operates on a Monday-Friday schedule from 8 am to 5 pm, with alternating Sunday and Holiday shifts as needed. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide strong leadership to a team of laboratory professionals and ensure alignment with company goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with external laboratory partners to ensure methods and validations meet certification and compliance requirements.
• Aid in the development and implementation of approved work processes, including SOPs.
• Act as the lab's change agent, implementing process improvements and streamlining procedures.
• Determine proper levels of materials, maintain inventory, and oversee validation processes for materials from new suppliers.
• Schedule staff to ensure optimum production and work coverage.
• Conduct new employee training and cross-training in compliance with lab rules, regulations, standard work, and approved guidelines.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced molecular biology environment requiring a high level of precision. 
• Use/operate bio-safety cabinets, incubators, centrifuges, washers, vortexers, analyzers and other supporting laboratory equipment.
• Prepare, process, analyze and store samples according to standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Perform PCR-based techniques such as extraction of DNA/RNA, prepare wet/dry Master Mix for PCR reactions, and analysis of run curves.
• Work with hazardous chemicals and biological materials (handling and disposal) using appropriate PPE
• Oversee quality control procedures to ensure instrumentation is functioning properly and testing is accurate.
• Monitor and report scientific progress to ensure that appropriate Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) procedures are followed.
• Configure, operate and maintain specialized equipment.
• Comply with company and departmental SOPs and strictly adhere to biosecurity policies and procedures to ensure QA and QC requirements are met.
• Effectively manages projects and workload as assigned by management and the veterinary team.

EDUCATION & WORK EXPERIENCE

1. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
2. 5-7 years lab experience (molecular lab experience preferred)
3. 2-3 years in a leadership role
4. OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Competency in all assigned lab functions to independently perform duties and responsibilities.
• Strong attention to detail and maintaining organized and accurate records.
• Ability to handle a high-volume environment while maintaining the highest level of quality.
• Ability to assist less experienced staff with problem solving and learning new techniques.
• A willingness to learn new techniques, procedures, and equipment.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, Word, Power Point and Outlook
• Customer service mindset with strong interpersonal and commutation skills-both written and verbal.
• Positive ability to implement change.