Technical Supervisor

**Technical Oversight**: - Supervise and coordinate all technical activities within the laboratory, including sample preparation, testing, data analysis, and result reporting and approval. - Ensure that testing procedures and methodologies comply with SANAS accreditation standards and relevant regulatory requirements. - Provide technical expertise and guidance to laboratory staff to resolve complex testing issues. **Quality Management**: - Support implementation and maintenance of the robust quality management system in line with SANAS accreditation standards (ISO/IEC 17025). - Monitor and enforce adherence to quality control procedures, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of test results. - Collaborate to conduct internal audits, address non-conformities, and implement corrective actions. - Technical oversight and guidance on method validation and method verification. **Team Management**: - Lead, mentor, and supervise a team of technicians. - Provide training, guidance, and professional development opportunities to enhance the skills and knowledge of laboratory staff. **Instrumentation and Equipment**: - Support the troubleshooting of all methods, instrumentation, and non-routine matrices. - Improve technical efficiencies with methods, planning execution of the work in progress requirements. - Support for repairs, upgrades, and procurement of new equipment/ other as needed. Provide technical input to the improvement and updates to LIMS functionalities. **Data Analysis and Reporting**: - Review, approve and analyse test data to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with specified standards and methods. - Prepare accurate and detailed test approval and correlations. - Verify and validate analytical results before finalizing reports for distribution. **Client Interaction**: - Act as a technical point of contact for clients, addressing technical inquiries and providing expert guidance on testing methodologies and results interpretation. - Collaborate with clients to understand their specific testing requirements and ensure that testing protocols meet their needs. **Regulatory Compliance**: - Stay current with environmental regulations, standards, and industry best practices. - Ensure that testing procedures and protocols align with relevant environmental regulations and guidelines **Continuous Improvement**: - Identify opportunities for process improvements, efficiency enhancements, and cost-saving measures. - Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the quality and efficiency of testing processes. - Stock control management and procurement of consumables and implementing cost effective solutions. **Leadership and Collaboration**: - Provide strong leadership, mentorship, and guidance to laboratory staff, fostering a collaborative and positive work environment. - Collaborate with other departments and stakeholders to improve overall laboratory operations and efficiency. **Requirements**: - Bachelor’s/ Masters/ >10 years relevant experience in environmental science, chemistry, biology, or a related field. - Extensive knowledge of environmental testing methodologies and techniques. - Strong understanding of SANAS accreditation standards (ISO/IEC 17025) and quality management principles. - Previous experience in a supervisory or managerial role within an accredited laboratory. Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills. - Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and precision. - Ability to work collaboratively in a team and effectively manage personnel. - Proficiency in laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and data analysis software. **Job Type**: Permanent Ability to commute/relocate: - Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (required) **Education**: - Bachelors (preferred) **Experience**: - Environmental Science, chemistry, biology: 10 years (preferred)