General Manager, Personal Care & Cosmetics Laboratory
6 days ago
Burbank
Job DescriptionPosition Summary Certified Group is seeking a General Manager to lead its Personal Care & Cosmetics laboratory operations in Burbank, CA. This executive-level role carries full responsibility for site operations, financial performance, technical execution, and regulatory compliance. The General Manager will drive business performance within a GMP-regulated environment, lead a high-performing technical and operational team, and ensure exceptional client service. This role holds full P&L ownership and is accountable for operational excellence, quality systems, employee engagement, and long-term strategic growth. The ideal candidate brings strong business acumen and proven site leadership, combined with deep technical expertise in analytical chemistry—particularly near-expert knowledge of chromatographic operations. This individual must confidently guide technical decision-making, assess analytical challenges, and communicate risks, root causes, and solutions effectively. ResponsibilitiesStrategic & Site Leadership • Lead overall site strategy, performance, and growth initiatives, • Develop and execute annual operating and business plans, • Drive continuous improvement across operations, quality, and technical capabilities, • Serve as the senior escalation point for operational, technical, quality, and client issues, • Align site strategy with long-term growth across personal care, cosmetics, OTC, and regulated testing, • Integrate commercial priorities with operational execution and sound scientific judgmentFinancial & Business Performance, • Own full site P&L, including revenue growth, margins, and EBITDA, • Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes, • Monitor KPIs such as utilization, turnaround time, productivity, and capacity, • Partner with commercial teams on client retention, pricing, and growth opportunities, • Support capital investments in instrumentation, automation, and infrastructure, • Evaluate financial performance in the context of laboratory operations and technical complexityQuality & Regulatory Oversight, • Ensure compliance with GMP and applicable regulatory standards, • Maintain inspection readiness and lead audits (regulatory and client), • Champion data integrity, documentation, and quality system effectiveness, • Ensure methods are scientifically sound and properly validated/verified, • Oversee investigations (OOS/OOT, deviations, CAPA) and technical issue resolution, • Lead in complex technical scenarios involving chromatography, method performance, and data quality, • Foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and scientific rigorOperational Management, • Oversee laboratory functions including Chemistry, Microbiology, Stability, and Sample Management, • Align staffing and resources to meet operational and business needs, • Optimize workflows to improve efficiency, turnaround time, and quality, • Ensure proper equipment, methods, training, and controls are in place, • Drive improvements in instrument utilization, sample flow, and cross-functional coordination, • Support expansion of technical capabilities (e.g., LC, GC, wet chemistry), • Maintain strong technical oversight of chromatography-driven operationsLeadership & Talent Development, • Lead and develop a cross-functional leadership team, • Build a high-performance, accountable, and engaged culture, • Drive succession planning and talent development initiatives, • Promote safety, collaboration, and continuous learning, • Mentor teams in technical problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision-making, • Ensure strong competency in analytical chemistry, chromatography, and GMP practices, • Establish high standards for analytical rigor and data-driven decisionsQualificationsEducation, • Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or related scientific field (required), • Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D.) and/or MBA (preferred)Experience, • 10+ years of leadership experience in a GMP-regulated laboratory environment, • Experience as a General Manager, Site Leader, Laboratory Director, or similar role, • Demonstrated P&L ownership and financial management expertise, • Proven experience with regulatory inspections and client audits, • Background in personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, biotech, OTC, or contract lab services (preferred), • Strong experience leading analytical chemistry operations, including chromatography and wet chemistry, • Deep technical expertise in chromatographic systems (HPLC, UPLC, GC, GC-MS, LC-MS, LC-MS/MS), • Proven ability to troubleshoot, interpret data, and lead root cause investigations, • Strong foundation in classical/wet chemistry techniquesCore Competencies, • Executive leadership and strategic thinking, • Financial and operational acumen, • Deep knowledge of GMP quality systems, • Advanced expertise in analytical chemistry and chromatography, • Strong technical judgment and problem-solving ability, • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly, • Client-focused mindset, • Change leadership and organizational development, • Executive presence and strong communication skills