Laboratory Director, Eurofins Environment Testing Northern California - Air Toxics, Folsom, CA

Eurofins Environment Testing is seeking a Laboratory Director to lead our team! The Laboratory Director is responsible for ensuring a positive operating margin, meeting or exceeding annual budgetary goals, and overseeing daily laboratory operations to efficiently meet client needs while achieving quality and production objectives. This role involves supervising personnel, ensuring compliance with corporate and regulatory policies, and providing leadership and direction. The Director serves as a liaison with corporate business partners, champions company policies and mission, and provides technical support to client services, sales, and other departments. Additionally, they support Group Leaders in managing staff and production to align with company goals.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Provide overall operational, and administrative leadership for laboratory operations, ensuring efficiency, quality, compliance, and financial performance.
Drive revenue growth and profitability while minimizing the cost of product delivery and meeting turnaround time, quality, and customer service objectives.
Partner closely with Laboratory Managers, Group Leaders, and the Business Unit Manager to prioritize operational initiatives, review financial performance, implement cost controls, and achieve KPIs and budget targets.
Oversee the implementation of new technologies, methods, and systems into production to support business growth, regulatory requirements, and continuous improvement.
Lead and support the Project Management team, including the development of customer relationship and retention strategies to enhance service quality and long-term partnerships.
Maintain strong customer relationships and support high-level client negotiations by contributing technical expertise, operational insight, and long-term strategic planning.
Foster a positive, high-performing laboratory culture that emphasizes teamwork, accountability, safety, engagement, and professional development.
Coordinate and oversee staff development, coaching, training, performance management, and succession planning across laboratory and operations teams, ensuring fair and legally compliant employee practices in collaboration with HR.
Conduct performance appraisals, recommend compensation adjustments aligned with performance and budget guidelines, and take corrective actions as needed.
Coach and mentor Group Leaders and Supervisors to strengthen leadership capability, accountability, and operational effectiveness.
Establish, implement, and monitor productivity, quality, and safety metrics; identify improvement opportunities and enact contingency plans when performance deviates from targets.
Lead health, safety, quality, ethics, and compliance initiatives, ensuring all company policies and regulatory requirements are communicated, understood, and followed.
Collaborate with Quality Assurance to develop, implement, and review standard operating procedures and ensure sustainable, audit-ready processes across departments.
Partner with the Business Unit Manager to review financial performance and implement cost control measures.
Provide monthly performance reports and identify improvement opportunities.
Actively participate in workforce planning, recruitment, and interview processes, clearly articulating required skills and competencies to support current and future operational needs.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Finance, HR, IT, Sales, and corporate partners to ensure alignment, effective resource utilization, and adoption of best practices.
Provide clear communication of company initiatives, goals, and expectations to employees, reinforcing engagement and organizational alignment.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned to support business objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Lead business operations with a focus on profitability, efficiency improvements, and automation.
Ensure customer satisfaction while developing technical staff skills and maintaining state-of-the-art instrumentation.
Provide leadership in personnel and equipment management.
Analyze and recommend staffing and equipment needs while adhering to budget constraints.
Design and implement production metrics to monitor performance, productivity, and profitability.
Develop and execute contingency plans to address equipment failures, staffing shortages, production backlogs, and fluctuations in sample volume.
Lead initiatives to improve analytical capacity, reduce turnaround times, strengthen quality performance, and enhance customer satisfaction.
Drive continuous improvements to enhance cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
Supervise, mentor, and train staff while overseeing performance evaluations.
Perform other duties and special projects as required.
Performance Evaluation Criteria
Achievement of established revenue growth, profitability, and financial performance targets.
Effectiveness in managing operational costs, optimizing resources, and improving overall laboratory efficiency.
Achievement of established laboratory operational goals and key performance indicators, including productivity, turnaround times, quality, and customer satisfaction.
Consistent achievement of corporate performance objectives and KPIs, ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals and expectations.
Effectiveness in developing, mentoring, and strengthening the leadership capabilities of key staff members.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a scientific field.
Minimum of 7 years of environmental lab management experience.
Strong leadership, initiative, and team-building skills.
Experience with laboratory operations and services.
Experience managing a team of at least 20 scientists and technicians.
Proven ability to manage business operations with profit/loss responsibility.
Expertise in VOC analysis under SW846 or EPA TO method guidelines.
Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and delegation abilities.
Ability to handle contracts and negotiations effectively.
Proficiency in GCMS techniques and instrumentation.
Track record of improving laboratory efficiency and profitability.
Knowledge of federal and state employment laws.
Experience in leading quality system improvements, including audits and corrective action plans.
Ability to engage with key clients and discuss technical and business solutions.
Demonstrated leadership in both downsizing and business growth scenarios.
Excellent communication, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively, with adaptability and a positive attitude.
Willingness to travel occasionally to other laboratory locations.
Authorization to work in the United States indefinitely without restriction or sponsorship
Professional working proficiency in English is a requirement, including the ability to read, write and speak in English

Employment type
Full-time

Work arrangement
No