MSA Laboratories (T) Limited is a highly respected provider of geochemical and mineral analytical laboratory services in Tanzania. With a strong commitment to safety, quality, technical excellence and continuous improvement, we support the mining and exploration industry through reliable and high-quality analytical services.

As part of our continued growth, we are seeking a highly competent, experienced and results-driven professional to join our dynamic team in the position of LABORATORY MANAGER:

Location: Tanzania

THE ROLE

The Laboratory Manager will provide overall leadership and management of laboratory operations, ensure the efficient delivery of high-quality analytical services while maintain the highest standards of safety, quality, technical competence and operational performance.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing laboratory personnel, equipment, quality systems, production performance, client relationships and financial performance while ensuring compliance with applicable company policies, procedures and industry standards.

Responsibilities or duties

Operational Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the day-to-day operations of the laboratory.
• Ensure laboratory activities are efficiently planned, coordinated and executed to meet production targets and turnaround time requirements.
• Monitor workflow, sample volumes and operational performance and implement corrective actions where required.
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiency, productivity improvement and cost optimization.
• Ensure adequate availability and effective utilization of laboratory equipment, consumables and other operational resources.
• Coordinate equipment maintenance, calibration, repairs and replacement requirements.

Quality and Technical Management

• Maintain and continuously improve the Laboratory Quality Management System.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality standards, procedures, methods and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Oversee quality assurance and quality control programmes to ensure the accuracy, reliability and integrity of analytical results.
• Ensure appropriate investigation and resolution of non-conformances, deviations and quality-related issues.
• Support laboratory accreditation requirements and participate in internal and external audits.
• Review and approve analytical data and reports in accordance with authorized procedures and company requirements.
• Provide technical leadership, guidance and support to laboratory coordinators, analysts and operators.
• Ensure laboratory methods and procedures remain aligned with industry developments and client requirements.

Health, Safety and Compliance

• Promote and maintain a strong safety culture across all laboratory operations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable health, safety, environmental and quality requirements.
• Identify operational risks and implement appropriate control measures.
• Ensure incidents, hazards and non-conformances are appropriately reported, investigated and addressed.
• Promote continuous improvement in safety and operational practices.

People Management

• Lead, supervise, mentor and develop laboratory personnel.
• Monitor staffing requirements and recommend appropriate workforce adjustments.
• Ensure employees are appropriately trained, competent and authorized in accordance with the Training Matrix.
• Conduct performance management and provide regular coaching and feedback to employees.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, professionalism and a high-performance culture.
• Review and approve employee timesheets and other relevant operational documentation.

Financial and Commercial Performance

• Monitor laboratory revenue, sample volumes and operational costs against approved budgets and forecasts.
• Contribute to the preparation of operational budgets and forecasts.
• Identify opportunities for cost management and operational efficiency.
• Monitor key laboratory performance indicators and provide regular performance reports to management.
• Support business growth initiatives and identify opportunities to expand laboratory services.

Client Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong professional relationships with clients.
• Respond to client inquiries and operational concerns in a timely and professional manner.
• Work collaboratively with relevant departments to resolve client issues and maintain service excellence.
• Identify client needs and opportunities for service improvement and business growth.
• Ensure final analytical reports are issued in accordance with approved procedures and company requirements.

General

• Ensure compliance with all company policies, procedures and applicable legislation.
• Perform duties for which the employee has been appropriately trained, assessed and authorized.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties consistent with the position as may be assigned by management.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing Engineering, Metallurgy, Laboratory Technology or another relevant scientific discipline from a recognized institution.
• A master’s degree in a relevant discipline will be an added advantage.

Experience needed

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years' relevant experience in a mineral assay, geochemical or analytical laboratory environment.
• At least 2 years' experience in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Demonstrated experience in managing laboratory operations, quality systems and technical personnel.
• Experience working in a multinational and culturally diverse environment will be an added advantage.
• Experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) is essential.

Knowledge and Skills

• The successful candidate should demonstrate:
• Strong knowledge of mineral assay and geochemical laboratory operations.
• Knowledge of laboratory Quality Management Systems and QA/QC principles.
• Familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements will be an added advantage.
• Strong technical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and people management capability.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Swahili.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong commercial awareness and cost management capability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• High levels of integrity, accountability and professional judgement.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to meet the physical and operational requirements of a laboratory environment while complying with applicable health and safety requirements.

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the day-to-day operations of the laboratory.
• Ensure laboratory activities are efficiently planned, coordinated and executed to meet production targets and turnaround time requirements.
• Monitor workflow, sample volumes and operational performance and implement corrective actions where required.
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiency, productivity improvement and cost optimization.
• Ensure adequate availability and effective utilization of laboratory equipment, consumables and other operational resources.
• Coordinate equipment maintenance, calibration, repairs and replacement requirements.
• Maintain and continuously improve the Laboratory Quality Management System.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality standards, procedures, methods and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Oversee quality assurance and quality control programmes to ensure the accuracy, reliability and integrity of analytical results.
• Ensure appropriate investigation and resolution of non-conformances, deviations and quality-related issues.
• Support laboratory accreditation requirements and participate in internal and external audits.
• Review and approve analytical data and reports in accordance with authorized procedures and company requirements.
• Provide technical leadership, guidance and support to laboratory coordinators, analysts and operators.
• Ensure laboratory methods and procedures remain aligned with industry developments and client requirements.
• Promote and maintain a strong safety culture across all laboratory operations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable health, safety, environmental and quality requirements.
• Identify operational risks and implement appropriate control measures.
• Ensure incidents, hazards and non-conformances are appropriately reported, investigated and addressed.
• Promote continuous improvement in safety and operational practices.
• Lead, supervise, mentor and develop laboratory personnel.
• Monitor staffing requirements and recommend appropriate workforce adjustments.
• Ensure employees are appropriately trained, competent and authorized in accordance with the Training Matrix.
• Conduct performance management and provide regular coaching and feedback to employees.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, professionalism and a high-performance culture.
• Review and approve employee timesheets and other relevant operational documentation.
• Monitor laboratory revenue, sample volumes and operational costs against approved budgets and forecasts.
• Contribute to the preparation of operational budgets and forecasts.
• Identify opportunities for cost management and operational efficiency.
• Monitor key laboratory performance indicators and provide regular performance reports to management.
• Support business growth initiatives and identify opportunities to expand laboratory services.
• Develop and maintain strong professional relationships with clients.
• Respond to client inquiries and operational concerns in a timely and professional manner.
• Work collaboratively with relevant departments to resolve client issues and maintain service excellence.
• Identify client needs and opportunities for service improvement and business growth.
• Ensure final analytical reports are issued in accordance with approved procedures and company requirements.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, procedures and applicable legislation.
• Perform duties for which the employee has been appropriately trained, assessed and authorized.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties consistent with the position as may be assigned by management.

• Strong knowledge of mineral assay and geochemical laboratory operations.
• Knowledge of laboratory Quality Management Systems and QA/QC principles.
• Familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements will be an added advantage.
• Strong technical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and people management capability.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Swahili.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong commercial awareness and cost management capability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• High levels of integrity, accountability and professional judgement.

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing Engineering, Metallurgy, Laboratory Technology or another relevant scientific discipline from a recognized institution.
• A master’s degree in a relevant discipline will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years' relevant experience in a mineral assay, geochemical or analytical laboratory environment.
• At least 2 years' experience in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Demonstrated experience in managing laboratory operations, quality systems and technical personnel.
• Experience working in a multinational and culturally diverse environment will be an added advantage.
• Experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) is essential.