Laboratory Coordinator

Position Overview

As Johnsonville’s Laboratory Coordinator, you’ll have the opportunity to lead and develop our microbiology and chemistry teams while building laboratory capabilities that make an impact across the business. You’ll ensure reliable, accurate and defensible laboratory testing, lead our journey to A2LA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025, and create a culture of quality, continuous improvement, and audit readiness. You’ll also partner across the organization to turn technical insights into meaningful action and ensure our laboratory continues to meet the evolving needs of the business.

Responsibilities

Accreditation & Quality Management 

• Lead attainment and maintenance of A2LA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025, including the application, scope, assessments, renewals, and corrective-action responses. 
• Own the laboratory quality management system, including document control, internal audits, management reviews, nonconforming work, complaints, corrective action, impartiality, confidentiality, and continual improvement. 
• Maintain proficiency testing, quality indicators, and objective evidence demonstrating the ongoing suitability and effectiveness of the accredited scope. 

Technical Leadership - Meat Microbiology & Chemistry 

• Provide technical oversight for meat and poultry sample receipt, preparation, microbiology and chemistry testing, result review, and reporting. 
• Ensure methods are fit for use through appropriate selection, verification, validation, quality controls, measurement traceability, equipment control, and evaluation of uncertainty where applicable. 
• Authorize defensible results and lead technical investigations, method troubleshooting, technology evaluation, and support for plant and enterprise needs. 

People Leadership & Laboratory Operations 

• Coach laboratory members and maintain documented training, competency assessment, authorization, cross-training, and succession coverage for critical responsibilities. 
• Direct staffing, workflow, sample custody, testing schedules, safety, supplies, budgets, capital planning, service providers, and laboratory capacity. 
• Maintain LIMS data integrity and use trends, statistical analysis, and process improvement to strengthen reliability, turnaround time, and cost effectiveness. 

Cross-Functional Partnership & Technical Influence 

• Serve as the laboratory technical representative with FSQ, Operations, Sanitation, R&D, Regulatory, Engineering, Supply Chain, suppliers, and co-manufacturers. 
• Translate microbiology and chemistry results, trends, capabilities, limitations, and emerging risks into clear business context and recommended actions. 
• Partner on investigations, validations, startups, process changes, and food safety initiatives while protecting laboratory impartiality and result integrity. 
• Proactively align laboratory methods, technology, capacity, and priorities with evolving business needs. 

Education

• Bachelor’s in microbiology, food science, meat science, or related science required

Experience

• 7+ years of progressive laboratory experience in food, meat, microbiology, chemistry, or another regulated testing environment, required
• 3+ years of laboratory leadership or supervisory responsibility, required
• Proven success building team capability and leading laboratory operations while balancing quality, service, capacity, and business priorities
• Background working within or implementing an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory, required
• A2LA assessment preparation or participation strongly preferred
• Food or meat microbiology and chemistry testing background, including pathogen, environmental, compositional, and rapid methods, strongly preferred
• Experience with LIMS, data governance, statistical analysis, and Microsoft 365 applications, preferred

Skills

• Strong knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025, accreditation requirements, and audit readiness
• Knowledge of method verification/validation, quality control, proficiency testing, corrective action, equipment and document control, and competency authorization
• Strong scientific judgment and risk-based decision-making
• Ability to translate technical and accreditation requirements into practical, sustainable laboratory processes
• Strong root-cause analysis, problem-solving, and continuous-improvement capabilities
• Effective project management, prioritization, and change leadership
• Strong organization and attention to detail, with the ability to balance daily execution and long-term laboratory strategy
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly across laboratory, plant, regulatory, and leadership audiences

Other Requirements

• Travel: Less than 10% of your time

Benefits and Compensation

Members have potential for a monthly bonus and 401k with a company match. Members also have access to terrific benefits including affordable medical, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; disability and life insurance; and fertility and adoption assistance. Johnsonville also offers competitive paid time off, including paid parental time off, as well as access to the 24/7 onsite fitness center, and onsite medical clinic! Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the country where this job is located, without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.