Aggregate Lab Manager (AMRG)

AGGREGATE & MATERIALS LABORATORY MANAGER

Department: Operations

Division: Aggregate & Materials Laboratory

Location: Desert Center, CA

Classification: Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Onsite

Schedule: As assigned based on operational requirements

Pay Range: $40.00 - $55.00 / hour

Reports To

Mine Operations Manager

Position Summary

Aggregate Mineral Resource Group, LLC (AMRG) is seeking an experienced, technically skilled, and detail-oriented Aggregate & Materials Laboratory Manager to lead laboratory operations supporting aggregate production, rock and construction-material testing, product quality, process control, and operational quality assurance.

This position will oversee laboratory personnel, sampling, sample preparation, aggregate and rock testing, QA/QC, equipment calibration and maintenance, technical reporting, laboratory scheduling, and coordination with plant and operations personnel. The manager will ensure laboratory results are accurate, repeatable, timely, and aligned with applicable specifications and recognized testing standards.

The ideal candidate will bring practical experience managing an aggregate, geotechnical, construction-materials, mining, quarry, or related industrial laboratory. Strong experience with aggregate gradation, physical-property testing, ASTM/AASHTO procedures, laboratory quality systems, technician supervision, equipment calibration, and technical report review is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of the aggregate and materials laboratory, including personnel, workflow, testing schedules, sample priorities, equipment availability, and reporting deadlines.
• Supervise laboratory technicians and provide training, work assignments, technical guidance, performance feedback, and competency verification.
• Coordinate laboratory workload and staffing levels with aggregate production, quarry, plant, project, customer, and operational requirements.
• Oversee representative sampling of aggregate, rock, stockpiles, feed material, processed material, and finished products.
• Establish and maintain procedures for sample identification, labeling, tracking, storage, splitting, drying, crushing, sieving, and other applicable preparation activities.
• Perform or oversee sieve analysis and aggregate gradation testing and evaluate results against applicable product, project, customer, and plant specifications.
• Perform or oversee moisture content, moisture-density, specific gravity, absorption, unit weight, particle characteristics, and other applicable physical-property testing.
• Coordinate abrasion, durability, soundness, and other specialized aggregate testing internally or through qualified outside laboratories when required.
• Support aggregate quality control by identifying material variation, out-of-specification results, stockpile inconsistencies, production trends, and potential corrective actions.
• Work with plant, quarry, processing, and operations personnel to evaluate crusher settings, screening performance, stockpile practices, product consistency, and other factors affecting aggregate quality.
• Ensure laboratory and field testing is performed in accordance with established procedures, applicable specifications, and relevant ASTM, AASHTO, agency, or customer requirements.
• Establish and maintain laboratory QA/QC procedures, control checks, repeat-testing criteria, documentation standards, and internal audit practices.
• Review laboratory data, test results, material certifications, and technical reports for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and compliance before release.
• Investigate abnormal, inconsistent, or out-of-specification results and coordinate resampling, retesting, process review, or corrective action as appropriate.
• Oversee operation, calibration, verification, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair coordination for sieves, balances, scales, ovens, moisture analyzers, crushers, splitters, shakers, and other laboratory equipment.
• Maintain calibration records, equipment logs, sample records, testing documentation, QA/QC records, certifications, and laboratory reports in an organized and traceable manner.
• Generate daily, weekly, monthly, and project-specific laboratory reports for operations and management and communicate material-quality trends or concerns promptly.
• Coordinate third-party laboratories, inspectors, customers, agencies, consultants, and testing providers when outside verification or specialized testing is required.
• Develop and maintain laboratory SOPs, training materials, testing procedures, quality-control programs, and continuity plans.
• Support laboratory inspections, audits, certifications, or accreditation activities when applicable.
• Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and compliant laboratory environment and enforce applicable MSHA, OSHA, environmental, equipment-safety, sample-handling, and company requirements.