Laboratory Manager – Analytical Cannabis Testing (ISO/IEC 17025)

US Cannalytics | East Hanover, NJ | On-site

Salary: $90,000–$100,000 annually, depending on experience

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

About US Cannalytics

US Cannalytics is a multi-state, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited cannabis testing laboratory committed to delivering accurate, reliable, and defensible analytical testing results. We are seeking an experienced, highly motivated Laboratory Manager to oversee daily analytical laboratory operations at our East Hanover, New Jersey facility.

This is a hands-on technical leadership position requiring a strong background in analytical chemistry, laboratory operations, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and personnel management.

The Laboratory Manager reports directly to the Laboratory Director and serves as the Laboratory Director's Designee, providing technical oversight and operational leadership across the analytical department.

The ideal candidate is a proactive, detail-oriented leader who can effectively manage laboratory production, develop technical personnel, maintain regulatory compliance, and continuously improve operational efficiency in a fast-paced, high-throughput testing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Operations & Production Management

• Direct and oversee daily analytical laboratory operations to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant testing.

• Manage analytical workflows across HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS, ICP-MS, and applicable microbiological testing methods.

• Monitor daily sample production, laboratory capacity, instrument availability, and turnaround times.

• Coordinate staffing, laboratory schedules, and workload distribution to maintain production efficiency.

• Anticipate operational needs associated with increased sample volumes, staffing changes, inspections, and accreditation activities.

• Perform hands-on laboratory activities, including sample preparation, analytical testing, and data analysis, as needed to support production.

• Identify workflow inefficiencies and implement improvements to increase throughput, consistency, and data quality.

• Ensure timely completion of client-specific reporting, regulatory data trending, and applicable laboratory deliverables.

Quality Assurance, Regulatory Compliance & Data Integrity

• Serve as the Laboratory Director's Designee for technical oversight, data review, quality control, and documented approval of analytical test results within the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

• Ensure compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017, applicable New Jersey cannabis testing regulations, internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and laboratory quality management systems.

• Review analytical data, quality control results, and testing documentation for accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance.

• Support and coordinate internal audits, regulatory inspections, accreditation assessments, and proficiency testing activities.

• Investigate nonconforming work, conduct root cause analyses, and implement appropriate corrective actions.

• Develop, review, and maintain laboratory policies, SOPs, test methods, training documentation, and quality records.

• Monitor laboratory logs, equipment verification records, environmental monitoring, and required compliance documentation.

• Maintain laboratory readiness for regulatory inspections and accreditation assessments.

Technical & Instrumentation Oversight

• Provide technical leadership and troubleshooting support for analytical instrumentation, including HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS, and ICP-MS.

• Oversee instrument maintenance, calibration, verification, and preventative maintenance schedules.

• Coordinate technical support and repairs with equipment manufacturers and service providers.

• Identify and address equipment performance concerns to minimize downtime and maintain testing continuity.

• Assist with the development, execution, and documentation of analytical method validation and equipment verification studies.

• Evaluate analytical performance criteria, including limits of quantitation, control limits, and measurement uncertainty.

• Support the implementation of new testing methodologies, instrumentation, and technical improvements.

• Provide technical expertise regarding equipment procurement, laboratory infrastructure, and operational improvements.

Personnel Leadership & Development

• Supervise, train, mentor, and evaluate analytical laboratory personnel.

• Establish clear performance expectations related to productivity, technical competency, quality, safety, and accountability.

• Participate in employee recruitment, onboarding, technical training, and performance evaluations.

• Maintain employee training records and ensure personnel demonstrate competency in assigned testing methods.

• Identify performance deficiencies and implement appropriate coaching, retraining, and performance improvement plans.

• Promote a collaborative, professional, and safety-focused laboratory environment.

• Ensure adherence to laboratory safety protocols, proper PPE usage, and established good laboratory practices.

Laboratory Systems, Inventory & Safety

• Oversee laboratory information systems, including LIMS, electronic quality management systems (eQMS), and applicable seed-to-sale tracking systems.

• Maintain accurate laboratory records, documentation, and retention practices.

• Manage laboratory inventory, including reagents, solvents, certified reference materials (CRMs), consumables, and analytical supplies.

• Ensure proper handling, storage, tracking, and destruction of cannabis samples and cannabis products.

• Oversee hazardous waste management, sample destruction records, and laboratory safety documentation.

• Maintain compliance with applicable health, safety, security, and facility requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Biology, Physical Science, or a closely related scientific discipline.

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant laboratory management experience, including direct oversight of analytical laboratory personnel and operations.

• Demonstrated experience in a regulated analytical laboratory environment, preferably within a high-throughput, production-based testing facility.

• Strong working knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation requirements, laboratory quality assurance, and quality control practices.

• Technical proficiency with analytical instrumentation and testing methodologies, including HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS, and ICP-MS, with competency in microbiological testing methods.

• Experience with analytical sample preparation, data analysis, instrument troubleshooting, and laboratory workflow management.

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple analytical testing workflows while maintaining quality standards and turnaround times.

• Experience training, supervising, and evaluating laboratory personnel.

• Strong understanding of SOPs, method requirements, laboratory documentation, and regulatory compliance.

• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, decision-making, and written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to manage competing priorities, address operational challenges, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced laboratory environment.

This is an experienced laboratory leadership position. Candidates must demonstrate relevant laboratory management experience, technical proficiency, and direct responsibility for laboratory operations, personnel, and quality standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in cannabis, pharmaceutical, environmental, food, or other regulated analytical testing laboratories.

• Previous experience working in an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory.

• Familiarity with New Jersey cannabis testing regulations and compliance requirements.

• Experience with Agilent and/or SCIEX analytical instrumentation.

• Experience with LIMS, eQMS, and cannabis seed-to-sale tracking systems, including METRC.

• Experience with analytical method development, validation, verification studies, and measurement uncertainty.

• Experience participating in or leading laboratory audits, regulatory inspections, and corrective action investigations.

• Experience with proficiency testing programs and technical competency assessments.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual Salary: $90,000–$100,000, depending on qualifications and experience

• Performance-based bonus opportunities

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Paid time off

• Opportunity for professional growth within a multi-state laboratory organization

Schedule & Work Environment

• Full-time, on-site position in East Hanover, New Jersey

• Day shift, with 10-hour shifts typical

• On-call responsibilities and weekend coverage as operationally necessary

• Work performed in a regulated analytical laboratory environment requiring appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Potential exposure to laboratory chemicals, fumes, airborne particles, equipment noise, and other typical laboratory hazards

• Position may require prolonged standing, walking, sitting, and occasional lifting or moving of up to 40 pounds

Join Our Team

At US Cannalytics, we recognize that strong laboratory leadership is essential to maintaining the quality, reliability, and efficiency of our testing operations.

We are looking for a Laboratory Manager who combines technical expertise with effective leadership, takes ownership of laboratory performance, and is committed to maintaining the highest standards of analytical testing and regulatory compliance.

If you are an experienced analytical laboratory professional ready to take on a hands-on leadership role within a growing organization, we encourage you to apply.