Laboratory Manager, Contaminants

Our Client
is a leading independent
ISO 17025 accredited contract laboratory
in
West Africa
, recognized as a
regional reference center
with specialization in
water contamination testing
and
pesticide residue analysis
. The laboratory supports both local and multinational companies across
food, agriculture, cosmetics, environmental
, and related sectors, ensuring
safety, quality, and compliance
with international supply chain standards. Their impartial testing, validation, and consulting services are critical to regulatory acceptance and to meeting the
corporate social responsibility commitments
of their clients.

Position: Laboratory Manager, Contaminants & Pesticides (Permanent)

Location: Ivory Coast (West Africa)

About the role

The Laboratory Manager will lead a multidisciplinary team dedicated to
contaminant and pesticide testing
, safeguard compliance with international standards, and drive operational
excellence through scientific rigor, robust method validation, and consistent equipment reliability.
The role combines
scientific authority with hands-on formulation control and strategic resource optimization,
ensuring that analytical operations remain efficient, reliable, and
ISO 17025-compliant
. The successful candidate will manage and inspire a high-performing team, oversee technical direction and quality assurance, and uphold the laboratory's reputation for accuracy, reliability, and customer trust across diverse industry sectors.

Must-Haves

• Master's degree
  (equivalent to min.
  five years of university education
  , including a Bachelor's degree) in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years
  of proven experience in
  Technical Direction
  and
  Quality Management under ISO 17025
  , with demonstrated
  leadership
  (Not Individual Contributor) responsibility in managing and developing teams (8+ staff),
  setting performance objectives/KPIs, and driving continuous improvement through training, mentoring, and CAPA implementation.

• Proven
  expertise in Pesticide Residue Analysis
  , using advanced
  LC and GC platforms (LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, HPLC, GC-FID/ECD, Headspace GC-MS/MS)
  for multi-residue detection in food and environmental matrices (polar and non-polar compounds).

• Comprehensive knowledge of
  Metrology and Method Validation, including LOD/LOQ
  determination, accuracy, precision, linearity, recovery, robustness, and uncertainty estimation in accordance with
  GUM guidelines
  .

• Strong experience in Equipment Reliability Management, including preventive and corrective maintenance, troubleshooting, and requalification
  (IQ/OQ/PQ) of LC/GC/MS and FT-IR/NIR systems
  .

• Proficiency in Resource Optimization and Data Integrity Management, including cost control per sample, inventory management
  (columns, solvents, CRM/standards),
  use of
  LIMS for traceability
  , and adherence to
  ALCOA+ and HSE standards.

• Experience in Formulation Control, including analysis of
  active ingredients, impurities, solvents, and co-formulants
  to ensure compliance with regulatory specifications.

• Proficiency in
  FT-IR and FT-NIR spectroscopy
  for compound identification, screening, and batch release, including use of spectral libraries and chemometric tools.

• Experience in broader contaminant testing, including
  fatty acids, vitamins, mycotoxins (LC-MS/MS), and heavy metals (ICP-OES/ICP-MS)
  , with exposure to
  Design of Experiments (DoE)
  and
  chemometric analysis (PCA/PLS)
  .

• Client-facing experience
  , ensuring report accuracy, turnaround time (TAT) compliance, and providing technical input for
  service proposals and client discussions
  .

Why You Should Join

This position is ideal for a
scientifically accomplished laboratory leader
with hands-on expertise in pesticide and contaminant analysis who thrives in a technically rigorous,
ISO 17025-compliant environment
. The role offers the opportunity to lead a high-performing analytical team, contribute to regional food and environmental safety, and engage directly with local and multinational clients committed to sustainable and compliant supply chains.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
.

EA: PrimeStaff Management Services Pte Ltd | 95C5411

EA Personnel: Yang Huiting Karin | R1106591