Job Description:

The Laboratory Manger will have a strong commitment to safety, collaboration, continuous improvement, and sustainability.  Penn Color’s core values emphases’ resilience, mutual loyalty, individuality, ethical behavior, teamwork, and robust connections with stakeholders. This position has a high importance of responsiveness, quality, personalized interactions, and kindness. The Laboratory will drive the safety culture that is prioritized through vigilance, accountability, and participation in safety programs. The ideal candidate will have a commitment to sustainability, efficient resource use, employee well-being, ethical practices, and innovation. Compliance with laws, agility, breaking down silos, and enhancing customer experience are also key focuses for this position.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

Management of Staff

• Lead QC and PCTH R&D in execution of supporting Production, Product development and Technical service activities to successful commercial outcomes.
• Work with team leaders to assign workers and other staff to the proper operation.
• Lead by example to promote and encourage strong commitment to Penn Color’s core values.
• Manage training programs for new lab technicians and to improve competencies of existing team members.

Technical

• Provide technical support through joint customer visits.  Confer with customers to determine how to tailor materials to their needs.
• Evaluate and resolve technical topics from design and planning to production and quality initiatives for all thermoplastic applications
• Work closely with the Global Penn Color QC team to Create and maintain global best practices in Quality Control.                                                                             
• Work closely with PCAP R&D to main Create and maintain best practice in formulating and capabilities and make suggestions for improvements so that they are aligned.                                                                             

OTD

• Ensure corporate goals of OTD are met or exceeded.

• Communicate on a regular basis, both verbally and through reports, with the sales department, purchasing, production, EHS and finance department.
• Coordinate production workflow for both color matching and QC teams.
• Plan and prioritize operations to ensure maximum performance and minimum delay in cooperation with the commercial team.
• Determine manpower, equipment and raw materials needed to cover RLW and QC demand.
• Ensure the highest productivity of the Laboratory group by working together with team leaders and maintenance to address issues if/when they arise.

• Continuous Improvement

• Generate KPI reports for the Laboratory departments such as RLW OTD, QC process time and first-time right rate.
• Lead continuous improvement, including the 6S program (5S+Safety) in the Laboratories, efficiencies, cost reductions and process improvements.
• Participate in teams to reduce scrap & off grade product.
• Maintain an appropriate level of technical, product and customer knowledge.
• Implement 6S (5S+Safety), Lean and other Penn Color methodologies.
• Be highly involved with product transfer from local technical and global transfers of existing processes and products.

• Required skills

• Degree in Chemistry or related field or commensurate Laboratory experience
• 3-5 years of experience in a related laboratory
• Knowledge of colors, colors, additives and color concentrate manufacturing preferred
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Oracle software is preferable.
• Knowledge of modern languages
• Good planning skills
• Strong mechanical aptitude
• Knowledge of Lean methodologies
• Prior experience leading teams or organizational groups
• Self-reliant and results oriented
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to interact within all levels of the organization

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