Laboratory Supervisor

Job Location: Robinson, IL

Summary:  

The Hershey Company Robinson plant is a non-union plant producing products such as PayDay, Heath, Skor, Milk Duds, Whoppers, & Reese’s Pieces, in a high-speed complex environment.

This position is responsible for providing microbiological SME support to the Robinson manufacturing plant. The Laboratory Supervisor organizes and directs the daily activities of the microbiology laboratory. He or she is responsible for supervising laboratory personnel, and collecting, analyzing, and interpreting lab results.

Responsibilities:  

•  Handles complex incidents without supervision or assistance. Develops reports utilizing computer applications. Perform analytic, pre and post analytic functions to attain departmental goals and ensure stable conformance by laboratory staff.
• Supports the identification of needs within the department pertaining to personnel and operations and makes recommendations to manager to improve operations. Manage laboratory purchase of inventory, storage and supplies usage. Manage and resolve administrative and technical problems.
• Perform routine workflow, internal control systems or any collaborative studies. Coordinate the training of new hires and coordinate support from temporary resources. Perform responsibility of Laboratory Document Control. Head responsibility to maintain laboratory records, reports and files. Perform activities to fulfill report requirements and record retention as established by accrediting agencies. Establish, execute, review and evaluate laboratory procedures and policies and procedures for operating functions of laboratory.
• Serves as a technical resource to manufacturing personnel and supports manufacturing operations; to include (but not all inclusive) sanitation audits, PEP documentation audits, and other audit or inspections.  Analyze and suggest selected purchase equipment and monitor maintenance and service agreement.

Minimum Experience and Education Requirements:   

• Familiar with laboratory equipment and lab setting                                                                  
• Computer skills for data entry, analysis, and word processing                                                 
• Flexible work hours and overtime as required to meet lab testing needs
• Ability to work independently with minimal direct supervision
• Ability to work under tight time schedules as required to assist Manufacturing in analyzing quality issues.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to interact with Corporate Micro Research Services personnel and outside packaging material suppliers.
• Good analytical skills and the ability to interpret data  
• A degree in related field and a minimum of 2+ years as a QA Technician OR equivalent related experience.