Laboratory Manager – Water Treatment Process Engineering - Onsite Salt Lake City, UT

Our mission at WesTech is to help communities thrive by delivering high-quality water solutions with superior service – safely and sustainably. To achieve this mission, we recruit great people to be part of our collegial and collaborative teams in engineering, design, project management, field service, plant operations, professional services and more.

As one of the leading operating brands of Swire Water, our values of integrity, humility, endeavor, excellence and continuity make this an outstanding working environment. Our continuing success creates attractive opportunities for purpose-driven professionals to develop new skills, support vital industries, and grow their careers.

Summary

We are looking for a Laboratory Manager to lead the daily operations and continued development of our biological and physical/chemical laboratories. This role is responsible for laboratory safety, quality, personnel, equipment, workflow, and service delivery while helping integrate both laboratories into one coordinated function. The Laboratory Manager will supervise and develop laboratory personnel, establish clear priorities and expectations, and ensure laboratory services provide timely, accurate, and useful results that support customer, engineering, pilot, product, and operational needs. This is a hands-on, primarily on-site laboratory leadership role focused on water treatability studies, product sizing, performance verification, and process troubleshooting rather than analytical laboratory services.

Candidates for this position may be required to pass pre-employment and periodic screenings, including background checks, Motor Vehicle Record, drug and alcohol tests, or other necessary assessments.

Some of the work you will do:

- Lead safe, compliant laboratory operations for biological, chemical, analytical, and bench-scale work.

- Manage the biological and physical/chemical laboratories as one coordinated function while maintaining the specialized controls required in each area.

- Supervise, coach, train, and develop laboratory personnel through hiring, onboarding, cross-training, performance management, and succession planning.

- Set priorities and maintain visibility of laboratory workload, capacity, schedules, resource needs, and delivery risks.

- Oversee laboratory readiness, including samples, inventories, work areas, instruments, maintenance, calibration, records, outside laboratories, and specialty vendors.

- Ensure laboratory methods, records, QA/QC practices, and documentation systems support reliable and traceable results.

- Partner with project sponsors and internal teams to prioritize, staff, and deliver laboratory projects and services.

- Lead continuous improvement efforts that enhance safety, quality, efficiency, employee development, and customer service.

- Primarily on-site position because of the hands-on leadership and operational responsibilities of the role.

- Up to 25% domestic and/or international travel.

Here are the skills that you need:

- Bachelors degree in chemistry, microbiology, biology, environmental science, laboratory science, engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.

- Minimum 10 years of relevant laboratory, technical, scientific, engineering, or related experience.

- Minimum 5 years of laboratory leadership, supervisory, or people management experience.

- Demonstrated experience managing laboratory operations, laboratory personnel, or multidisciplinary technical teams.

- Working knowledge of laboratory safety systems, chemical hygiene, biosafety practices, and hazard controls.

- Experience managing laboratory workflows, resources, schedules, priorities, QA/QC practices, records, equipment maintenance, calibration, and documentation.

- Ability to coach and develop employees, establish accountability, delegate effectively, and address concerns constructively.

- Strong organizational, problem-solving, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

- Ability to work primarily on-site and travel domestically and internationally up to 25%.

Here are the skills and qualifications that will set you apart:

- Experience leading both biological and physical/chemical laboratory functions.

- 15 or more years of relevant laboratory, technical, scientific, engineering, or related experience.

- 10 or more years of laboratory leadership, supervisory, or people management experience.

- Experience in municipal or industrial water and wastewater treatment laboratories.

- Knowledge of wet chemistry, analytical instruments, sterile technique, microbiological methods, biological treatment systems, or contamination-control practices.

- Experience with laboratory information-management systems, quality systems, audits, regulated environments, pilot programs, product development, applied research, budgeting, staffing, or capital-equipment planning.

- Advanced degree or professional certification relevant to laboratory management, science, safety, quality, or leadership.

- Will be required to pass a drug screen and background check upon hire, at random, and/or upon request to gain access to certain work sites

- Valid Driver's license and clean driving record to drive on any company related business or travel.

Physical Requirements:

- Work safely in chemical, biological, analytical, office, warehouse, and field environments as required.

- Regularly move throughout the facility and work at a desk using a computer and phone system.

- Lift and move samples or testing equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, with reasonable accommodations as applicable.

- Wear required PPE and comply with all safety and site requirements.

Benefits and perks we offer:

- Competitive salary and performance-based annual bonuses.

- Dollar for dollar 401K match of 6%.

- Flexible work hours, hybrid schedules with remote work options.

- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits package with an onsite and virtual medical facility

- Company HSA contribution, Paid Parental Leave, Employee Assistance Program

- Company-paid Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Long-term Disability.

- PTO plan and Paid Holidays.

- Tuition Reimbursement.

- Company celebrations, summer parties, volunteer opportunities, games, prize drawings, and more!

WesTech considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.