QC Laboratory Lead

Job Title: QC Laboratory Lead Job Description The QC Laboratory Lead oversees the daily operation of a GMP Quality Control laboratory, ensuring that all analytical testing activities are completed safely, efficiently, and on schedule. This role is approximately 80% focused on operational leadership and 20% on hands-on laboratory support. The QC Laboratory Lead develops and manages testing schedules, coordinates priorities for QC Operators and Chemists, monitors adherence to schedule-driven KPIs, and serves as the primary point of contact for shift activities. The position offers the opportunity to step into a hands-on technical leadership role, support product quality and release timelines, and collaborate closely with QA and Manufacturing in a peptide-focused pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. Responsibilities

- Oversee the daily operation of a GMP Quality Control laboratory to ensure testing activities are completed safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
- Develop and manage testing schedules approximately two weeks in advance to align with manufacturing and release timelines.
- Coordinate priorities and workloads for QC Operators and Chemists to meet schedule-driven KPIs and production needs.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for day-to-day QC shift activities and laboratory operations.
- Monitor adherence to schedule-driven KPIs and drive accountability for timely completion of testing and documentation.
- Coach, mentor, and support junior and mid-level analysts, fostering technical growth and professional development.
- Provide technical guidance on analytical chemistry techniques, including HPLC and related methods, to support troubleshooting and decision making.
- Review analytical data and quality documentation to ensure accuracy, compliance, and data integrity.
- Approve timecards and coordinate staffing coverage to support a stable first-shift schedule and occasional off-shift needs.
- Collaborate closely with QA, Manufacturing, and cross-functional teams to ensure testing supports batch release and production timelines.
- Coordinate with external contract testing laboratories and support outsourced testing activities as needed.
- Support laboratory investigations, including analytical method troubleshooting and root cause analysis for out-of-trend or out-of-specification results.
- Promote and support 5S, Kanban, and continuous improvement practices within the QC laboratory.
- Ensure strict adherence to cGMP, SOPs, data integrity principles, and quality systems in all laboratory activities.
- Contribute to maintaining a positive, collaborative, and high-performance QC team culture.
- Participate in validation activities and support analytical method qualification as required.
- Support peptide product testing and ensure analytical methods are appropriately applied to peptide-based materials.
- Balance multiple testing priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high quality and compliance standards.
- Engage with site leadership to provide visibility into QC operations and support operational excellence initiatives.

Essential Skills

- Minimum of 4+ years of experience in a GMP Quality Control laboratory environment, including testing, documentation, investigations, data review, and product release activities.
- At least 1+ year of experience leading analysts or serving as a technical lead in a QC or laboratory setting.
- Strong understanding of cGMP, SOP adherence, data integrity, and quality systems within a regulated pharmaceutical environment.
- Expirience with strong experience in HPLC-based testing.
- Ability to understand analytical data, review results, and guide troubleshooting efforts for analytical methods.
- Proven leadership experience coordinating testing schedules, prioritizing workload, and driving accountability without necessarily having direct reports.
- Ability to lead teams without direct authority and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
- Strong organizational and prioritization skills with experience balancing multiple testing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Effective communication skills for collaboration with QA, Operations, Manufacturing, and other cross-functional teams.
- Experience reviewing analytical data and quality documentation for accuracy and compliance.
- Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor junior analysts and support their technical and professional development.
- Strong decision-making skills and an accountability-focused mindset in daily operations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related Life Sciences discipline.
- Experience with GC, Mass Spectrometry, and moisture analysis in a QC laboratory environment.
- Experience with analytical method troubleshooting and laboratory investigations.
- Familiarity with peptide products and peptide-focused analytical testing.
- Exposure to validation activities and understanding of analytical method validation principles.
- Experience working with outsourced contract testing laboratories.
- Knowledge of 5S, Kanban, and continuous improvement methodologies in a laboratory or manufacturing setting.
- Interest in expanding leadership experience while remaining in a hands-on technical role.
- Alignment with values of quality, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Work Environment This role is based in an onsite GMP-regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing facility within a fast-paced Quality Control laboratory. The QC Laboratory Lead works closely with QC Analysts, QA, Manufacturing, and site leadership, primarily supporting shop-floor laboratory operations. The environment offers exposure to advanced analytical testing platforms and technologies, particularly in peptide-focused manufacturing and CDMO services. The position typically follows a stable first-shift schedule, with the possibility of occasional overtime, evenings, or weekends to support production and testing deadlines. The role involves a combination of standing, walking, hands-on laboratory work, and computer-based documentation activities. Laboratory personal protective equipment (PPE) and GMP gowning requirements apply, reflecting a controlled, compliant, and safety-focused work setting. The culture emphasizes collaboration, mentorship, training, and a positive, supportive team atmosphere, with opportunities for long-term employment based on business needs and performance.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of San Diego, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $42.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of San Diego, CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 9, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in San Diego,CA. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
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San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

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It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
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shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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