General Manager I

Overview

Element has an opportunity for a General Manager in our Ann Arbor, Michigan laboratory. In this role, you will be responsible for driving operational excellence, fostering colleague engagement, and delighting our customers. Reporting to the Division Director, you will work closely with laboratory staff, quality teams, and support functions to ensure we deliver on customer commitments while creating a safe and efficient work environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a culture of safety first
• Drive and deliver to annual Operational Plan commitments including revenues, profit, working capital, and operational performance
• Work with location support functions and systems including QA, Safety and Health, Sales and Strategic Accounts, Finance, Human Resources, Business Improvement, and Operational Excellence
• Collaborate with quality leaders to improve processes, compliance, and integrity of data
• Develop and execute short and long-term business plans and strategies to include operational goals, equipment needs, and staffing for the location
• Capacity planning in core service areas
• Customer engagement, focusing on customer retention, conflict resolution, and growth alignment
• Drive accountability and timely completion of needed tasks to accomplish lab goals
• Provide managerial guidance to staff on reporting needs and requirements
• Prepare and submit accurate forecasts as required, maintain acceptable levels of working capital, and determine and execute on corrective actions necessary to achieve plan goals
• Provide guidance, direction, and developmental opportunities that allow staff talents to be identified and groomed
• Represent Element positively to the public, customers, vendors, and all employees
• Ensure compliance with all Element policies and local, state, and federal laws
• Accountable for all hired personnel dedicated to the location
• Work with assigned staff to ensure work schedules are maintained and balanced
• Maintain an environment of respect and dignity within the location

Skills / Qualifications

• Working knowledge of laboratory safety
• Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) from an accredited 4-year college or university in chemistry or science discipline; advanced degree preferred
• A minimum of 10 years of pharmaceutical experience, with exposure to analytical testing, stability, extractables and leachables, and biologics
• A minimum of 10 years related experience managing an enterprise with at least 25 employees and 3-6 subordinate exempt level managers/supervisors over multiple shifts
• Technical leadership vital to the production and operation of assigned tests
• Strong communication skills (written and oral) with great attention to detail
• Ability to organize the lab in line with strategic, operational, and technical goals
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to provide managerial guidance to all staff on all functions within the lab
• Proven track record of success in managerial, technical, and operational competency

Company Overview

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. We have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’.

We help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network supports customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.

While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Diversity Statement

At Element, we take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work-related criteria and without regard for age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics in accordance with applicable governing laws.