Lab Manager

The Role 🚀

As Quality Lab Manager at ULTRA, you’ll be the hands‑on engine behind our lab operations—managing day‑to‑day laboratory activities, running pilot‑scale batch production, and operating pouch machinery to push product development forward. You’ll own lab equipment, ingredient inventory, and pilot manufacturing workflows while serving as a critical quality bridge between our internal R&D team and co‑manufacturing partners.

This is a builder’s role. You’ll be on the floor, in the lab, and at co‑manufacture sites—ensuring every pouch meets the standard that makes Ultra the best in the category. If you thrive in fast‑paced, hands‑on environments and want to help shape quality at a brand that’s redefining the pouch industry, this is your opportunity.

• Own the daily operation, maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting of all lab equipment—mixers, balances, moisture analyzers, particle size analyzers, and related instrumentation.

• Build and maintain equipment maintenance schedules, calibration logs, and service records in compliance with GMP requirements.

• Identify equipment malfunctions, coordinate repairs with vendors, and minimize downtime.

• Keep the lab environment maintained to strict cleanliness, safety, and organizational standards.

• Maintain accurate inventory of raw materials, ingredients, and lab consumables.

• Coordinate purchasing requests for lab‑scale raw materials in partnership with procurement.

• Run regular cycle counts and reconcile inventory records in tracking systems.

• Manage incoming material documentation—including COAs—and verify compliance against internal specs.

• Execute pilot‑scale batch manufacturing per established formulas, batch records, and SOPs.

• Document all batch production activities, deviations, and observations in batch records.

• Collaborate with Product Development to iterate on formulations and translate bench‑scale work into repeatable pilot‑scale processes.

• Support scale‑up activities by identifying process variables and optimization opportunities.

• Operate and maintain pilot‑scale oral pouch manufacturing equipment.

• Perform machine setup, changeovers, and adjustments to hit target fill weights, seal integrity, and pouch aesthetics.

• Document machine parameters and production data for each run.

• Troubleshoot mechanical and process issues and elevate as needed.

• Review and assess finished goods against product specifications, supporting pass/fail decisions.

• Support deviation investigations, CAPA development, and closure at co‑manufacture sites.

• Assist in developing co‑manufacture quality documentation—specifications, SOPs, and control plans.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for third‑party analytical labs, coordinating sample submissions for testing (nicotine content, moisture, pH, heavy metals, microbial limits, etc.).

• Review and interpret COAs and analytical reports, flagging out‑of‑spec results and initiating follow‑up.

• Maintain a testing calendar to ensure timely submissions aligned with product launch timelines and market compliance.

• Collaborate with Product Development to establish analytical testing protocols and define acceptable spec ranges.

• Manage third‑party lab vendor relationships, evaluate qualifications and accreditations (e.g., ISO 17025), and onboard new lab partners as needed.

• Maintain thorough records in accordance with GMP, FDA, and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Contribute to the development, revision, and training of SOPs for lab and quality operations.

• Support internal audits and assist with prep for third‑party or regulatory inspections.

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related technical field.

• 3–5 years of experience in a laboratory, quality, or manufacturing environment within CPG, nutraceutical, tobacco/nicotine, or pharma.

• You’ve got demonstrated hands‑on experience operating and troubleshooting manufacturing or lab‑scale equipment.

• You’re fluent…