Laboratory Quality Control Senior Manager

Swisher stands at the forefront of innovation in the consumer products industry, blending a legacy of excellence with a forward-thinking approach. Established in 1861, the family-owned company has evolved into a trailblazer, renowned for its iconic Swisher Sweets cigars, cutting-edge American-made Rogue and Ammo modern oral nicotine products, and the premium Drew Estate cigar collection, which features ACID, Liga Privada, and Under crown.

Poised for the future, Swisher is redefining traditional categories with Volt+Co
-home to groundbreaking products such as Mojo Energy Pouches. Swisher is also home to more than two dozen American-made, non-combustible tobacco brands under the Helme Tobacco Co. umbrella. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, with operations spanning the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua, Swisher continues to lead through innovation, setting new benchmarks in quality and creativity. Learn more at  The Laboratory Quality Control Manager leads the implementation, operational readiness, and day-to-day management of Swisher’s centralized quality control laboratory for finished-product release testing.

This role establishes and maintains the people, methods, equipment, procedures, quality systems, and external partnerships needed to generate accurate, reliable, traceable, and defensible data for product disposition in a regulated manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities Laboratory Startup & Centralization Lead the transfer of analytical testing methods and capabilities from third-party laboratories to the Swisher QC laboratory, including transfer protocols, knowledge transfer, training, documentation, and resolution of technical issues Lead implementation and operational readiness of the centralized quality control laboratory, including startup planning, workflow design, and coordination of readiness activities through go-live Partner with Quality Assurance, Research and Development, Engineering, Facilities, EHS, Operations, Procurement, and other stakeholders to finalize laboratory space, utilities, layout, safety, and operating requirements Coordinate the selection, procurement, installation, commissioning, qualification, calibration, and operational readiness of HPLC/UHPLC systems and other laboratory equipment Establish laboratory quality systems, including controlled test methods, SOPs, forms, training records, data-review practices, investigation processes, and document controls Coordinate method qualification, validation or verification, personnel qualification, and parallel testing with third-party laboratories;

assess comparability results and support go-live decisions for in-house product-release testing Support the recruitment, onboarding, training, and qualification of laboratory personnel, and establish staffing, coverage, and workflow plans for a multi-shift testing operation Establish capacity, inventory, vendor, service, equipment-redundancy, and contingency plans to support current testing demand, future growth, and continuity of product-release testing Maintain qualified third-party laboratory relationships for overflow, contingency, specialized testing, calibration, and technical support as testing capabilities transition in-house Ongoing Laboratory Operations Lead daily laboratory operations, including workflow, staffing, prioritization, and shift coverage, to meet testing and product-release requirements Manage, coach, train, and develop laboratory personnel;

assign work, monitor performance, set expectations, and maintain documented personnel qualifications Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve laboratory procedures, controlled test methods, SOPs, and supporting records Oversee routine analytical testing and technical review to ensure the accuracy, integrity, traceability, and reliability of laboratory data and results Maintain transferred analytical methods after go-live through ongoing qualification, verification, validation, comparability assessment, and controlled change management Manage the laboratory equipment lifecycle, including selection, procurement support, installation, qualification, calibration, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, service coordination, and readiness of HPLC/UHPLC systems and related equipment Investigate out-of-specification, out-of-trend, failed system-suitability, data-integrity, calibration, and other laboratory events;

ensure timely documentation, root-cause analysis, corrective action, escalation, and closure…