Group Leader

Job Details Administration

Laboratory Group Leader – LC/GC & Mass Spectrometry Portland, OR Posted: 8/10/2026

Job Description

Job #: 86818

Job Category:
Administration

Position Type:
Direct

Duration:
Direct

Shift: 1

Location: Oregon

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Industry: Analytical Laboratory / Food Testing / Chemistry

Department: LC/GC/Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

We are seeking an experienced Laboratory Group Leader to lead an analytical chemistry testing team specializing in LC/GC and mass spectrometry-based testing
. This is a hands‑on technical leadership position responsible for managing daily laboratory operations, maintaining consistent sample flow, ensuring data quality and regulatory compliance, developing and troubleshooting analytical methods, and mentoring a team of chemists. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical chemistry expertise with proven laboratory leadership experience. This individual should be comfortable working directly with sophisticated instrumentation, troubleshooting methods and equipment, reviewing analytical data, developing team members, and identifying opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency and technical capabilities.

Experience with
LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, high‑resolution mass spectrometry, method development, and food or environmental testing is highly desirable.

• Lead and supervise daily operations for an analytical chemistry testing group.
• Manage laboratory workflow to ensure timely sample processing and accurate, consistent, and complete analytical results.
• Maintain continuous sample flow while balancing staffing, equipment availability, testing priorities, and client deadlines.
• Provide hands‑on analytical and technical support when needed.
• Supervise, mentor, train, and develop Chemists across multiple experience levels.
• Assign work, monitor performance, provide technical guidance, and support employee development.
• Coordinate staffing, instrumentation, laboratory supplies, and other departmental resources with laboratory management.
• Collaborate with other laboratory groups and department leaders to balance workloads and optimize laboratory operations.
• Lead analytical method development, optimization, troubleshooting, validation, and implementation
  .
• Research and implement new analytical technologies, instrumentation, and testing methodologies.
• Troubleshoot analytical instruments, methods, sample preparation processes, and data‑quality issues.
• Review analytical data packages and support data validation activities.
• Maintain internal quality control procedures and ensure analytical data meets established quality standards.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to support the laboratory’s Quality Management System and maintain applicable accreditations.
• Investigate QA findings and implement corrective actions within the department.
• Support new instrument implementation, qualification, and validation.
• Ensure laboratory operations comply with established safety procedures and requirements.
• Serve as a technical resource for client questions and support sales teams with technically complex inquiries.
• Participate in technical training, conferences, industry events, and other professional development opportunities.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in laboratory processes, technology, testing capabilities, and operational efficiency.

Candidates should bring strong experience with analytical chemistry instrumentation and techniques that may include:

• Liquid Chromatography (LC)
• Gas Chromatography (GC)
• LC-MS/MS
• GC-MS/MS
• High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)
• HR-MS/MS
• Orbitrap technology
• Conventional and mass-selective detectors
• Analytical instrument maintenance and troubleshooting
• Sample preparation and extraction
• Analytical method development and validation
• Data review and validation

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or a closely related scientific discipline
  , or an equivalent combination of education and relevant laboratory experience.
• Professional experience working in an analytical laboratory environment.
• Strong hands‑on knowledge of LC and/or GC analytical…