Operations Manager

Company Description

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 97,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

Job Description

The Operations Manager is responsible for technical control, analytical integrity, method development, method validation, technical signatory capability, quality compliance and technical competence of assigned analytical functions within HKAL. The role ensures that testing is performed according to validated methods, ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, SANAS expectations, SGS quality systems and customer requirements.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership and Analytical Control

• Provide technical leadership for assigned analytical functions, including LC, GC, pesticide residue testing, target analysis, sample preparation and related analytical workflows.

• Ensure tests are performed according to approved methods, validated procedures, quality requirements and accreditation scope.

• Ensure technical accuracy of results and documented remedial action where deviations, trends or nonconformances occur.

• Monitor standards, controls, calibration status, reference materials, quality-control performance and analytical trends.

• Ensure records, worksheets, calculations, chromatograms, control charts and result-review evidence are complete and traceable.

• Provide technical troubleshooting for method, instrument, matrix, extraction, calibration, recovery, repeatability and reporting issues.

Method Development, Modification and Validation

• Lead method development, method optimisation, method modification and validation for assigned analytical areas.

• Ensure new and modified methods are scientifically sound, properly validated, documented and approved before use.

• Keep abreast of current developments, analytical science procedures, emerging residue risks and regulatory requirements.

• Identify potential new tests, target analytes, matrices or services in collaboration with the Operations Manager.

• Prepare technical feasibility assessments for proposed new methods, including instrument needs, staff competence, validation effort, cost, accreditation implications and commercial readiness.

• Maintain detailed records and technical reports for method-development and validation projects.

Technical Signatory Development and Succession

• Act as technical mentor to senior analysts and analysts progressing toward technical signatory status.

• Develop and maintain a technical competence matrix for analysts within the assigned section.

• Ensure adequate technical signatory coverage and succession depth within LC/GC sections.

• Identify senior analysts for progression into technical signatory roles and define training, competency, witnessing, review and authorisation steps.

• Maintain competence assessments, authorisations and technical signatory records.

• Reduce dependency on individual legacy technical experts by distributing technical competence across suitably trained analysts.

Quality System and Accreditation

• Ensure testing activities comply with ISO/IEC 17025, SANAS requirements, SGS management systems and approved laboratory procedures.

• Maintain technical documents, methods, SOPs, validation files, verification records and analytical records for assigned areas.

• Support internal audits, external audits, SANAS assessments, client audits and technical investigations.

• Investigate nonconforming work, technical complaints, out-of-specification control results, proficiency testing failures and analytical deviations.

• Implement and verify corrective and preventive actions.

• Ensure control charts, inter-laboratory comparisons, reference standards and quality-control records are properly maintained.

Technical Support to Operations and Clients

• Provide technical input to the Operations Manager on capacity, workflow, technical risks, method limitations, validation timelines and analytical constraints.

• Support client queries requiring technical interpretation, including MRL questions, method capability, reporting limits, matrix limitations and result interpretation.

• Assist with technically complex complaints, disputes, repeat analyses and investigations.

• Provide technical support for quotations, tenders, SLAs, proposals and new service offerings where scientific input is required.

• Participate in key client meetings where technical credibility is required.

Instrumentation, Resources and Technical Infrastructure

• Ensure assigned LC, GC and related analytical instruments are fit for purpose, maintained, calibrated and verified.

• Identify equipment constraints, redundancy risks, downtime risks and future technical investment needs.

• Support business cases for new instrumentation, including LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, automation or sample preparation equipment.

• Ensure consumables, columns, standards, reagents, reference materials and critical supplies are technically suitable and controlled.

• Work with the Operations Manager to align technical capacity with sample volume forecasts and seasonal commodity demand.

People Development and Technical Training

• Supervise, coach and develop analysts and senior analysts within assigned technical areas.

• Provide in-service training to develop technical competence and analytical discipline.

• Continuously assess skills and identify technical shortcomings.

• Develop and implement technical training plans based on skills gaps, method requirements and signatory succession needs.

• Ensure new analysts are inducted into technical methods, quality requirements, safety requirements and data-integrity expectations.

Health, Safety and Good Laboratory Practice

• Adhere to SGS safety requirements, HSE procedures and laboratory protocols.

• Ensure analysts understand chemical hazards, MSDS requirements, PPE, waste handling and emergency arrangements.

• Maintain good housekeeping in assigned technical areas.

• Report unsafe conditions, equipment hazards or practices that may compromise safety or quality.

• Participate in safety inspections, risk assessments and corrective actions.

Qualifications

Education

• BSc, BTech, MSc or equivalent tertiary qualification in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Food Science, Natural Sciences or related discipline.

• Formal training in ISO/IEC 17025, method validation, measurement uncertainty, quality control and technical signatory requirements would be advantageous.

• Code 8 driver’s licence.

Experience

• Minimum 7–10 years’ relevant laboratory experience, preferably in pesticide residue analysis, food testing, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, GC analysis, LC analysis or related analytical chemistry.

• Minimum 3–5 years’ experience supervising analysts or leading technical workstreams.

• Demonstrated experience in method development, validation, troubleshooting, quality control, result review and technical reporting.

• Experience as a technical signatory, deputy technical signatory or section technical lead would be strongly advantageous.

• Knowledge of SANAS, ISO/IEC 17025, MRL testing, export food testing and accredited laboratory systems.

Competencies

• Strong scientific and analytical judgement.

• High attention to detail and data integrity.

• Ability to train, mentor and technically develop analysts.

• Strong understanding of method validation and analytical quality control.

• Ability to communicate technical matters clearly to non-technical managers and clients.

• Balanced approach: technically rigorous but commercially aware.

Additional Information

SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES

• Authority to approve, verify or reject technical results within assigned scope and authorisation.

• Authority to act as technical signatory where formally authorised.

• Authority to stop testing or reporting where analytical quality, accreditation, data integrity or safety may be compromised.

• Authority to investigate technical nonconformances and recommend corrective actions.

• Authority to approve technical methods, method modifications, validation plans and technical records within delegated scope.

• Authority to advise on technical feasibility of new methods, analytes, matrices and services.

• Authority to recommend analyst authorisation, technical signatory development and technical training needs.

• Authority to liaise with customers on technical matters, opinions and interpretations where authorised.

• No authority to independently commit commercial pricing, client contracts, budgets or operational resource changes without Operations Manager / Business Manager approval.