Talent Pool - Laboratory Manager

**Background and Purpose** The Food & Nutrition Sciences Laboratory plays a critical role in delivering high-quality analytical services, research outputs, and training that support IITA’s mandate on nutrition, food safety, and food systems transformation. The Laboratory Manager is responsible for ensuring **operational excellence, system integrity, and performance visibility** across the laboratory and positioning the lab for ISO certification. **Key Responsibilities and Duties** The Laboratory Manager will have end-to-end responsibility for the following five operational domains: **1\. Inventory and Stores Management** **Responsibilities** * Establish and maintain a single, standardized digital inventory management system based on analysis standard operating procedures * Ensure weekly inventory updates and verification * Define, document, and enforce reorder thresholds * Prevent stock-outs, over-ordering, and reagent expiry * Ensure traceability and audit readiness of inventory records **Expected Outputs** * Live inventory dashboard (quantities, expiry dates, value) * Reduced stock-out incidents * Improved reagent utilization and reduced waste  **2\. Workflow Coordination and Accountability** **Responsibilities** * Implement a shared task and workflow tracking system * Support clear role definition and task ownership at the system level * Ensure weekly visibility of priorities and workloads * Facilitate regular operational check-ins focused on delivery blockers * Escalate operational risks in a timely and evidence-based manner **Expected Outputs** * Predictable workflows * Reduced rework and dropped tasks * Improved turnaround consistency  **3\. Equipment and Asset Management** **Responsibilities** * Establish and maintain a master equipment register * Track equipment usage, downtime, servicing, and calibration * Ensure preventive maintenance schedules are followed * Coordinate equipment servicing with internal and external providers * Minimize unplanned downtime and data quality risks **Expected Outputs** * Updated equipment registry * Maintenance and calibration logs * Improved equipment uptime and reliability  **4\. Cost Recovery and Financial Visibility** **Responsibilities** * Support determination and documentation of cost per analysis * Track samples from receipt through analysis, reporting, and invoicing * Maintain records linking samples, data outputs, and invoices * Monitor operational costs and revenue on a monthly basis * Support evidence-based pricing and break-even analysis **Expected Outputs** * Cost-per-analysis documentation * Sample-to-invoice traceability * Monthly deliverables and financial summary reports **5\. Client Experience and Operational Credibility** **Responsibilities** * Support definition of standard turnaround times by analysis * Monitor delivery performance against agreed timelines * Ensure operational commitments to clients are realistic and visible * Support consistent and professional laboratory communication **Expected Outputs** * Improved on-time delivery rates * Reduced client complaints * Increased repeat business and credibility * Supervise and coordinate the overall activities of the Food and Nutrition Sciences laboratory, including equipment maintenance and all laboratory operations. * Supervise technical staff and research fellows in the laboratory * Conduct analysis of chemical, physicochemical and functional properties of cassava, yam, Banana, Plantain, maize, cowpeas, and soybeans and their food products. * Provide expertise in quality control/assurance of laboratory analytical data * Identify and order all approved equipment, chemicals, and materials for the laboratory * Provide technical backstopping to national agricultural research institutes, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations conducting activities on crop quality, processing, utilization, and product development * Contribute to capacity building on food analysis and training of corps members, industrial training, and research fellows * Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor. **6\. Required Qualifications and Competencies** **Essential** * Master’s degree in laboratory sciences, operations management, or a related field with a minimum of 8 years experience. * Current **IPAN certification** * Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating operational and quality systems within an **ISO-certified or ISO-aligned laboratory environment**. * Recent, hands-on experience supporting **ISO certification, accreditation, or re-certification processes**. * Strong communication, teamwork, organizational, and **systems management** skills. * Proven ability to work confidently with **data, tracking tools, dashboards, and performance indicators**. * High level of integrity, accuracy, and attention to detail. **Desirable** * Experience with service laboratories or cost recovery models * Familiarity with quality management systems or laboratory audits * Experience working in research or institutional laboratory settings