Laboratory Quality & Technical Manager
Chesapeake, VA Quality
Job Type
Full-time
Description

The Laboratory Quality & Technical Manager is responsible for the technical and quality oversight of Standard Calibrations, Inc.’s ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration laboratory. This position ensures the validity of calibration results, maintenance of accreditation requirements, technical competency of personnel, effectiveness of the quality management system, and continual improvement of laboratory operations.


The position serves as SCI’s designated Technical Authority for the calibration laboratory and is responsible for the technical validity of calibration results, measurement uncertainty, personnel competency, proficiency programs, and compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation requirements.


Key Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership

• Serve as SCI’s Technical Authority for calibration laboratory operations.

• Maintain technical oversight of accredited calibration activities.

• Review and approve technical methods, calibration processes, and measurement practices.

• Conduct technical capability reviews and support development of new calibration capabilities.

• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to laboratory personnel.

• Represent SCI during customer audits, accreditation assessments, and technical reviews.

• Support strategic growth of laboratory services through technical expertise and capability development.


Measurement Assurance

• Maintain ownership of measurement uncertainty budgets, including development, validation, review, and revision.

• Oversee proficiency testing, interlaboratory comparisons, and technician competency demonstrations.

• Perform impact analyses when standards are found out of tolerance.

• Ensure intermediate checks and environmental monitoring programs remain effective.

• Maintain confidence in the validity of calibration results and reported data.

• Evaluate technical risks that may affect measurement quality or accreditation compliance.


Quality and Accreditation

• Ensure ongoing compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 and accreditation body requirements.

• Support and participate in internal audits, external assessments, and management reviews.

• Manage corrective actions related to technical and quality findings.

• Monitor quality metrics, discrepancy trends, and opportunities for continual improvement.

• Support document control and maintenance of quality records as required.


Operational Oversight

• Serve as an authorized certificate signatory.

• Approve calibration certificate revisions and technical record changes.

• Oversee final technical review and release of calibration results.

• Maintain laboratory technical records, proficiency records, and competency records.

• Ensure calibration software, validation records, and technical databases remain controlled and current.

• Support investigation and resolution of customer technical inquiries and complaints.


Data Integrity and Compliance

• Maintain responsibility for calibration data quality and technical record integrity.

• Ensure spreadsheet validations and software validations are maintained.

• Verify calibration results are supported by objective evidence and approved methodologies.

• Protect the integrity, impartiality, and technical validity of laboratory operations.


Technical Authority Responsibilities

As SCI’s designated Technical Authority, this position is responsible for:

• Establishing and approving technical methods, measurement practices, and laboratory technical policies.

• Determining technical competency requirements and approving personnel for authorized calibration activities.

• Approving measurement uncertainty methodologies and technical decision rules.

• Evaluating technical risks that may affect the validity of calibration results.

• Determining the technical impact of out-of-tolerance standards, process deviations, and nonconforming work.

• Providing final technical interpretation of ISO/IEC 17025 requirements as applied to laboratory operations.


Authority

The Laboratory Quality & Technical Manager is delegated independent authority to:

• Approve technical procedures, calibration methods, and uncertainty budgets.

• Authorize personnel competency for calibration activities.

• Approve technical capability expansions and modifications to accredited services.

• Serve as an authorized certificate signatory.

• Suspend work, equipment, methods, or personnel authorizations when technical validity, accreditation compliance, or customer confidence may be compromised.

• Require corrective actions related to technical or quality deficiencies.

• Escalate quality, accreditation, or technical risks directly to executive management.

Requirements

Education / Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physical Science, Metrology, Quality, or related technical discipline preferred. Equivalent military or industry experience may be considered.

• Minimum five years of calibration laboratory, metrology, or quality management experience.

• Demonstrated experience with ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories.

• Experience with measurement uncertainty analysis and technical decision-making.

• Experience participating in accreditation assessments and technical audits.

• Experience leading technical teams or quality initiatives preferred.


Preferred Qualifications

• ASQ Certified Calibration Technician (CCT)

• ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)

• ISO/IEC 17025 Lead Assessor or Lead Auditor training

• NCSLI, NIST, or equivalent metrology training


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough understanding of ISO/IEC 17025 requirements.

• Strong knowledge of measurement science, calibration principles, and uncertainty analysis.

• Experience with proficiency testing and measurement assurance programs.

• Ability to perform technical investigations and root cause analysis.

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

• Ability to effectively interact with customers, auditors, accreditation bodies, and technical staff.

• Proficiency with laboratory software systems and Microsoft Office applications.

• Ability to exercise independent technical judgment and decision-making authority.


Working Conditions

Work is performed in laboratory, office, and customer environments. Occasional travel may be required for audits, training, customer visits, accreditation activities, and industry events.

  

Safety 

It is SCI’s policy to require safe operations and practices from all employees and to provide a safe working environment.


Appearance

• Business casual


Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift equipment weighing up to 40 pounds (with equipment, as needed)

• Bending/squatting/kneeling/stooping/crouching

• Able to sit or stand for long periods of time when needed 

  

AAP/EEO Requirements

Standard Calibrations, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.


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Salary Description
$80k - $90k, DOE