Position Summary
The Laboratory Manager is responsible for overseeing all technical, operational, quality, administrative, and personnel functions of the IIGJ Lab. The role ensures accurate gemstone identification and grading services, compliance with laboratory standards, efficient workflow management, staff development, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement of laboratory operations.
The Laboratory Manager acts as the bridge between technical teams, customer-facing departments, and management to ensure the laboratory delivers reliable, timely, and internationally accepted gemmological services.
Key Responsibilities
1. Laboratory Operations Management
- Manage day-to-day laboratory operations and service delivery.
- Ensure smooth workflow across all testing and grading departments.
- Monitor sample intake, processing, testing, reporting, and dispatch.
- Ensure turnaround times (TAT) are achieved as per service commitments.
- Optimize laboratory productivity and resource utilization.
- Develop and implement operational procedures for laboratory activities.
- Monitor laboratory performance through KPIs and operational dashboards.
2. Technical Oversight
- Supervise gemstone identification, grading, and treatment detection activities.
- Ensure consistency and accuracy of testing procedures.
- Review complex, high-value, and challenging gemmological cases.
- Support technical investigations and research projects.
- Ensure proper use and maintenance of gemmological instruments.
- Stay updated with new treatments, synthetics, simulants, and market developments.
- Participate in technical discussions and report standardization activities.
3. Quality Management
- Maintain laboratory quality systems.
- Ensure compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements (where applicable).
- Conduct internal audits and quality reviews.
- Monitor testing accuracy and reporting consistency.
- Investigate non-conformities and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure calibration and verification schedules are maintained.
- Develop quality control programs and proficiency testing initiatives.
4. Team Leadership and Development
- Lead and manage laboratory staff, supervisors, and gemmologists.
- Conduct recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance evaluations.
- Develop competency assessment programs.
- Mentor junior gemmologists and technical staff.
- Identify skill gaps and organize training programs.
- Promote a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning.
5. Equipment and Infrastructure Management
- Oversee maintenance of laboratory instruments and equipment.
- Ensure calibration schedules are followed.
- Plan upgrades and acquisition of new instruments.
- Ensure laboratory infrastructure remains functional and compliant.
6. Process Improvement and Innovation
- Identify opportunities to improve laboratory efficiency.
- Implement automation and digitalization initiatives.
- Develop new testing protocols and service offerings.
- Lead continuous improvement projects.
- Analyse operational data to improve productivity and service quality.
7. Compliance and Risk Management
- Maintain security of customer items.
- Ensure safe handling of gemstones and jewellery.
- Manage risk assessments and preventive actions.
- Maintain proper documentation and record retention systems.
8. Budget and Cost Management
- Monitor operational expenditures.
- Optimize resource allocation and inventory management.
- Control costs related to consumables, maintenance, and staffing.
Qualifications
Education
Essential
- Graduate degree in Gemmology, Geology, Mineralogy, Materials Science, or related field.
Preferred
- Graduate Gemmologist (GG)
- FGA
- Other recognized gemmological qualifications
Experience
Essential
- 8–15 years of experience in gem testing laboratory operations.
- Minimum 3–5 years in a supervisory or managerial role.
- Experience in gemstone identification and grading.
Preferred
- Experience managing large laboratory teams.
- Exposure to ISO/IEC 17025 quality systems.
- Experience with international gemstone certification standards.
Technical Knowledge
Strong understanding of:
- Diamond grading
- Coloured stone identification
- Treatment detection
- Synthetic gemstone identification
- Spectroscopy techniques
- Microscopy
- Advanced gemmological instrumentation
- Quality management systems
- Laboratory workflow management
- Data management and reporting systems
