Mars · 13 hours ago
Laboratory Manager
Fremont, NE
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior LevelMars is a leading company in the food industry, and they are seeking a Laboratory Manager to join their R&D team at Royal Canin in Fremont, Nebraska. The role involves managing the Raw Material Receiving laboratory, leading a team of lab technicians, and ensuring compliance with quality control standards and processes.
ConfectioneryConsumer GoodsFood and BeverageManufacturing
Responsibilities
Management of the Raw Material Receiving laboratory in line with Mars global standards and monitoring regimes, while respecting the laboratory budget (KPI – Laboratory Audit Score >98%)
Line manager to the Raw Material Receivers; manage time-card approvals, vacation approvals, LOAs, STDs/LTDs, staffing, PDPs and objectives, mid-year and year end reviews
Ensure conformance to all legal and legislative requirements
Manage the metrology of equipment in the Raw Material Receiving laboratory and Extrusion room
Conduct inventory and order supplies for the Raw Material Receiving laboratory & Extrusion room
Coordinate Ring Test participation and performance (KPI – Ring Test Score >95%)
Escalate out of spec raw materials to the site QFS manager, regional QFS manager and formulator; communicate derogations/rejections to receiving team, flow team and commercial team
Participate in the raw material cycle count inventory as required
Manage the raw material and finished product retained sample room
Collection, preparation, coordination, and dispatching of samples to required RC laboratories and external laboratories for relevant analysis
Monitor and provide COAs from Mars and external laboratories to QFS manager and all relevant stakeholders
Review and verify all HRCI COAs and weigh reports at reception
Utilize laboratory computer software to provide data on historical raw material receptions to various departments
Liaise with Regional Commercial team (SQAs and buyers) to ensure good communication and relationships with raw material suppliers
Collect and send qualification samples for Industrialization/formulation
Support continuous improvement of the Raw Material Receiving laboratory and RM Reception
Enable raw material specifications/focus plans/monitoring plans/control plans in RCLMS
Develop and improve all internal interdepartmental relations and external stakeholders
Updating management on Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
Perform area-related equipment first level maintenance
Put product on hold as needed, and disposition with QFS manager approval
Perform & participate in internal audits
Manage plant Environment, health and safety within RM receiving & Laboratory Department
As required, perform quality tests incoming raw materials as specified in reception procedure
Quality control procedures (perform and record)
Perform documentary procedures (delivery documentations) and sign delivery documents including, if necessary, quality / quantity objections
Sampling of products to ensure quality control
Any task as delegated by Manager
Follow and apply FSS/ISO22000, Mars Standards, and all related working procedures
Abide to all plant food safety rules
Ensure GMP-GHP in the area
Support plant quality and food safety investigations and root cause analysis
Ensure compliance to CCPs and oPRPs in the department
Complete all quality and food safety related trainings required for the role
Ensure the accuracy of all records and be prepared for internal and external audits
When necessary, manage non-conformities (decide, put on hold, isolate, destruct, derogate), analyze for root causes and undertake correctives actions
Guaranty the conformity to specifications and norms
Support the HACCP program in the department
Inform Shift Supervisor of quality deviations according to product standards and production procedures
Maintain CCPs and oPrP’s in the department
Perform the CCP and oPrP’s procedure according to SOPs
Sampling of products to ensure quality control (micro sampling)
Report any pest activity to related Manager
Perform and record quality control tests
Detect and report raw material quality issues
Verify performance of quality checks at receiving of Raw Materials
Qualification
Required
Food science, Engineering, Chemistry or equivalent BSc/ MSc degree is required
Former experience of quality assurance or lab management from Food/ Nutritional/ Pharmaceutical or related manufacturing/ testing sites is required
Previous experience as a laboratory team leader, laboratory manager, or leader of others in a lab setting, preferably in a food/feed plant laboratory
Good communication skills to liaise internally and externally, as well as to assist in motivating, training, and improving the Raw Material Receiving team
Technically inclined with computer and reporting skills
Self-motivated, someone who takes initiative and is a team player
Some who is safety, hygiene, & quality conscious
Benefits
A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus
Company
Mars
Mars is a manufacturer of pet food, confectionery, and other food products.
Founded in 1911
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Mars has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (3)
2024 (1)
2023 (2)
2022 (2)
2021 (1)
2020 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
unknown2025-03-04Debt Financing
Leadership Team
Claus Aagaard
CFO
Meghal Sheth
CFO, Mars Wrigley India
Recent News
2026-01-25
Food Business News
2026-01-23
Company data provided by crunchbase