Rizonet Recruiting is hiring a Lab Manager for a global masterbatch, color, and additives manufacturer at its plant in Greater Charlotte, NC. This is an on-site role reporting to the General Manager.
About the role
The Lab Manager leads the site laboratory and QC activities and is a key technical resource for masterbatch, color, additives, polymers, and plastics processing. This hands-on role needs strong plastics-industry experience, practical extrusion and compounding knowledge, plastic color-matching expertise, and proven leadership. You will set clear priorities, hold the team accountable, and work closely with Production, QC, R&D, Sales, and site management.
Key responsibilities
• Lead, coach, and develop the QC Manager and laboratory team; assign priorities and manage performance
• Lead color matching and color correction for plastic masterbatch and compounds, including pigment selection, formulation adjustments, visual evaluation, spectrophotometer use, L*a*b* values, and Delta E analysis
• Provide hands-on support for extrusion and compounding trials, scale-up, and production troubleshooting
• Investigate color variation, dispersion, contamination, thermal stability, raw-material, formulation, processing, and product-performance issues
• Plan laboratory trials, analyze results, document conclusions, and translate findings into practical production solutions
• Maintain laboratory and QC methods, equipment, calibration, specifications, COAs, and product-release standards
• Support analytical and physical testing, customer complaints, technical inquiries, and audits
• Promote strong cooperation between Laboratory, QC, and Production
Required qualifications
• Degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, or a related field. An advanced degree is preferred.
• 5+ years of hands-on technical experience in the plastics industry, preferably in masterbatch, color compounds, additives, compounding, or polymer processing
• Hands-on extrusion and/or compounding experience
• Hands-on plastic color-matching and color-correction experience
• 3+ years leading laboratory, QC, technical, or manufacturing personnel
• Practical knowledge of polymers, pigments, additives, spectrophotometers, and plastics-processing behavior
• Manufacturing experience and the ability to troubleshoot directly on the production floor
Key competencies
• Assertive leadership, accountability, sound judgment, and people management
• Strong technical problem-solving and practical decision-making
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Clear communication and cross-functional collaboration
Compensation: $120,000 to $150,000 base plus annual bonus and benefits.
Lab Manager in Charlotte Metro at Rizonet Recruiting
This position is listed as full time and onsite. It was posted 4 days ago.