Lab Manager

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 roleThe 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 ProductionRequired 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 floorKey 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 collaborationCompensation: $120,000 to $150,000 base plus annual bonus and benefits.