Laboratory Manager - Valdez Refinery

The Laboratory Manager position is located at the Petro Star Valdez Refinery in Valdez, Alaska. This position requires a demonstrated ability to interact as a team leader in a laboratory environment. The lab manager promotes a culture of safe work practices and promotes excellent communication with other refinery and customer work groups to dependably deliver quality defensible data to support the Valdez refinery business operations. 

The lab manager provides expertise on ASTM specifications and standards and leads a team of technicians that provide laboratory support for refinery and fuel distribution operations in Valdez, AK.  The lab manager is responsible for implementing a technician training plan and verifying lab workers are competent in process and procedures.  The lab manager writes and reviews procedures, monitors lab inventory, and orders inventory to ensure stocking levels meet operational needs.  The lab manager administers a quality control program according to the lab Quality Assurance Plan and administers a preventative maintenance and calibration program. The lab manager administers the lab chemical waste disposal and recovery plan. 

The lab manager performs duties of lab technicians when needed including sample login, sample retain, sample disposal and sample analysis samples, prepares chemical solutions and standards according to standard formulas, maintains and cleans laboratory, instruments, equipment and supplies. The lab manager can work under pressure, while performing testing on multiple samples concurrently. 

Position schedule is Monday through Friday with normal business hours (8am – 5pm) and assists with coverage outside of normal hours as needed.

1. Follow all Petro Star Inc. safety guidelines and initiatives including safe work practices, wearing required personal protective equipment, and administering lab chemical hygiene protocols.
2. Conduct safety and environmental audits
3. Manage a lab team of 3-4 lab employees
4. Coordinate lab priorities with Refinery Manager, Operations Directors, and Terminal Managers
5. Oversee and participate in certifying fuel products according to prescribed specifications.
6. Maintain and update the lab Quality Assurance Plan
7. Maintain a Defense Logistics Agency Military Quality Control Plan (MQCP).
8. Challenge and motivate direct reports.  Complete performance reviews for direct reports and coach employees on performance according to progression plans, goals, and core competencies.
9. Plan and execute departmental budget.
10. Oversee inventory and procurement of lab consumables and supplies. 
11. Obtain and maintain DOT/IATA HazMat shipper certifications.
12. Calibrate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instruments to ensure reliable operation of the lab equipment.  Ensure timely repairs and minimum downtime on critical instruments.
13. Prepare and maintain internal Quality Control and Lab Control samples for continued laboratory quality assurance. Maintain control charts, calibrations and standardization of solutions to ensure analytical data quality.
14. Prepare and standardize reagents and solutions and calibrate equipment needed for testing purposes.
15. Perform sample testing using specified methodology. Verify and communicate results obtained and make appropriate entries into instrument logs, control charts, calibration records, laboratory worksheets, and other media to ensure validity and traceability of information
16. Communicate any problems, discrepancies, or other incidents to the Refinery Manager or Terminal Manager immediately.
17. Understand customer requirements and organize lab procedures, schedules and staffing to support these requirements in a cost-effective manner.
18. Recommend measures to improve testing procedures, equipment usage and identify and communicate need for new equipment.
19. Carry out the above responsibilities, and all others which may be assigned, in a manner demonstrating support of and adherence to the Company's policies and procedures.

• Act with honesty, integrity, respect for others, and collaboration to promote interests of Petro Star Inc to achieve Petro Star’s mission.
• Demonstrate analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical procedures, governmental regulations, contracts, and professional journals.
• Ability to evaluate and interpret data sets and recognize data trends that show instrument or operation problems.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Working knowledge of computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and scenarios and manage conflicting priorities with discernment.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in science. Extensive relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Must be willing to live in Valdez, Alaska at a reasonable distance from the refinery
• Must have a valid driver’s license and working telephone.
• 2+ years of experience in a management capacity

Preferred:

• 5+ years of work experience in a petroleum lab
• 5+ years of laboratory management experience
• Experience testing samples using Gas Chromatography and associated software (preferred)
• Experience administering a laboratory Chemical Hygiene Plan

Carry out managerial responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Supervise all employees within the department. Responsibilities include: interviewing, hiring, disciplining, coaching and training, addressing and resolving employee concerns, planning, assigning, directing work and assessing job performance.

ASRC’s Core competencies include Leading Self, Leading People and Leading the Organization. In addition to our core competency model, our framework includes competencies specific to the various levels of positions within our company. For more information on our core competencies please contact the HR Department and reference the ASRC Leadership Framework.

Customer Focus

• Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.

Drive for Results

• Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.  

Problem Solving

• Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; probes all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; is excellent at honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn't stop at the first answers.

Timely Decision Making

• Makes decisions in a timely manner, sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure.

Delegation

• Trusts people to perform through clear delegation of both routine and important tasks and decisions.

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of employees or customers.

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee is frequently required to sit; reach with hands and arms; and to use hands to finger, handle, or feel.  The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, climb and/or balance.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.   Specific vision abilities required by this job includes the ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to wear Personal Protective Equipment.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment is a refinery laboratory setting as well as outdoors in adverse weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. While performing the duties of this job, may be required to travel in small and large commercial aircraft.

NOTE: This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The statements contained herein are intended to describe the principal functions of this position, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibilities, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements.

Petro Star Inc., a division of ASRC, is a drug free workplace and pre-employment drug testing is part of the hiring process.

ASRC and its family of companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, protected veteran status or any other legal protected status.  EOE:  M|F|D|V

Petro Star Inc. is the refining division of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, an Inupiat-owned corporation created as a result of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

ASRC's family of companies apply a shareholder preference in employment, to the maximum extent feasible, as authorized by law.