Lab Supervisor

The Lab Supervisor leads the day-to-day operation of the Quality Lab and the Process/Environmental Lab to ensure safe, accurate, and timely analyses that support kraft pulp quality, process control, and environmental compliance. This role is accountable for people leadership in a unionized environment; maintaining lab methods, equipment, and data integrity; and ensuring alignment with ISO 9001:2015 (quality management) and ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management) requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & People Management

• Supervise, coach, and schedule 8 hourly lab technicians in a unionized setting; uphold CBA provisions, attendance, and performance management.
• Build capability through training, method qualification, and cross-training across both labs.
• Foster a strong safety culture and adherence to lab SOPs, PPE, and risk controls.

Quality Management & ISO Compliance

• Maintain and continually improve the Lab Quality Management System in alignment with ISO 9001:2015 (document control, internal audits, nonconformance/CAPA, management of change).
• Ensure method validation/verification, calibration, proficiency testing/round robins, reference standards, and control charts are effective.
• Maintain robust sample handling, chain-of-custody, LIMS data integrity, and records retention.

Environmental & Process Compliance

• Oversee routine and regulatory monitoring in the Process/Environmental Lab (e.g., BOD, COD, TSS, pH, nutrients as applicable), ensuring defensible data for permits and reports.
• Support site-wide ISO 14001:2015 EMS processes, including aspects/impacts, operational controls, internal audits, nonconformance/CAPA, and compliance evaluations.
• Coordinate with Environmental and Operations teams to meet regulatory and corporate reporting timelines.

Laboratory Operations

• Manage daily workload, prioritization, and turnaround times for product QA testing (e.g., brightness, viscosity, kappa number, moisture, dirt/defects, strength) and process analyses (e.g., liquor strength, residuals, alkalinity, pH, conductivity).
• Ensure readiness and reliability of lab assets (e.g., spectrophotometers, titrators, ovens, balances) through preventive maintenance, calibrations, and service.
• Own consumables/standards inventory, vendor coordination, and budget stewardship for the labs.
• Drive 5S and lean/continuous improvement initiatives to improve safety, quality, cost, and efficiency.

Data, Reporting & Collaboration

• Validate and publish lab results via LIMS/SCADA/quality dashboards; escalate deviations and support root cause analysis.
• Partner with Operations, Technical, and Maintenance to translate lab insights into process adjustments and corrective actions.
• Prepare summary reports (daily/weekly/monthly) and present lab performance, trends, and KPIs.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Diploma/bachelor’s in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pulp & Paper Science, Environmental Science, or related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in industrial laboratories; pulp & paper (kraft) experience strongly preferred.
• 2+ years in a supervisory/lead role; experience in a unionized environment is an asset.

Technical Skills

• Strong working knowledge of kraft pulp QA and process testing methods (e.g., TAPPI/ISO methods for pulp properties and process liquor analyses).
• Environmental lab experience with common regulatory parameters (e.g., BOD/COD/TSS/pH).
• Proficiency with LIMS, SPC/control charts, method validation, and metrology/calibration practices.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 requirements, internal auditing, and CAPA.
• Bonus: Experience with ICP/GC/HPLC, automated titrators, and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI/Excel).

Competencies

• Safety-first mindset; decisive, organized, and detail oriented.
• Clear communicator who can collaborate at all levels (operators to management).
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis; continuous improvement orientation.
• Fair, consistent leadership—able to coach, set expectations, and hold accountability.

 

 

Founded in 1882, J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) has operations in Canada and the United States and are a team of 20,000 dedicated employees.  At J.D. Irving, Limited, you are part of a dynamic team of professionals who lead with integrity and are passionate about delivering results. With a culture that nurtures talent and creates an inclusive workplace, you can grow your career across our various operating divisions. We are committed to creating accessible environments for our colleagues, candidates, and customers. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary, or permanent) can be made at any stage of application and employment. We encourage candidates to make their accommodation needs known so that we can provide equitable opportunities. Worried you do not meet all the requirements? Studies have shown that many applicants apply only to job opportunities when they feel they meet 100% of the criteria. We promote an inclusive environment where everyone is appreciated, recognized, and empowered to contribute fully. If you are interested in this position but are worried you did not meet all the requirements, we would encourage you to still apply. We appreciate your interest in our company however only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.