Sampling Team Leader

At ALS, we encourage you to dream big.

When you join us, you’ll be part of a global team harnessing the power of scientific testing and data-driven insights to build a healthier future.

Objectives

The Team Leader is responsible for the supervision of all sampling related practices tasks, methodologies, administrations, quality control and HSE of the site.

Qualifications

Essential

• Matric – National Senior Certificate (Higher Certificate).

Essential Criteria

Skills, Competencies and Experience

• Minimum - 2 years’ relevant Sampling experience in a supervisory position.
• A valid drivers’ licence.
• Ability to anticipate needs and must be responsive to enquiries.
• Ability to investigate, resolve and respond to queries.
• Ability to multitask and meet challenging deadlines.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Able to communicate at all levels within the organization and with clients.
• Client relationship building skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is a mandatory requirement.
• Good commercial understanding and appreciation of factors involved in delivering quality services profitably.
• Good interpersonal and planning skills and effective in working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Interact and communicate in a respectful manner taking into consideration the diverse cultures.
• Must be computer literate.
• Must be willing to adhere to company rules, policies, and regulations.
• Sound knowledge of sampling and preparation techniques.
• Sound technical knowledge of sampling techniques.

Position Duties

Principal Responsibilities and Challenges

Compliance

• Ensures compliance with QC standards that have been implemented when sampling
• Ensure all documentation related to maintenance, calibration and training are up to date.
• Ensure approved SOPs are used to provide continuous quality service to clients

  Main task and responsibilities

• Supervise all sampling related practices, tasks, and methodologies.
• Administration of sampling related tasks including Human Resources.
• Action Client Services related queries, feedback and reports.
• Carry out Quality Control tasks related to the sampling and sample preparation as well as ISO 17020 or QC system.
• Maintain HSE requirements.
• Managing all employees’ performance matters.
• Productivity to required benchmarks.

• Monitoring all equipment performance, ensuring consumables available in correct quantities reporting and following up on all breakdowns to minimize equipment downtime.
• Adhering to all communicated ALS policies and procedures.
• Supervise shift operation to ensure operation targets are achieved.
• Supervise distribution of work within the department setting priorities internally.
• Ensuring accurate and timely sample preparation to achieve Turn Around Times (TAT) - daily.
• Provide technical support and advice on handling of non-routine sample prep.
• Ensures that correct SOP are used in accordance with the established procedures and schedules.
• Ensure best practice compliance is adhered to within the department.
• Advising staff and take corrective action where necessary.
• Continuously following up and monitoring the operations at warehouses.
• Attend to queries out at warehouses
• Maintain and organize production logs.
• Identifies and highlights system constraints.
• Ensure pre-shift checks and post-shift checks are completed and act on any non-conformances.
• Perform basic equipment maintenance
• Ensures that the quality of the prepared samples produced is maintained at a level that meets or exceeds company acceptable standards.
• Ensure the maintenance and repair of all equipment for technical problems and accurate and accurate record keeping is maintained within Sample Prep.
• Ensure all required sampling field reports is completed daily and up to date.
• Travel to other sites if and when required.
• Staff Training Programs (technical, supervisory, and safety);
• Performance Management.
• Recruitment
• Ensure Corporate Compliance initiatives, reports and practices are adhered to.
• Actively attends staff and supervisory training and succession development HR.
• Ensures the Sampling Department is optimally equipped and staffed by overseeing schedules for shifts and operating in an efficient, effective manner.
• Oversees consumable inventory.
• Maintain communication with the Technical Manager with regards to priority of incoming work daily.
• Track supply level and order supplies ensuring no work stoppages.
• Write reports and carry out turnaround time investigations.

• Perform stock takes and maintain minimum stock levels.
• Management of shift schedule and overseeing timesheets.
• Participate in all HR matters in the section.
• Approves timesheets.
• Conduct staff performance reviews.
• Conduct poor performance matters.
• Deal with disciplinary issues.
• Ensures the service provided meets and exceeds client expectations.
• Enforces ALS Inspection safety rules, systems, policies and adhere to client standards.
• Ensures that necessary equipment and environment is maintained for safety in the sample preparation- identifying limitations and solutions.
• Immediately rectifies any unsafe sampling practice.
• Ensures all vehicle usage and control policies are adhered to – driver policies/ log book control and follow up/ vehicle checks, etc.
• Ensures all regulatory laws are fully complied with
• Ensure compliance with ISO 17020 accreditation requirements within Sampling.
• Ensure that all documentation related to maintenance, calibration and training are up to date and available.
• Ensure approved SOP are used to provide continuous quality service to clients.
• Assist with internal and external audits.
• Adhere to the internal audit system to ensure that the Sampling Department is adhering to the requirements of the quality system.
• Ensure that root-cause investigations are properly conducted for corrective actions and solutions are effective.
• Assist team leaders with technical support.
• Ensure all aspect of Quality System are understood by staff and routinely adhered to within operations.
• Provide ongoing technical support for the quality system as required and to ensure the continuity of Company Quality System with the close co-operation of the Quality Manager.
• Knowledgeable in sampling operations and assist with queries and troubleshooting.
• Promotes teamwork between sampling and external relationship.

Occupational Health & Safety

• Practice the ALS Health and Safety Foundation Standards
• Practice the ALS company core values
• Comply with the ALS company policies and procedures
• Always abide by local legislative requirements
• Ensure a health & safety (HSE) culture, policies and procedures are promoted, communicated, and implemented effectively.

Quality Assurance

• Always follow all ALS Quality System Procedures.
• Always abide by local legislative requirements.
• Compliance to the ALS Quality Management System
• Prepare and comply with internal as well as external audits.
• Ensure that the quality of analytical data produced meets the ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 17025:2017 standard and are maintained at a level that meets or exceeds company and market acceptable standards.

Authorities

• Review and authorise the routine records of sample preparation.
• Review and authorise the sample preparation paperwork before submitting for reporting.
• Review records of employees’ competence, skills, etc.
• Review Calibration Certificates of equipment, received from the outside calibration laboratory.
• Take corrective actions identified based on analysis, related to the complaint or results of testing.
• Stop an activity, if any non–conformity found related to testing, accommodation and / or environment.

Working at ALS

The ALS team is a diverse and dedicated community united by our passion to make a difference in the world.

Our values are important to us, and shape how we work, how we treat each other and how we recognise excellence.

At ALS, you’ll be supported to develop new skills and reach your full potential. We invest in our people with programs and opportunities that help you build a diverse career with us.

We want everyone to have a safe, flexible and rewarding career that makes a positive impact on our people, the planet and our communities.

Everyone Matters

ALS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment where the strengths and perspectives of each employee are both recognised and valued.

ALS also welcomes applications from people with all levels of ability. Reasonable adjustments to support candidates throughout the recruitment process are available upon request.

Eligibility

To be eligible to work at ALS you must be a Citizen or Permanent Resident of the country you are applying for, or either hold or be able to obtain, a valid working visa.

How to apply

Please apply on-line and provide a resume & cover letter that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.