Role Title: Laboratory Manager, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
Location: Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
About Agro Fresh
Imagine a world with less food waste and stronger, more sustainable produce businesses. Where consumers everywhere have even more abundant and delicious produce options. This is our singular focus at Agro Fresh and what inspires our colleagues every day.
Agro Fresh is an Ag Tech innovator and global leader with a mission to prevent food loss/waste and conserve the planet’s resources by providing a range of science-based solutions, digital technologies, and high-touch customer services. In a world fraught with climate change and shrinking natural resources, we partner with growers, packers, and retailers bringing solutions across the food supply chain to enhance the quality and extend the shelf life of fresh produce. The Agro Fresh organization has 40 years of post-harvest experience across a broad range of crops, including pome fruit (apples/pears), citrus, avocados, and mangoes – and we continue to expand into new countries and crops and pre-harvest.
What the Role Delivers
The Laboratory Manager (LM) is responsible for all facets of biology development programs for both new products and expansion of the existing portfolio, from proof of concept, through product development and up to product launch. In this key role, LM develops product performance data to expand Agro Fresh’s business as well as supporting existing product lines.
The LM will be responsible for all product development activities within their assigned geography across multiple product categories including coatings, antimicrobials (fungicides), and regulators focused on near- and post-harvest solutions.
In addition to the regional responsibilities, the LM may be assigned to a global development lead responsibility for a specific category or project. In this additional global role, LM will lead global development activities and leverage biology data and resources within a global matrix network of LMs, ensuring consistency of protocols and timely completion of work plans.
The LM is also expected to be the primary interface with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) within the assigned geographical business region.

Key Responsibilities
In order of relative importance
Biology Development responsibilities

• Build annual plans and budgets for biology work aligned with project scope and timelines.
• Set biology work objectives aligned with project milestones and build protocols to meet objectives.
• Coordinate the execution of the research on assigned projects using working knowledge of scientific principles, theory and experimental design within a scientific discipline.
• Generate sound research data and data handling.
• Consistently apply the Scientific Method in the planning and execution of experimental plans and problem solving. Learn the appropriate use of Six Sigma tools to solve complex problems.
• Keep current with developments in relevant areas of technology, to better execute research projects.
• Develop technical material (presentations, bulletins, etc.) for new products or use patterns to support internal training and commercialization
• Understand and follow appropriate EH&S standards, policies and procedures applicable to their job. Lead by example around safety behaviours by promoting safe work habits. With minimal coaching, communicates clearly and effectively in a timely manner (verbal and written formats) and effectively interacts with the audience for related discussions.
• Communicate and appropriately document work in the form of internal reports/presentations.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of team alignment with R&D goals.
• Coordinate technicians, students and other human resources working in the lab, to execute the R&D project currently running, being aligned with R&D manager and project leaders.
• Plan and manage resources needed to implement and perform all the R&D projects, being aligned with R&D management and project leaders.
• Interface with Technical Sales Representatives at appropriate project stages (pre-launch/launch) to ensure successful technical handover of new products or use patterns in preparation for commercialization.

Key Opinion Leader (KOL) responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with KOLs to enhance Agro Fresh position within the industry.
• Plan and implement activities with KOLs to support both development projects and existing commercial products aligned with commercial priorities.
• Monitor research areas and identify new growth opportunities.

Who to Work With
Primary internal and external stakeholders

• Regional R&D team
• China R&D Team
• China Commercial Team
• CRO`s
• Regulatory
• Operations
• Legal
• Crop consultants
• University and Extension KOL’s

How We Work
Agro Fresh core competencies – those in italics apply for people leaders

• Accountability for Results
• Mindset for Growth
• Customer Centricity
• One Agro Fresh
• Owns the Talent

What the Job Requires

• Master’s or Doctorate degree in Agronomy/Horticulture/Plant Physiology
• Ability to travel 20 – 30% of the time
• Fluent in English, both verbal and written
• Design of experiment training
• Data analysis
• Good at using GC for analysis of volatiles

What to Have Done and Know How to Do
These skills and experiences are highly desirable; however, they do not preclude exceptions based on an individual’s performance history and demonstrated potential.

• Ability to work independently and drive projects to completion.
• A minimum of 5-8 years’ experience as a Lab Manager
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
• Ability to successfully partner with team members from multiple backgrounds
• Demonstrate technical competence in specific areas of work
• Prior experience in research or technical support
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• The ability to articulate the boundary conditions and benefits of their technology to others.