Laboratory QA/QC Specialist

Summary:

Job Holder ensures proper implementation and functioning of Laboratory Quality Management System, overall quality control and quality assurance of laboratory activities and analyses. He/She ensures that output (final results and reporting), quality targets are achieved for overall laboratory activities in alignment with company regulations, Azerbaijani regulations, legislation, licensing, local and external audits, and ISO/IEC 17025 requirements. Job holders assures all internal company policies, procedures, manuals are complying, up to date, controlled, and shared/communicated with the laboratory staff where required to sustain the full contribution and involvement on the improvement of the laboratory quality management system.

This is a critical quality assurance position dealing with the overall QMS (quality management system) of the laboratory for internal and external purposes while ensuring the continuous improvement of the Laboratory Operations.

 Responsibilities:

• Responsible for Laboratory Quality Management Systems (QMS) of laboratory services that is in compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 
• Identifies, develops, and implements improvement of the laboratory measurement capability to meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 
• Develops work plans, work instructions, procedures, policies, worksheets, logbooks and ensures coordination and implementation of action plans related to laboratory Quality Management System activities. 
• Periodically reviews and controls laboratory QMS documents (both internal and external) and international methods in accordance with Azerbaijani Laws & Regulations, ensures compliance with Company standards and methodologies and the latest version of ISO/IEC 17025.
• Conducting inspections and internal audits of laboratory processes and data.
• Follow established QA/QC procedures and Work Instructions
• Designs and implements periodical Internal Audits of test performance and QMS effectiveness
• Coordinates and leads external audits by National and International Accreditation bodies, Local authorities, and external audits to subcontracted Laboratories. 
• Ensures all non-conformities, arising from internal/external audits or surveys of any nature, are adequately addressed, processed (Action Tracking) and reported to Laboratory management as per approved Laboratory procedures, Assists Lab Management for implementation of corrective actions. 
• Ensures that all the Laboratory personnel are aware of QMS requirements and participates in developing technical competencies and/ (or) training for achieving the Quality Management objectives.
• Provides assistance to Laboratory personnel in the development of Quality Control Charts for all tests (SQCs); ensures reliability of testing equipment and measuring instruments by monitoring control charts of QA/QC tests together with related laboratory leads. 
• Verifies through supervision the consistency of the implemented standards, specifications and procedures for all analytical tests carried out in company.
• Ensures staff training are met and recorded in compliance with the annual training plan and ISO/IEC 17025 requirements together with the related laboratory leads.
• Coordinates annual Laboratory Management Reviews for this purpose in alignment with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements. 
• Conducts quarterly quality meetings with laboratory personnel to provide training about the ISO/IEC 17025 and local quality requirements and share status and knowledge of the laboratory as per quality perspective.  
• Closely monitors and records all customer complaints and carries out root cause analysis to conclude corrective actions together with the related lab leads.
• Acts as the quality focal point of the laboratory together with Senior QA/QC Specialist and Laboratory Supervisor (Non-Routine) 
• Consistently informs Laboratory management on critical quality issues and suggest solutions for the improvement of the system. 
• Identify deviations (non-conformities) from management system or from the processes to perform laboratory activities such as risk, opportunity, customer satisfaction surveys, customer complaint, internal audits, personnel feedback, quality objectives and archive documents. 
• Monitors all laboratory licenses, international/local audit requirements to ensure all are up to date.  
• Performs Laboratory Impartiality and Operation risk opportunities in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 ensures that the Management System achieves its intended results, enhances opportunities to achieve the purpose and objectives of the Laboratory, prevents or reduces undesired impacts and potential failures in the laboratory activities, achieves improvements.
• Remains responsibility for the items and delegations described in Laboratory Authorization Matrix
• Responsible for identification, storage, protection, back-up, archive, retrieval, retention time and disposal of the records. 
• Remains committed to annual company objectives and individual goals and targets.

Requirements:

• University degree in Chemistry (or equivalent) on technical sciences. 
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in Chemical Laboratory Quality Management System administration
• Strong knowledge in Quality Management Systems such as ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17025 requirements both local and international. 
• Strong knowledge of the statistical tools used in the evaluation of QA/QC parameters such as uncertainty evaluation, method validation, proficiency tests results evaluation.
• Deep knowledge of the standards used for the expression of results in the reports to ensure quality aspects are covered. 
• Knowledge of the interpretation of instrument verification certificates 
• Good working knowledge of Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
• Good organization and team working skills.

Experience Requirements:

• Good communication skills, both oral and written, including the ability to make presentations and write effective reports in particular for Management Reviews.
• Ability to work in team environments, communicate, understand, and work within the dynamics of a multi-functional and multi-location environment.
• Pleasant personality and ability to listen & influence personnel not directly under his/her responsibility.
• Ability to lead and coach international and national staff.
• Capacity to integrate within an international and national workforce.
• Problem solving and analytical/computer skills.
• Strong commitment to safety.
• Preferably previous knowledge and/or experience in Quality control techniques of oil and gas lab activities as well as field activities (Good Laboratory Practice, ISO/IEC 17025 etc)
• Has leadership (influencing) skills to influence and train laboratory personnel for continues improvement.
• Basic understanding to operate in presence of toxic substances specifically H2S.
• Knowledge of local and international codes and regulations regarding chemical lab operation activities.
• Awareness of Laboratory Information Management and automation system.
• Strong customer focus (internal & external).

Location: Sumgait

Application Instruction:

Kindly submit your CV and indicate the position you are applying for in the Subject line. All applications for the advertised post will be assessed and given equal opportunities.