Job Description

Title: Laboratory Director – Cannabis & Supplemental Testing

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Type: Full-time

Salary: Negotiable and competitive

Overview:

We are seeking a highly qualified Laboratory Director to lead operations in a state-accredited cannabis, hemp, supplement, and cosmetic testing laboratory. The Director will oversee quality, compliance, technical operations, staff development, and regulatory adherence to meet and exceed standards for consumer safety and accuracy. This role will report to senior leadership and coordinate with various teams to ensure the lab maintains ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation standards, satisfies state licensing under Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, and complies with all relevant rules in OAC 442:10-8-2.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and oversight of all laboratory functions, including pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical operations.
• Ensure the lab holds and maintains accreditation by an entity approved by the Oklahoma authority, including both chemistry and biology (or cannabis), specific to the procedures used.
• Oversee or approve the development, validation, and implementation of new assay methods, protocols, and instrumentation (such as potency, heavy metals, microbial contamination, residual solvents, terpenes, pesticides).
• Manage external and internal quality control programs, including proficiency testing, corrective actions, and preventive maintenance.
• Ensure all testing and reporting are strictly within the lab’s scope of accreditation. If scope changes, follow required notification and verification procedures with the authority.
• Maintain strict safety, record-keeping, and operational standards: equipment calibration, maintenance schedules, environmental conditions (ventilation, power, layout), reagent and sample handling/storage, contamination control.
• Supervise, hire, train, and mentor laboratory staff; ensure competency testing, ongoing training, and evaluation.
• Serve as the point of contact for regulatory audits, inspections, and licensing; prepare required documentation (SOPs, performance records, calibration logs, external QC results) and ensure compliance.
• Oversee data integrity, ensuring electronic records and signatures are reliable, secure, and compliant. Manage record retention: raw data, protocols, final reports must be retained for at least 7 years.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with clients, industry regulators, and internal stakeholders to support lab growth and maintain a reputation for high standards.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a chemical, biological, environmental, or physical science, or engineering.
• A Master’s or Doctoral degree may substitute for part of the experience requirement.
• At least several years (5+) of technical experience in laboratory operations; experience in cannabis/hemp or supplement testing preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing or leading a high-complexity lab, including quality systems (ISO 17025 or similar), regulatory compliance, SOPs, QC, instrument maintenance.
• Strong understanding of Oklahoma’s medical marijuana laboratory regulations, especially OAC 442:10-8-2.
• Ability to review and interpret complex laboratory data (chemistry, biology, microbiology, etc.).
• Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.

About us:

At Lighthouse Lab Services, we offer solutions to help start, grow, and run clinical laboratories. Our recruiting team has over 18 years of proven success placing job seekers in positions ranging from entry-level Medical Technologists to seasoned Laboratory Directors. We recruit nationwide, for permanent and travel positions with clients ranging from small hospitals to large reference laboratories.

It is the policy of Lighthouse Lab Services to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Lighthouse Lab Services is committed to working and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including persons with disabilities.

If at any time during the application process, you need an accommodation, please contact recruiting@lighthouselabservices.com for assistance.

Lighthouse Lab Services | 844-974-1929 | lighthouselabservices.com

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