Special Projects Manager - Laboratories

At Onterris, we build careers grounded in purpose, responsibility and real-world impact.

“For Planet and Progress” is our north star that guides everything we do. We believe environmental responsibility and human progress are interconnected, interwoven and international. Our scientists, engineers, field teams, consultants and professionals collaborate across disciplines and geographies, guiding industries and governments, ensuring that communities and environments thrive.

When you join us, you’re not just forging a career, you’re joining a movement. A movement for better thinking, smarter solutions and lasting impact.

Together, we will advance our way of life and protect the integrity of our environment every step of the way.

Onterris Labs, located in Orange, CA, is seeking an onsite Special Projects Manager to lead cross-functional laboratory improvement initiatives focused on operational processes, quality-system execution, training effectiveness, workflow efficiency, and supporting data systems. This is a hands-on, floor-based role expected to spend the majority of its time observing how work is actually performed, identifying risks and improvement opportunities, and driving defined projects through implementation and sustained adoption.

The Special Projects Manager does not replace functional ownership within Operations, Quality, Training, Method Development, or Data Systems; the role identifies cross-functional gaps, establishes improvement plans with the appropriate owners, and drives those plans through completion. This position is expected to be 100% onsite Monday-Friday

The Special Projects Manager will independently lead and control improvement projects from identification through verified completion, setting clear tasks, owners, and timelines for each initiative. As a results-oriented, analytical problem solver with a drive for change, this individual will take the initiative to challenge current practices and deliver timely, high-quality, and accurate outcomes. Success in this role requires a disciplined, thorough, and precise approach, with decisions grounded in detailed technical knowledge and data, close hands-on follow-up, and the self-confidence to hold functional owners accountable for agreed actions.

Find the gap. Understand the risk. Determine what needs to change. Engage the right owner. Drive it to completion. Verify it sticks.

The compensation range for this role is $90K to $120K, commensurate with experience, skills, and geographic location

Schedule: Onsite, Monday - Friday

To thrive in this role, you'll be comfortable taking ownership of the following responsibilities:

• Observe laboratory operations and conduct process reviews and gap analyses across laboratory departments to identify differences between documented procedures, training, actual laboratory practices, and process requirements, as well as identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize opportunities to reduce rework, eliminate bottlenecks and manual workarounds, improve efficiency, strengthen operational performance, and reduce business risk.
• Develop process maps, workflows, standard work practices, checklists, improvement plans, and implementation roadmaps; establish ownership and timelines, monitor progress, facilitate adoption, and verify improvements are completed, sustained, and effective
• Apply deep technical and laboratory expertise to analyze systems, data, and workflows, develop practical solutions, and make sound, risk-based decisions.
• Define clear tasks, duties, and expectations for each initiative, and deliver high-quality work products on time.
• Partner with Operations, TDs, Quality, HR, Group Leaders, Project Management, and corporate and local Method Development Scientists to lead root cause investigations, implement improvements, verify effectiveness, and ensure new methodologies are successfully transitioned into routine laboratory operations.
• Assert positions with confidence and hold owners accountable for agreed actions while maintaining professional working relationships
• Provide hands-on involvement and close follow-up to verify corrective actions are completed and sustained
• Manage multiple priorities simultaneously and respond positively to pressure in a fast-paced laboratory environment
• Communicate in a clear, factual, and businesslike manner, presenting accurate information and all sides of an issue to support decision-making.
• Maintain high standards for quality and accuracy, with a careful, thorough, and precise approach to procedures, documentation, and compliance requirements
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Role Focus

· 60-70% Floor-Based Observation and Assessment

· 20-30% Improvement Projects and Implementation

· 10-20% Reporting, Documentation, and Communication

These requirements reflect the knowledge, skills and abilities that help you do your best work here.

• Minimum 5 years of environmental laboratory experience.
• Demonstrated success identifying, leading, and implementing process improvement initiatives within a laboratory environment.
• Experience with root cause analysis and process improvement methodologies.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or higher) certification, or equivalent demonstrated experience applying Lean or Six Sigma tools in an environmental laboratory setting, preferred.
• Strong understanding of laboratory operations and workflows.
• Strong analytical skills with a high level of accuracy, attention to detail, and process discipline
• Familiarity with laboratory information management systems and laboratory workflow technologies preferred
• Demonstrated ability to drive cross-functional actions to completion without direct authority, using data, technical expertise, and clearly defined expectations to gain agreement from functional owners.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Work independently with control of own activities, setting priorities and timelines without close supervision.
• Clear, factual, and concise communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with functional owners to implement and sustain improvements.
• Take initiative and maintain a proactive, competitive mindset with a strong drive to get things done.
• Demonstrate a results-oriented, innovative, and analytical approach with a drive for change and process improvement.

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Onterris is a leading global environmental solutions company partnering with organizations to solve complex challenges where environmental pressures, regulatory expectations and operational risks intersect. Guided by our mission to advance the way of life without compromising the integrity of our environment, we believe environmental responsibility and human progress are fundamentally connected. Our scientists, engineers, field teams and consultants apply systems thinking that unites science, data and practical expertise to deliver solutions that strengthen our clients’ resilience, mitigate risk and protect the air, water and soil that sustain communities, while uncovering responsible paths forward for planet and progress. For more information, visit www.onterris.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We acknowledge that these experiences and perspectives help to enrich our teams and contribute to our ongoing success. We are committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in our employment for all applicants. For US residents, click here to learn more.