General Manager

Position Summary

Our client is seeking a General Manager to lead one of its largest Food & Beverage testing laboratory operations in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This executive-level role carries full responsibility for site operations, financial performance, technical execution, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction.

The General Manager will drive business performance within a fast-paced, high-volume food testing environment, leading a multidisciplinary team across laboratory operations, quality, client services, and support functions. This role holds full P&L ownership and is accountable for operational excellence, employee engagement, quality systems, client retention, and long-term strategic growth.

The ideal candidate brings strong business acumen, proven site leadership experience, and a track record of managing complex laboratory operations. This individual must be capable of balancing commercial objectives with operational execution while fostering a culture focused on quality, safety, service, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Strategic & Site Leadership

• Lead overall site strategy, operational performance, and growth initiatives
• Develop and execute annual operating plans aligned with business objectives
• Drive continuous improvement across operations, quality, service delivery, and employee engagement
• Serve as the senior escalation point for operational, quality, client, and personnel matters
• Partner with executive leadership to support long-term growth and expansion initiatives
• Ensure alignment between commercial priorities, laboratory capacity, and customer expectations
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and customer service

Financial & Business Performance

• Own full site P&L, including revenue growth, profitability, EBITDA, and cost management
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators including turnaround time, productivity, utilization, quality, and customer satisfaction
• Partner with commercial teams on client retention, account growth, pricing strategy, and new business opportunities
• Evaluate and prioritize capital investments in instrumentation, automation, facility improvements, and technology
• Drive operational efficiencies while maintaining quality and service excellence

Quality & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure compliance with all applicable quality systems, accreditation requirements, and regulatory standards
• Maintain audit and inspection readiness for customer, accreditation, and regulatory reviews
• Champion data integrity, quality assurance, and continuous compliance initiatives
• Oversee investigations, corrective actions, and preventive action programs as needed
• Ensure laboratory operations consistently meet client expectations and quality requirements
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and operational discipline

Operational Management

• Oversee all laboratory and support functions, including Chemistry, Microbiology, Sample Management, Client Services, and Operational Support teams
• Align staffing, resources, and capacity planning to meet business demands
• Drive improvements in workflow efficiency, throughput, turnaround times, and overall operational performance
• Ensure effective utilization of personnel, equipment, and laboratory resources
• Support implementation of new technologies, testing capabilities, and process improvements
• Partner with technical leaders to ensure operational excellence across all testing disciplines

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing leadership team
• Build a culture centered on accountability, engagement, teamwork, and customer focus
• Drive succession planning and leadership development initiatives
• Promote employee safety, professional growth, and continuous learning
• Establish performance expectations and foster a results-oriented environment
• Lead organizational change initiatives and support business transformation efforts

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Business, Operations Management, or related field required
• MBA or advanced degree preferred

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in laboratory operations, food manufacturing, quality, testing services, or related industries
• Experience as a General Manager, Site Leader, Laboratory Director, Operations Director, or similar senior leadership role
• Demonstrated P&L ownership and financial management expertise
• Proven experience leading large, complex operational teams in a regulated environment
• Experience supporting customer-facing operations and managing client relationships
• Background in food and beverage testing, food manufacturing, contract laboratory services, quality assurance, or related industries strongly preferred
• Experience leading multi-functional teams across operations, quality, customer service, and support functions
• Strong track record of driving operational improvements, employee engagement, and business growth

Core Competencies

• Executive leadership and strategic planning
• Financial and operational management
• P&L ownership and business acumen
• Customer relationship management
• Continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Quality and regulatory compliance
• Change leadership and organizational development
• Talent development and team building
• Data-driven decision making
• Executive presence and communication skills
• Cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management