Job Vacancies at SGS

About the Job

Job Description

• The Laboratory Supervisor is responsible for the day-to-day functions of the Microbiology section of the SGS laboratory and for personnel management, implementation and maintenance of the quality system and control over sample analysis and reporting according to established analytical methods and procedures in an ISO 17025 accredited food safety testing laboratory as a technical signatory.

Personnel management – Microbiologist, Lab Technicians / Assistants, Interns

• Supervise staff according to company procedures and policies.
• Training in order to develop and optimize staff skills.
• Manage competency training program.
• Continuous measurement of skills and identify shortcomings of staff
• Problem solving, advice and guidance on technical matter

Supervising and Performing tests

• Ensure all testing within the laboratory complies with the quality management system (ISO 17025 and SANAS).
• Accurate registration, storage, retention and disposal of samples according to prescribed procedures.
• Preparation/supervising preparation of samples and media.
• Performing routine analysis on samples according to standard methods and procedures.
• Ensure the execution and finalization of method validation plans and associated work as they arise.
• Operate instruments according to specified procedures
• Maintain records indicating maintenance, working conditions and quality control measures.
• Ensure good laboratory practices are followed.
• Can conduct physical preparation like cutting, breaking, homogenizing, crushing, grinding and pulverizing;
• chemical preparation (organic extraction and digestion) sample testing: wet analysis (gravimetric, titration, distillation) and other tests
• Ensures that work performed is in accordance with the QMS and Safety Policies defined in the Safety Manual.
• Wash sensitive glass wares for analyses.
• Cleans specific work area.
• Operates and maintains equipment used in preparing samples.
• Maintain records on equipment used in preparing samples and keep up-to-date records pertaining to sample storage and disposal.
• Assist laboratory analysts on internal preventive maintenance and troubleshooting of laboratory equipment when needed.
• Signs worksheets, job instructions and other routine records related to the handled tests and as a requirement of the specific section.
• Ensures compliance to the Group and national policies including but not limited to the maintenance of the Quality Management System
• Operating to the highest standards of ethics, in accordance with the SGS Code of Integrity.
• Complies with the Quality, Health and Safety, Environment and Energy (QHSEE) policies and supporting objectives including, but not limited to:
• Demonstrates strong commitment to SGS QHSEE policies, procedures and work instructions by actively participating in meetings, projects and events, completes required training, intervenes in unsafe situations, refuses unsafe work, and complies fully with all applicable laws and regulations related to HSEE
• Acts appropriately and immediately to emergency situations and assists other staff members in maintaining readiness to respond to emergencies within the workplace
• Disposes or directs the disposal of waste generated as a part of daily work performed in a safe manner and in compliance with the disposal regulations and requirements, and in accordance with SGS Environmental Management System requirements
• Reports all incidents, including near misses and hazards, that may affect the achievement of QHSEE objectives in accordance with SGS Incident Reporting and Management requirements
• Efficiently uses all equipment, including safety equipment, and company owned property in the manner intended and reports any damaged / lost equipment to immediate superior
• Maintains a safe and tidy worksite according to the organization’s 5S program and guidelines
• Maintains awareness of the safety and health related hazards and environmental aspects and proposes action plans to control the risks to immediate superior or QHSEE Coordinators
• Actively participates in incident investigations and risk assessments as deemed necessary by SGS management
• Fulfills the requirements needed in the success of the QHSEE Management System
• Recognizes the potential consequences of not following the established policies, procedures, and guidelines, including not fulfilling the organization’s compliance obligations
• Ensure good housekeeping is maintained.
• Adhere to competency training program.
• Perform tests pertaining to Global projects, including verifications.
• Supervise the proficiency testing scheme program.
• Perform any other reasonable tasks as assigned by direct line manager.
• Must be willing to work overtime when necessary.

Planning of tests and evaluation of results

• Plan activities according to the sample volume and quantities received.
• Ensure customer service requirements for testing/analysis are met.
• Monitor and control stock levels of required chemicals and consumables.
• Adhere to sample turn-around timeframes.
• Evaluate results against quality control specifications.

Reporting opinions and interpretations

• Documenting of all relevant sample information.
• Calculation and record keeping of all analytical results.
• Report all results on SLIMS and / or designated worksheets.
• Issue reports and add comments or suggestions when required.

Method modification and development and validation of new methods

• Perform analysis and report results required for method and instrument validation.
• Report shortcomings and deviations and perform communicated actions to implement and improve new and existing methods and procedures.
• Perform verifications pertaining to Global and Local projects, as and when necessary.

Supervisory duties

• Support operations and contribute to positive staff morale.
• Manage staff overtime and weekend work required.
• Responsible for effective and appropriate utilization of staff, equipment and facilities within the section.
• Adhere to all quality and safety requirements of the SGS management system.
• Perform any other reasonable task as assigned by the Technical Operations Manager.

Qualifications

Education

• The position requires an Honours degree (Food Science / Microbiology majors) / BTech in Biotechnology from a recognized tertiary education facility in the field of microbiology.

Experience

• A minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in a similar laboratory – high throughput routinised food safety testing in microbiology using ISO 17025 accredited methods is non-negotiate.
• Experience in the application of ISO 17025.
• Understanding the operations, maintenance and operational requirements of instrumentation used in the laboratory.
• Good communication skills and the ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Must be a technical signatory with SANAS for a minimum of 5 years.
• SACNASP registration an advantage.
• Proven experiment design skills.

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About the Job

Job Description

• Support Health and Nutrition Management Team and Internal and External Sales Team in achieving the overall sales strategy to ensure a targeted and focused approach that consistently contributes to the overall growth aims of the business and maximize profit.

General

• Operate to the highest standard of ethics as indicated in SGS integrity programs and act in line with all standard processes that exist within Health and Nutrition.
• Support of Management and all Health and Nutrition Sales Team members (“the team”) to ensure timely creation of quotations and professional submission of all information as requested by clients, with the necessary and relevant follow-up.
• Support and coordinate subcontracting of samples to local and international subcontractors and SGS affiliate laboratories.
• Prepare quotations within set deadlines. Prepare client correspondence via email within a predefined time frame. Response to client telephone calls.
• Support to the team to maintain positive relationships with current and potential clients through timely and professional response to quotation related queries and testing requirements.
• Support to the team in liaising with technical / operations teams to ensure excellent communication channels exist to facilitate the successful handover and execution of new and current business.
• Support to the team in maintaining an awareness and understanding of all the company’s services, ensuring that the full range of the company’s services are presented to new and existing clients to maximize sales opportunities.
• Forward potential opportunities to other appropriate Business Lines.
• Ensure that all work performed for clients is in line with procedures (PO number, signed quotation, relevant submission forms)
• Ensure client emails and telephone calls and voicemail messages are responded to within a reasonable time frame.
• Support to the team in maintaining quoting system and ensure follow ups on quotations issued.
• Seek technical advice from technical staff when preparing quotations.
• Involve technical team in technical feedback required by clients.
• Promote the capabilities, facilities, personnel and experience of SGS Health and Nutrition Services, where applicable or requested.
• Comply with health, safety and environmental acts, regulations and requirements.
• Work with a safety conscious attitude and demonstrate good and safe work habits. 
• Support the team in developing and maintaining business relationships with current customers and prospective customers in the assigned territory/market segment to generate new business for Health and Nutrition.
• Support the team to act as a key point of contact between SGS and customers.
• Support the team to maintain good relationships with customers, new and existing, through regular email and telephonic contact and ensure customer expectation and experience is managed accordingly.
• Facilitate customer service issues and communicate to management to ensure that expectations are achieved.
• Assist and expedite the resolution of customer problems and complaints in conjunction with the business unit manager/s and their operations teams.
• Support the team in coordinating sales effort with business development, marketing, accounting, technical and operations.
• Support the team to prepare for and participate in trade shows, exhibitions, conventions and the like.
• Support the team in focusing the sales activity in growing and developing existing clients together with generating new sales opportunities.
• Support the team in achieving the budgeted local contribution and revenue and in achieving and exceeding the revenue defined in their sales plans.
• Support the external sales team in submitting accurate monthly sales reports as per relevant template by the required due date, for key, assigned and house accounts.
• Support the sales representatives to ensure client contact details and designations are maintained regularly, where applicable, for key and house accounts.
• Support the team in tracking and recording and updating weekly sales activities in line with defined KPI’s as per relevant template.
• Offer input on customer needs, problems, interests, competitive activities, and potential for new products and services.
• Achieve KPI’s for new number of clients per month and revenue target for clients specifically assigned per month
• Adhere to all quality and safety requirements of SGS management systems.
• For quotations, ensure pricing policies and financial policies and procedures are followed.
• Acting on and updating of CRM leads assigned by direct line manager and response to clients in line with SGS golden standard rules which is 24 hours from date of assigning the lead.
• Perform any other reasonable tasks as assigned by direct line manager.
• Maintain positive relationships with current and potential clients by meeting and exceeding their expectations.
• Support the team in communicating with technical / operations teams to ensure excellent communication channels exist to facilitate the successful handover and execution of new and current business.
• Support marketing strategy and management and business development teams as appropriate.
• Maintain awareness and understanding of all the company’s services, ensuring that the full range of the company’s services are presented to new and existing clients to maximize sales opportunities, where applicable.
• Forward potential opportunities to other appropriate Business Lines.

Quality & Health & Safety System

• Adhere to all quality and safety requirements of the SGS management system.
• Actively participate in safety related activities.
• Always wear appropriate protective clothing (where required)
• Adhere to all relevant HSE procedures and protocols.
• Keep workplace and equipment neat and tidy.
• Perform Health and Safety inspections in designated areas, when requested and where    applicable.
• Report deviations and communicate instructions to improve and maintain the quality system.

Specific Authorities

• Cease the use of any equipment that may be deemed to constitute a safety hazard or enter hazardous environments without the necessary knowledge and protection and report the situation to direct line manager to take action.
• Cease to carry on with work that may affect the quality (integrity) of services and report the situation to direct line manager to take action.
• Initiate a formal improvement request when a deviation of the system occurs, possible improvements are identified or when nonconformity is identified.

Qualifications

Education

• Matric as a minimum with a tertiary qualification being an advantage

Experience

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in the sales support field, with a successful track record
• Good knowledge of food industry
• Experience in the related fields
• Previous experience in a testing laboratory will be an advantage

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About the Job

Job Description

• The Microbiology Technician is responsible for day-to-day functions in the Microbiology section of Agri Food Laboratory, as well as sample analysis and reporting according to established analytical methods and procedures.

Performing tests

• Accurate registration, storage, retention and disposal of samples according to prescribed procedures.
• Preparation of samples and media.
• Performing routine analysis on samples according to standard methods and procedures
• Operate instruments according to specified procedures
• Maintain records indicating maintenance, working conditions and quality control measures
• Ensure good laboratory practices are followed
• Adhere to competency training program and keep competencies up to date.
• Perform any other reasonable tasks as assigned by direct line manager and/or Senior Microbiologist.

Planning of tests and evaluation of results

• Plan activities according to the sample volume and quantities received.
• Ensure customer service requirements for testing/analysis are met.
• Monitor and control stock levels of required chemicals and consumables. ▪ Adhere to sample turn-around timeframes.
• Evaluate results under supervision against quality control specifications

Reporting opinions and interpretations

• Documenting of all relevant sample information
• Calculation and record keeping of all analytical results.
• Report all results on appropriate and designated worksheets.

Qualifications

Education

• Minimum National Diploma in Biotechnology / Microbiology with experience in duties described in above at undergraduate level.

Experience

• Understanding the operations, maintenance and operational requirements of instrumentation used in the laboratory.
• Good communication skills

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About the Job

Job Description

• An Assistant Technician is responsible to supervise and/or carry out and take responsibility of testing for all tests that the employee is deemed competent for strictly in accordance to prescribed methods.
• An Assistant Technician is responsible to adhere to all quality and safety requirements of the SGS management system.
• An Assistant Technician is responsible to perform all field and laboratory work including sampling, calculations and performing test methods accurately
• Complete timesheets accurately on a daily basis.
• Ensure discipline of his team members in the field
• Report for duty on site and/or in the laboratory as per the client requirements.
• Must be able to assist with centerline investigations and borrow pit test on various sites as and when required.
• Assist with the implementation and maintenance of Health and Safety requirements for the Gauteng region.
• An Assistant Technician is responsible to supervise and/or carry out and take responsibility of testing for all tests that the employee is deemed competent for strictly in accordance to prescribed methods.
• An Assistant Technician is responsible for instructing subordinates
• An Assistant Technician is responsible to adhere to all quality and safety requirements of the SGS management system.
• An Assistant Technician is report deviations, irregularities and non-conformances to Manager.
• An Assistant Technician will be responsible for keeping of deadlines
• An Assistant Technician will be required to verify equipment and update the control list.
• An Assistant Technician will be responsible for quality assurance.
• An Assistant Technician is responsible to perform any other reasonable tasks as assigned by the authorized site supervisor/laboratory manager and regional manager.
• An Assistant Technician will be responsible to complete the administrative/reporting of profiling

Qualifications

• Grade 12 
• Three years relevant experience in Geotechnical Civil Materials Testing
• Language: Proficiency in English Read, write, speak)
• Computer literacy in Word, Excel, Outlook