Assistant Lab Manager Jobs in Durham, NC (NOW HIRING)

The Senior Lab Manager provides strategic and operational leadership across Zeis Textile Extension’s pilot-scale textile manufacturing, testing and prototyping laboratories. This role oversees laboratory managers and supports the continued growth, modernization, and utilization of ZTE’s facilities to serve industry, research, workforce development and innovation needs.

Working closely with the Zeis Director, Wilson faculty and staff as well as industry partners, the Senior Lab Manager helps position ZTE as a nationally recognized resource for applied textile innovation, technical problem solving, pilot-scale manufacturing, and workforce training. The role is responsible for advancing operational excellence, equipment strategy, laboratory safety, client engagement and business development across the organization’s technical service portfolio.
Key responsibilities include:
Leadership and Personnel Management 

• Supervise all laboratory managers within ZTE (knitting lab, weaving lab, physical testing lab, dying and finishing lab, and testing and fabrication services, prototyping lab).
• Lead, coach, and develop the site leadership team, building a culture of accountability, responsiveness, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Foster a collaborative and service-oriented culture that supports technical excellence, workforce development, and continuous learning.
• Manage, develop, and provide training for employees.
• Determine and manage staff assignments, and provide leadership and daily direction of other laboratory personnel.
• Represent the facility to employees, customers, partners and executives.

Operations and Process Excellence 

• Lead ZTE technical operations, including production, maintenance, safety, production quality, delivery and financial performance.
• Champion a Safety-First culture and ensure all labs maintain a clean and safe work environment. Update the laboratory safety plan with Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S). Serve on the Wilson College Safety Committee.
• Monitor and improve operational performance across laboratory utilization, project execution timelines, quality, customer responsiveness, and resource allocation.
• Drive operational excellence by optimizing staffing, scheduling, capacity and workflow to support production goals.
• Collaborate with teams to implement scalable processes and improve production flow, applying Lean, Kaizen, 5S and visual management to eliminate bottlenecks and raise operational efficiency.

Business Development and Client Engagement 

• Identify opportunities to expand technical services, pilot manufacturing capabilities and industry engagement activities.
• Collaborate with the Zeis Director to grow external funding, technical service revenue and strategic partnerships.
• Serve as the primary industry liaison for priority projects.
• Manage multiple laboratory resources and conduct multiple Fabrication Service Agreement (FSA) projects simultaneously, including establishing priorities in the use of laboratory resources.
• Prepare FSA estimates, write FSAs, coordinate and oversee work associated with the FSAs, and invoice for work performed through the business office in partnership with lab managers.

Technical Expertise and Asset Management 

• Oversee the proper and safe use of laboratory equipment and manage preventive equipment maintenance and repairs.
• Lead acquisitions of new equipment to modernize the laboratory and expand capabilities, soliciting quotes for new and used machinery.
• Keep up to date on the latest technology in the field through a strong network of machinery manufacturing contacts and by attending trade shows.
• Manage inventory control.

Strategy and Partnership 

• Partner with the Zeis Director and the Assistant Dean of Finance and Operations to develop and drive business planning, ensuring continuous evolution to meet customer needs.
• Translate the business plan into measurable KPIs and manage actions to achieve overall budget and margin targets with each associated entity ZTE.
• Ensure lab readiness for new equipment, technologies and capabilities through strong cross-functional alignment and disciplined change management.
• Collaborate with the Zeis Director, academic departments heads and college faculty to provide appropriate support for academic classes

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering or related fields preferred; technical degrees in related areas will be considered.

Other Required Qualifications

• 10+ years in manufacturing or operations leadership roles managing teams and project deliverables.
• Deep textiles production and manufacturing operations expertise.
• Proven experience in pilot or full production textile manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated success in strengthening production systems through strong execution and continuous improvement.
• Experience scaling manufacturing operations, including onboarding new technologies, equipment, and product families.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across industry, academic, and research stakeholders.
• Strong cross-cultural leadership and stakeholder-management capabilities.
• Specialized knowledge of all lab capabilities within ZTE.
• Ability to manage simultaneous projects while ensuring customer/client satisfaction.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience leading or managing an entire manufacturing site or pilot/prototyping facility (Site Director, Plant Manager, or equivalent).
• Experience working in pilot-scale manufacturing, applied research, extension, or technical service environments preferred.
• Experience in regulated environments (e.g. CGMP).
• Knowledge and skills associated with academic instruction.
• Previous experience in collaborating on student and faculty projects.