An established and accredited food and analytical testing laboratory in Dubai is seeking a commercially driven, hands-on General Manager to lead its transformation, improve operational and financial performance, and drive sustainable growth across its food safety, chemistry, microbiology, and contaminants testing services.
Job Type at a Glance
Employment: Full-Time, On-Site, Dubai
Reporting Line: Board of Directors
Team Size: Approximately 30–80 employees
About the Role – Laboratory Turnaround Leadership
Core Function: Take full ownership of the laboratory’s P&L, performance, and transformation
Commercial Growth: Lead business development across food, hospitality, and regulatory clients
Operational Oversight: Oversee sample logistics, lab operations, and equipment utilization
Accreditation: Maintain and expand ISO/IEC 17025, EIAC, and Dubai Municipality approvals
Career Opportunity & Board Exposure
Not a Caretaker Role: Full ownership expected with measurable results delivered to the Board
Client Base: Food producers, importers, retailers, hospitality groups, and public authorities
Growth Potential: Expand into adjacent segments such as water, feed, environmental, and halal certification
Direct Exposure: Regular engagement with the Board and investors
Position Overview
This General Manager role leads a significant turnaround and restructuring phase at an established, accredited food and analytical testing laboratory in Dubai. You will take full ownership of the laboratory’s P&L, performance, and transformation, lead commercial growth and business development, take proactive control of cash flow and financial reporting, oversee day-to-day laboratory operations and quality, drive LIMS implementation, and lead and restructure a team of approximately 30–80 employees.
Why This Role Matters: As General Manager you take full ownership of a business transformation with real accountability to the Board, shape the laboratory’s commercial strategy across food, hospitality, and regulatory clients, drive operational and financial improvements with direct P&L responsibility, lead LIMS transformation and accreditation readiness for ISO/IEC 17025, and build and restructure scientific and support teams to deliver the next phase of growth for an established, accredited laboratory.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Turnaround
- Take full ownership of the laboratory’s P&L, overall performance, profitability, and transformation
- Develop and execute a restructuring plan covering operations, sample logistics, commercial, and support functions
- Improve productivity, efficiency, and scalability across the business
- Translate Board strategy into clear operational and commercial results
Commercial & Business Development
- Lead the commercial growth strategy and develop new business opportunities
- Build relationships with food manufacturers, importers, retailers, hospitality groups, and regulators
- Develop framework contracts and key accounts, increasing recurring sample volumes
- Identify opportunities to expand into water, feed, environmental, halal, and export certification testing
- Own pricing, quotations, test-package design, and margin management
Finance & Controls
- Take proactive control of cash flow, receivables, and payables
- Manage consumables, reagent expenditure, and capital expenditure on laboratory instruments
- Establish accurate and transparent financial and operational reporting
- Develop and monitor KPIs including sample volumes, revenue per test, turnaround time, and DSO
Operations, Quality & LIMS Transformation
- Oversee day-to-day laboratory operations, sample reception, and logistics
- Maintain and expand ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation scope, EIAC, and Dubai Municipality approvals
- Ensure readiness for client and accreditation audits, and support method development
- Lead selection, implementation, or upgrade of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
- Improve sample tracking, processes, and integration with instruments, invoicing, and reporting systems
People & Organisation
- Lead and restructure a team of approximately 30–80 employees
- Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and reporting structures
- Develop technical capabilities across laboratory teams, including chemists, microbiologists, and analysts
- Manage support functions including sampling, logistics, customer service, and finance
Qualifications & Requirements
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience, including significant senior management responsibility
- Proven experience as a General Manager, Laboratory Director, Operations Manager, or Head of Laboratory
- Deep hands-on experience within the Testing, Inspection & Certification (TIC) industry
- Ideally experience within food, agricultural, or environmental analytical laboratories
- Proven track record in business turnaround, restructuring, or transformation
Commercial & Technical Skills
- Strong commercial and business development capabilities with an established local network
- Demonstrated experience in P&L management, pricing, cost control, and profitability improvement
- Experience with LIMS implementation or transformation projects
- Strong understanding of ISO/IEC 17025, accreditation audits, and method validation
- Knowledge of local/GCC food safety regulations and the regulatory environment
- Familiarity with LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, ICP-MS, and PCR technologies is advantageous
Education & Language Requirements
- Scientific degree in Chemistry, Microbiology, Food Science, or a related discipline strongly preferred
- Fluent English required; Arabic is an advantage
- Willingness to be based in Dubai and work on-site
- Comfortable working with a hands-on, data-driven Board in a highly accountable environment
About This Opportunity
This General Manager role sits with an established, accredited food and analytical testing laboratory in Dubai, providing chemistry, microbiology, residues, and contaminants testing services to food producers, importers, retailers, hospitality groups, and public authorities. Currently undergoing a significant turnaround and restructuring phase, the business is looking for a commercially driven leader to take full ownership of performance, transformation, and growth, with direct exposure to the Board and investors.
Career Excellence: Lead a full business transformation at an accredited laboratory with direct Board exposure.
Who Should Apply?
- TIC Industry Executives: With 10+ years leading laboratories or testing operations
- Business Turnaround Specialists: Proven in restructuring and transformation leadership
- ISO/IEC 17025 Experts: Experienced with accreditation, audits, and method validation
- Commercially-Minded Lab Directors: Skilled in pricing, key accounts, and business development
- LIMS Transformation Leaders: Experienced implementing or upgrading lab information systems
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