Almarai — the world’s largest vertically integrated dairy company and one of the most trusted FMCG brands across the GCC — is seeking an experienced, organised, and technically strong Team Manager for its Main Laboratory in Saudi Arabia. In this critical leadership role, you will effectively and efficiently manage the day-to-day operations of the main laboratory function — ensuring that physical, chemical, and microbiological tests are conducted consistently, accurately, and in strict accordance with established sampling and testing regimes. You will also oversee the management of controlled documents and analytical data, ensuring timely and accurate reporting to management across Almarai’s world-class food manufacturing operations.
About Almarai — GCC’s FMCG Dairy Giant
Market Position: World’s largest vertically integrated dairy company — a leading FMCG brand across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region
Portfolio: Dairy, juice, bakery, poultry, and infant nutrition products serving millions of consumers daily across the Middle East
Manufacturing Scale: State-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across Saudi Arabia with world-class laboratory and quality assurance infrastructure
Standards: Rigorous quality standards across physical, chemical, and microbiological testing functions supporting product safety and brand integrity
Vision: Committed to enriching the lives of consumers through quality nutrition — underpinned by scientific excellence in every laboratory
Why This Team Manager Lab Role at Almarai Stands Out
Leadership Impact: Full management of main laboratory operations — overseeing physical, chemical, and microbiological testing functions daily
Global Brand: Almarai — one of the world’s most respected dairy and FMCG companies — a prestigious name on any food science professional’s CV
Operational Scope: Document control, analytical data management, testing regime oversight, and management reporting in one senior role
Career Growth: Join a company investing in its people, its science, and its laboratories as it continues to scale across the GCC and beyond
Position Overview
This Team Manager — Main Laboratory role at Almarai in Saudi Arabia is a senior, high-responsibility position for an experienced food science or laboratory professional ready to take full ownership of a main manufacturing laboratory function. You will manage the complete day-to-day operations of the laboratory — planning and overseeing the consistent, accurate execution of physical, chemical, and microbiological testing in accordance with Almarai’s established sampling and testing regimes. Beyond testing oversight, you will be responsible for maintaining controlled documentation, managing analytical data quality, and ensuring that all findings are provided to management in a timely, accurate, and actionable manner. This is a role that demands precision, leadership, consistency, and a genuine commitment to food safety and quality excellence at one of the world’s most respected dairy and FMCG manufacturing organisations.
Why This Role Matters: As Team Manager of Almarai’s Main Laboratory in Saudi Arabia, your leadership directly underpins the quality and safety of products consumed by millions of people across the GCC every day. Your oversight of physical, chemical, and microbiological testing ensures that every product leaving Almarai’s manufacturing facilities meets the exacting quality standards that have built and protected one of the world’s most trusted food brands. Every test you manage, every document you control, and every report you provide to management contributes to protecting consumers, maintaining regulatory compliance, and sustaining Almarai’s reputation for uncompromising quality.
Key Responsibilities
Laboratory Operations Management
- Effectively and efficiently manage the full day-to-day activities of the main laboratory function — ensuring seamless, well-organised operations across all physical, chemical, and microbiological testing activities.
- Oversee the planning and execution of the laboratory’s sampling and testing regime — ensuring all tests are conducted consistently, accurately, and within defined timelines without disruption to production operations.
- Monitor laboratory performance against established testing schedules and quality benchmarks — identifying operational gaps, resource constraints, or process inefficiencies and implementing corrective measures promptly.
- Ensure the laboratory environment is maintained to the highest standards of safety, cleanliness, organisation, and regulatory compliance at all times across all testing areas.
Physical, Chemical & Microbiological Testing Oversight
- Ensure that all physical, chemical, and microbiological tests are consistently performed in full accordance with Almarai’s approved methods, sampling protocols, and quality control requirements.
- Monitor the accuracy, consistency, and repeatability of analytical results produced by the laboratory team — verifying that results meet the high standards of precision required for product release and quality decisions.
- Investigate and resolve any analytical anomalies, out-of-specification results, or testing inconsistencies — applying technical knowledge and structured problem-solving to identify root causes and implement lasting corrective actions.
- Ensure that all laboratory analysts produce consistently similar and repeatable results across all assigned testing parameters — coaching and guiding team members to maintain the precision and accuracy Almarai’s quality standards demand.
Document Control & Analytical Data Management
- Ensure that all controlled laboratory documents — including SOPs, testing methods, calibration records, and quality procedures — are accurately maintained, correctly updated, and fully accessible to the laboratory team at all times.
- Oversee the management of all analytical data generated within the laboratory — ensuring complete, accurate, traceable, and compliant data records that support product quality decisions and regulatory reporting.
- Provide management with timely, accurate, and well-structured analytical data reports — ensuring that all quality performance information reaches the relevant stakeholders in the format and timeframe required.
- Maintain a rigorous document control culture within the laboratory — ensuring that obsolete documents are removed, current versions are in use, and all controlled document changes are properly reviewed and approved.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, motivate, and manage the laboratory team — setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, and fostering a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement across all team members.
- Identify individual and team training needs — organising and delivering practical on-the-job training that improves analytical technique, method knowledge, and quality system understanding within the laboratory.
- Encourage a positive, learning-oriented team culture — supporting team members to adopt new methods, technologies, and quality system changes with a constructive and open mindset.
- Conduct performance reviews, manage daily work allocation, and ensure that staffing levels and competencies are aligned with the laboratory’s testing workload and operational demands.
Quality Systems, Compliance & Continuous Improvement
- Ensure the laboratory operates in full compliance with all relevant food safety regulations, industry quality standards, and Almarai’s internal quality management system requirements.
- Support internal and external quality audits — maintaining proper laboratory records, demonstrating operational compliance, and ensuring all documentation is audit-ready at all times.
- Contribute actively to continuous improvement initiatives within the laboratory — identifying opportunities to enhance testing efficiency, data quality, document control, and overall laboratory performance.
- Utilise computer literacy and analytical reporting tools to manage laboratory data, generate management reports, and track key quality performance metrics across the main laboratory function.
Qualifications & Requirements
Academic Qualifications
- Qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a closely related scientific discipline — the primary academic requirement for this Team Manager Laboratory role.
- Advanced qualifications or professional certifications in food safety, laboratory management, or quality management systems are a valuable additional advantage for this senior position.
Professional Experience
- Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in the food industry, pharmaceutical industry, or a similar analytical laboratory environment — this is a firm and mandatory requirement.
- Proven experience managing or supervising laboratory teams — with a clear track record of maintaining analytical consistency, accuracy, and quality compliance in a fast-paced manufacturing context.
- Demonstrated experience in physical, chemical, and/or microbiological testing environments — with practical knowledge of sampling regimes, method validation, and quality control in food or pharma manufacturing.
Essential Competencies
- Clear and proficient written and spoken English — able to communicate analytical results, prepare management reports, and maintain controlled documentation accurately and professionally in English.
- Proven ability to produce consistently similar and repeatable analytical results — and to develop this capability in team members through coaching, training, and quality oversight.
- Positive, proactive attitude towards learning and adopting change — embracing new methods, technologies, and quality system updates with enthusiasm and a growth mindset.
- Computer literate — proficient in using standard office software and laboratory management or reporting systems for data recording, analysis, and management communication.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills — able to build effective relationships with laboratory team members, management, quality colleagues, and cross-functional stakeholders.
About Almarai
Almarai is the world’s largest vertically integrated dairy company and one of the most trusted and recognised FMCG brands across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region. With a diverse portfolio spanning dairy, juice, bakery, poultry, and infant nutrition products, Almarai serves millions of consumers every single day — supported by world-class manufacturing facilities, rigorous quality assurance systems, and an unwavering commitment to food safety and nutritional excellence. Almarai’s investment in its laboratory capabilities is a direct reflection of its commitment to product quality, consumer trust, and the scientific standards that have made it one of the most respected food companies in the world. Joining Almarai means joining a team where quality is not just a function — it is the foundation of everything the company does.
How to Apply: Visit Almarai’s official careers portal at almarai.com/en/careers to submit your application for this Team Manager Lab position in Saudi Arabia.
Who Should Apply?
- Laboratory Team Managers & Supervisors: With 5+ years of food or pharmaceutical industry laboratory experience — ready to take full operational and people management ownership of Almarai’s main laboratory function in Saudi Arabia.
- Food Science & Chemistry Professionals: With proven experience managing physical, chemical, and microbiological testing regimes in a high-volume food manufacturing or FMCG laboratory environment.
- Quality Assurance Laboratory Leaders: Who have managed document control systems, analytical data management, and management reporting within a regulated food or pharmaceutical laboratory setting.
- FMCG Laboratory Professionals: With a strong technical foundation in food science, a positive attitude towards change, and the people management skills needed to lead and develop a high-performing analytical laboratory team.
- Experienced Dairy or Food Industry Lab Managers: Familiar with the analytical demands of large-scale food manufacturing operations — and motivated to join one of the world’s most respected dairy and FMCG brands in Saudi Arabia.
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