Department: QA/QC
Location: DRC (working closely with local staff and
stakeholders)
Purpose: Provide geotechnical investigation and construction
materials testing services for internal projects and third‑party clients
through the CLIENT’S Laboratory, and make the lab a commercially successful
profit centre.
Reporting and team structure
- Reports
to: QA/QC Head of Department (HOD), with regular weekly communication and
reviews, and more frequent interaction during project peak periods.
- Direct
reports: One Lab Technician, plus functional oversight of any additional
technicians or support staff assigned to geotechnical and materials
testing activities.
- Internal
customers: Project delivery teams, engineering, QA/QC, and management,
providing test results, interpretations, and technical advice.
Key responsibilities
- Plan,
implement, and supervise geotechnical and construction materials testing
in accordance with ASTM, BS, BIS, SANS, EN, ISO and relevant French
standards, as per customer and engineering requirements.
- Develop
and implement a complete laboratory management system aligned with ISO/IEC
17025 for construction materials, geotechnical, non‑destructive, and
chemical testing, including SOPs, quality control, calibration, and
documentation.
- Interpret
and integrate site investigation and laboratory data into Cable Route
Burial Assessments, Burial Assessment Studies and feasibility studies for
projects, ensuring reliable geotechnical input for route design and burial
risk assessments.
- Lead
all aspects of geotechnical service delivery (planning, scheduling,
testing, reporting) to internal and external customers, ensuring quality,
timeliness, and strong commercial awareness.
- Prepare,
review, and approve laboratory test reports; ensure proper maintenance of
hard and soft copies of all reports and technical records in an auditable
manner.
- Establish
and maintain a laboratory equipment assurance program, including routine
maintenance, internal checks, and external calibration in line with ISO
17025 and accreditation body guidance.
- Support
business development of the CLIENT’S laboratory, including building
technical relationships with clients, assisting in pricing and proposals,
and driving increased utilisation and profitability.
- Provide
line management and mentoring to the Lab Technician and any junior
geotechnical staff, including performance objectives, technical
development, and coaching on safety, quality, and behaviour.
- Ensure
compliance with company HSE policies and promote a strong safety culture
in all laboratory and site‑related activities.
Performance objectives and KPIs
First 30 days
- Gain
full understanding of current laboratory equipment, capabilities, and
condition; document status and operational readiness.
- Prepare
a project‑wise list of required tests, capacity gaps, and associated
budget for equipment, consumables, and calibrations.
First 90 days
- Implement
a routine schedule for equipment maintenance and internal checks; ensure
basic calibration status is clear and documented.
- Begin
conducting daily/weekly/monthly tests as per project needs, and issue
clear, timely reports to relevant project heads.
- Establish
a reliable documentation and archiving system for all lab reports (hard
copy and digital).
First 6–9 months
- Develop
and implement a comprehensive laboratory working system fulfilling ISO/IEC
17025 requirements for construction materials, geotechnical, non‑destructive,
and chemical testing, targeting audit‑ready status.
- Prepare
a complete laboratory manual and SOPs for all relevant test methods and
ensure 100% implementation in day‑to‑day work.
- Support
the commercial development of the CLIENT’S laboratory, contributing to a
clear revenue pipeline and improving net profit margins.
One‑year outcome and financial contribution
- Full
responsibility and accountability for geotechnical laboratory delivery
across in‑house and external projects, with demonstrable improvements in:
- Net
profit (NP) from lab activities.
- Return
on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Return on Investment (ROI)
for the laboratory setup.
- Improved
invoice realisation and collection (IM).
- Recognised
internal expert and point of contact for all geotechnical testing and
interpretation across the project life cycle.
Required qualifications and background
- Education:
Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Geotechnical Engineering, Civil
Engineering with geotechnical specialisation, or closely related
discipline.
- Experience:
- Significant
experience working in reputed, certified geotechnical or construction
materials testing laboratories (preferably ISO 17025 accredited).
- Hands‑on
experience with key geotechnical tests (e.g., classification,
consolidation, triaxial, direct shear, CBR, permeability) and
construction materials testing.
- Exposure
to marine / cable route burial, burial risk or feasibility assessments is
an advantage.
- Standards
knowledge: Strong working knowledge of ASTM, BS, BIS, SANS, EN, ISO and
relevant French standards for geotechnical and materials testing.
Skills and competencies
- Technical
and professional competence: Deep understanding of geotechnical
investigation methods, laboratory procedures, and data interpretation.
- Network
building and relationship management: Ability to build strong
relationships with internal stakeholders, external clients, and
regulators.
- Relationship
selling and commercial awareness: Able to position CLIENT’S lab services,
support pricing, and contribute to profitable growth.
- Laboratory
management: Planning, scheduling, resource allocation, inventory
management, and cost control for the lab.
- Communication:
Strong written and verbal communication skills for reports, presentations,
and client discussions; willingness to learn French/local languages as
needed.
- Leadership:
Confident, hands‑on leader who can guide technicians, enforce standards,
and drive performance.
Personality and cultural fit
- Positive
attitude, professional and respectful behaviour, especially when working
with local DRC staff and communities.
- Polite,
patient, and culturally sensitive, able to work effectively in a
multicultural environment.
- Strong
ownership mindset focused on making the CLIENT’S laboratory a commercially
successful, high‑quality service provider.
Training and development
- French
and local language training where required.
- On‑the‑job
technical training on company systems, standards, and project
requirements.
- Safety,
quality, and behavioural training to align with company culture and HSE
expectations.
Interested candidate send resume dharmendra@karmaasolutions.com
