Assistant Manager - Tissue Culture laboratory
About the Employer
Job Description
Join a Leading Innovative Horticulture Business
Assistant Manager - Tissue Culture Laboratory - Borneo Exotics (Pvt) Limited
Lindula, Nuwara Eliya
We are a BOI-approved, export-oriented, horticulture-based company established in Sri Lanka in 1997 and recognized as world leaders in our field. We produce and export live plants on a Just-In-Time basis and specialize in high-quality Nepenthes production. We require the services of dynamic, results-oriented individual with a proven track record in managing tissue culture production, ideally for high-quality production facilities. As we approach new horizons in tissue culture with our expansions, we see this as a promising opportunity for growth and innovation in our offerings.
We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented individual to join our Tissue Culture Laboratory as an Assistant Manager. The successful candidate will support the Lab Manager in supervising daily laboratory operations, maintaining production discipline, and ensuring consistent quality and quantity hygiene, traceability in tissue culture production.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist in the day-to-day management of the tissue culture laboratory, including media preparation, initiation, multiplication, rooting, culture maintenance and dispatch to acclimatization areas.
- Supervise, guide and train laboratory technicians and support staff to ensure accurate aseptic techniques, productivity, discipline and compliance with approved protocols.
- Monitor plant cultures regularly for contamination, growth performance, multiplication rates, rooting response, abnormality, loss of vigor and culture/clone integrity.
- Coordinate work schedules, production targets and staff allocation according to monthly production plans, priority varieties and export/non-export requirements.
- Ensure proper preparation, labeling, sterilization, and storage of media, chemicals, stock solutions, vessels, tools, and consumables.
- Maintain strict laboratory hygiene, clean-room discipline, laminar airflow practices, autoclave procedures and contamination control measures.
- Check and maintain accurate production records, batch records, contamination records, culture inventory, media usage, chemical stocks and staff productivity records.
- Assist in improving SOPs for micropropagation, including initiation, multiplication, rooting and transfer procedures.
- Coordinate with nursery production teams for timely transfer of rooted cultures, acclimatization requirements and feedback on plant performance.
- Assist senior management in planning lab capacity, material requirements, staff training, process improvements and quality assurance activities.
Skills & Competencies:
- Strong leadership, staff supervision and team coordination skills.
- High attention to detail, patience and ability to maintain consistency in repetitive laboratory processes.
- Ability to identify production issues, contamination trends and process weaknesses and propose practical corrective actions.
- Good analytical and record-keeping skills with the ability to prepare clear production and management reports.
- Good command of English and Sinhala/Tamil communication skills will be an advantage.
- Computer literacy, especially MS Excel, email and basic documentation tools.
- Ability to work under production targets while maintaining quality and laboratory discipline.
Qualifications:
- A Degree or Diploma in Biotechnology, Plant Science, Agriculture, Horticulture, Botany, Microbiology or a related field.
- Professional training in plant tissue culture, laboratory management or quality systems will be an added advantage.
- Knowledge of Nepenthes, ornamental plant production will be an added advantage.
- Experience in Nepenthes tissue culture or related plant tissue culture is preferred.
Experience:
- Preferably 3-5 years of experience in plant tissue culture or a commercial laboratory environment, including at least 1-2 years in a supervisory or team-leading role.
- Hands-on experience in media preparation, autoclave operation, laminar airflow work, culture transfer, contamination monitoring and record-keeping is expected.
- Experience in commercial-scale production, export-oriented plant production or greenhouse/nursery coordination will be an advantage.
Added Advantages:
- Knowledge of laboratory quality systems, chemical handling, inventory control and occupational safety.
- Experience in training junior technicians and preparing SOPs, checklists, and production reports.
What We Offer:
- Attractive remuneration package based on qualifications and experience.
- Opportunity to work with a globally recognized Nepenthes and exotic plant producer.
- Career growth in tissue culture, laboratory production management and export-oriented horticulture.
- Professional working environment with exposure to advanced plant propagation systems.
Additional Information:
- Location: Lindula, Nuwara Eliya
- Age: Preference for candidates below 35 years.
- Bachelor accommodation and meals will be provided where applicable.
How to Apply: Please send your CV to [email protected] within 7 days of this advertisement. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
