Director, Environmental & Chemical Regulatory
Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States
Director, Environmental & Chemical Regulatory
Job no: 510413
Position type: Full-Time 12-Month
Department: 190700 - Mississippi State Chemical Lab
Location: Main Campus - Starkville, MS
Categories: Professional
Position Open Date: Apr 10 2026
Position Function The Director of Environmental and Chemical Regulatory serves as the senior scientific and operational leader for the Chemical Regulatory Division of the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory (MSCL) and reports directly to the State Chemist. The Director provides strategic, technical, and administrative oversight of regulatory and fee‑for‑service laboratory programs to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal requirements while advancing service quality, operational efficiency, and scientific excellence.
This position supervises laboratory programs responsible for chemical and environmental testing related to animal feeds, pet foods, human foods, agricultural liming materials, fertilizers, soil, pesticide formulations, environmental samples, and other regulated products sold in Mississippi to ensure compliance with state specifications, labeling requirements, and applicable standards.
The Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory (MSCL) is a state‑appropriated regulatory agency for the State of Mississippi and a fee‑for‑service laboratory located on the campus of Mississippi State University. It is dedicated to ensuring the quality and safety of fertilizers, pesticides, animal feeds, petroleum products, and manufactured and retail food. It provides fast, defensible, and reliable analytical data to:
The State’s regulatory agencies, including MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry.
The State’s federations and councils, such as the MS Farm Bureau and Delta Council.
The State’s industries, including Poultry, Catfish, and Manufacturing.
The State’s citizens.
The MSCL adheres to the highest professional standards and provides quality analytical services in a timely manner.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Provides scientific and operational leadership for the Chemical Regulatory Division; develops and implements long‑range strategic plans for facilities, instrumentation, staffing, and program growth; supports development and implementation of MSCL policies; and promotes a culture of scientific integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement aligned with the mission of MSCL.
Ensures division compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and MSCL policies; serves as a subject matter expert in feed, fertilizer, agricultural liming materials, pesticide formulations and related regulatory testing programs; provides technical leadership in analytical methods, specifications development, and interpretation or revision of state law and regulations; ensures analytical results are accurate, defensible, and legally sound.
Supervises and directs laboratory operations; oversees sample analysis, data review, and reporting processes to ensure accuracy, defensibility, and timeliness of results; monitors workflow and operational performance metrics; improves efficiency and turnaround times; and optimizes use of personnel, laboratory space, and instrumentation while promoting cost‑effective use of supplies, consumables, and equipment maintenance resources.
Directly supervises divisional managers and staff; performs hiring, training, mentoring, performance evaluation, workforce development, leave approval, and resolution of personnel concerns; and fosters a collaborative, accountable, and high‑performing work environment.
Maintains and strengthens the division’s quality management system in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 by overseeing audits, documentation control and corrective and preventive actions, proficiency testing, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Assists with budget planning and fiscal oversight for division operations; promotes cost‑effective use of supplies, consumables, and equipment maintenance resources; and supports sustainable allocation of laboratory resources.
Assists in seeking external funding opportunities, including grants, contracts, and expanded fee‑for‑service activities to support program sustainability and growth; provides technical guidance and responsive customer service within the scope of authority; and represents the division in interactions with regulatory agencies, industry partners, and other stakeholders.
Performs other duties as required by the State Chemist necessary to fulfill the mission of the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory.
Supervisory Responsibility: Responsible for supervising Laboratory Technicians, Laboratory Analysts I‑III, Sr. Laboratory Analysts, and Laboratory Managers within the Division.
Minimum Qualifications
Master of Science in Chemistry/Biochemistry or a related chemical/biological science or physical science.
Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in analytical laboratory operations, regulatory science, environmental testing, or related scientific programs, including supervisory or leadership experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in a relevant scientific discipline.
Experience leading multidisciplinary scientific teams.
Experience with ISO/IEC 17025 or other laboratory accreditation systems.
Demonstrated success in securing external funding or managing fee‑for‑service programs.
Experience in a regulatory laboratory environment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of regulatory frameworks governing chemical and environmental testing including pertinent laws, regulations, policies, and precedents.
Strong understanding of analytical laboratory operations and quality systems.
Ability to lead teams, manage resources, and improve operational performance.
Ability to balance scientific integrity with customer service and regulatory expectations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Certification or Licensure Requirements: None.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort Exposure to chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, and other environmental samples. Regularly involves lifting, bending, or other physical exertion. Often exposed to one or more elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, and the exposure may reach objectionable levels. Injuries may require professional treatment.
Routine deadlines; usually sufficient lead time; variable work volume with seasonal predictability; anticipatable priorities; occasional interruptions; occasional demands and pressures from persons other than the immediate supervisor.
Job frequently requires standing, walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands, and lifting up-to 50 lbs. Occasionally requires climbing or balancing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting more than 100 lbs. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Position Function The Director of Environmental and Chemical Regulatory serves as the senior scientific and operational leader for the Chemical Regulatory Division of the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory (MSCL) and reports directly to the State Chemist. The Director provides strategic, technical, and administrative oversight of regulatory and fee‑for‑service laboratory programs to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal requirements while advancing service quality, operational efficiency, and scientific excellence.
This position supervises laboratory programs responsible for chemical and environmental testing related to animal feeds, pet foods, human foods, agricultural liming materials, fertilizers, soil, pesticide formulations, environmental samples, and other regulated products sold in Mississippi to ensure compliance with state specifications, labeling requirements, and applicable standards.
The Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory (MSCL) is a state‑appropriated regulatory agency for the State of Mississippi and a fee‑for‑service laboratory located on the campus of Mississippi State University. It is dedicated to ensuring the quality and safety of fertilizers, pesticides, animal feeds, petroleum products, and manufactured and retail food. It provides fast, defensible, and reliable analytical data to:
The State’s regulatory agencies, including MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry.
The State’s federations and councils, such as the MS Farm Bureau and Delta Council.
The State’s industries, including Poultry, Catfish, and Manufacturing.
The State’s citizens.
The MSCL adheres to the highest professional standards and provides quality analytical services in a timely manner.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Provides scientific and operational leadership for the Chemical Regulatory Division; develops and implements long‑range strategic plans for facilities, instrumentation, staffing, and program growth; supports development and implementation of MSCL policies; and promotes a culture of scientific integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement aligned with the mission of MSCL.
Ensures division compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and MSCL policies; serves as a subject matter expert in feed, fertilizer, agricultural liming materials, pesticide formulations and related regulatory testing programs; provides technical leadership in analytical methods, specifications development, and interpretation or revision of state law and regulations; ensures analytical results are accurate, defensible, and legally sound.
Supervises and directs laboratory operations; oversees sample analysis, data review, and reporting processes to ensure accuracy, defensibility, and timeliness of results; monitors workflow and operational performance metrics; improves efficiency and turnaround times; and optimizes use of personnel, laboratory space, and instrumentation while promoting cost‑effective use of supplies, consumables, and equipment maintenance resources.
Directly supervises divisional managers and staff; performs hiring, training, mentoring, performance evaluation, workforce development, leave approval, and resolution of personnel concerns; and fosters a collaborative, accountable, and high‑performing work environment.
Maintains and strengthens the division’s quality management system in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 by overseeing audits, documentation control and corrective and preventive actions, proficiency testing, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Assists with budget planning and fiscal oversight for division operations; promotes cost‑effective use of supplies, consumables, and equipment maintenance resources; and supports sustainable allocation of laboratory resources.
Assists in seeking external funding opportunities, including grants, contracts, and expanded fee‑for‑service activities to support program sustainability and growth; provides technical guidance and responsive customer service within the scope of authority; and represents the division in interactions with regulatory agencies, industry partners, and other stakeholders.
Performs other duties as required by the State Chemist necessary to fulfill the mission of the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory.
Supervisory Responsibility: Responsible for supervising Laboratory Technicians, Laboratory Analysts I‑III, Sr. Laboratory Analysts, and Laboratory Managers within the Division.
Minimum Qualifications
Master of Science in Chemistry/Biochemistry or a related chemical/biological science or physical science.
Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in analytical laboratory operations, regulatory science, environmental testing, or related scientific programs, including supervisory or leadership experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in a relevant scientific discipline.
Experience leading multidisciplinary scientific teams.
Experience with ISO/IEC 17025 or other laboratory accreditation systems.
Demonstrated success in securing external funding or managing fee‑for‑service programs.
Experience in a regulatory laboratory environment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of regulatory frameworks governing chemical and environmental testing including pertinent laws, regulations, policies, and precedents.
Strong understanding of analytical laboratory operations and quality systems.
Ability to lead teams, manage resources, and improve operational performance.
Ability to balance scientific integrity with customer service and regulatory expectations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Certification or Licensure Requirements: None.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort Exposure to chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, and other environmental samples. Regularly involves lifting, bending, or other physical exertion. Often exposed to one or more elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, and the exposure may reach objectionable levels. Injuries may require professional treatment.
Routine deadlines; usually sufficient lead time; variable work volume with seasonal predictability; anticipatable priorities; occasional interruptions; occasional demands and pressures from persons other than the immediate supervisor.
Job frequently requires standing, walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands, and lifting up-to 50 lbs. Occasionally requires climbing or balancing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting more than 100 lbs. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.
#J-18808-Ljbffr