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On behalf of our client, Interzero, part of the ALBA Group, and its specialized laboratory Competence Center for material analysis and recycled plastics, we are seeking a qualified professional for the position of:
Business Operations Coordinator/ Assistant to the Director (m/f)
Location: Lenart / Maribor area (on-site role)
About the Opportunity
This is a strategic career opportunity for a candidate who wants to grow into a leadership role within a highly structured, scientific, and industrial environment. You will join Interzero’s Competence Center for Laboratory Services in Maribor, a specialized R&D laboratory focused on recycled plastics, material analysis, and industrial applications, working with clients across Europe.
This is predominantly on-site role due to operational responsibilities. Best suited for candidates who prefer a hands-on, dynamic working environment.
Your Role
Working directly with the Director, you will take over a significant part of operational management and coordination within a small, highly skilled team (8 experts) across technical domains (thermal/chemical and process-related work).
Important context: You will not be managing how experts do their work, they are highly independent. Your role is to ensure: clear priorities, structured coordination, and efficient execution across projects and operations.
Key Responsibilities
Laboratory Leadership & Organization
- Oversee and coordinate daily laboratory operations to ensure smooth and efficient functioning
- Manage staff schedules and coordinate work distribution to maintain productivity and service quality
- Monitor workflows and laboratory processes to identify opportunities for improvement and optimization
- Support the Director in the overall organization and development of laboratory activities.
Project Management
- Coordinate and manage internal development projects and externally funded initiatives
- Participate in and lead projects funded through EU programs and other external sources, often involving collaboration with international partners
- Ensure effective planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of project activities.
Innovation & Process Improvement
- Identify and introduce new analytical approaches, technologies, and working methods to enhance laboratory performance
- Support the implementation of innovative solutions that increase efficiency, improve analytical capabilities, and strengthen service quality
- Contribute to the strategic development of laboratory services and new areas of activity.
Documentation, Reporting & Data Management
- Maintain accurate and structured technical and financial documentation related to laboratory activities and projects
- Perform data analysis and prepare detailed technical and management reports
- Provide management with structured information and actionable insights to support decision-making and planning.
Commercial & Strategic Initiatives
- Support the development and coordination of market-oriented laboratory services
- Collaborate with clients and partners in the development of new analytical services and research initiatives
- Contribute to the preparation and management of externally funded projects, including EU-funded research and development programs.
Quality & Technical Guidance
- Develop, maintain, and improve standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical protocols, and internal quality documentation
- Provide guidance and support for analytical and testing processes to ensure technical reliability and regulatory compliance
- Promote best practices in laboratory quality management and ensure consistent implementation across teams.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, clarity, and alignment in day-to-day operations
Process & Quality Coordination
- Support consistency and reliability of laboratory processes through structured coordination and clear guidelines
- Ensure smooth implementation of internal standards and working procedures across the team
Team Development & Leadership
- Provide structure and clarity in task prioritization and project alignmen
- Monitor workload distribution and support effective team organization
- Encourage a collaborative working environment focused on quality, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Initiate and follow up on improvements in team processes where needed
- Support the professional development of team members through guidance and day-to-day coordination
Stakeholder Communication
- Act as a key contact point for internal departments, and external partners
- Ensure clear and professional communication across all ongoing activities and projects Represent the laboratory in professional and institutional interactions as required.
- Support alignment between technical execution and business priorities
- Represent the laboratory in operational and project-related communication when required
NOTE: This is not a purely scientific role, but a technical-operational role with leadership potential.
Candidate profile
- Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in operations, project management, or technical coordination roles (experience in laboratory or industrial environments is an advantage)
- Background in technical or industrial fields (e.g. manufacturing, chemistry, plastics, materials), with the ability to understand products and processes.
- A university degree in a relevant field is preferred; candidates with a management or economics background combined with strong technical exposure are also encouraged to apply.
- Ability to understand and navigate technical environments without being a hands-on laboratory specialist
- Proven ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage multiple priorities simultaneously
- Comfortable working in a hands-on, operational and on-site environment
- Strong organizational, coordination, and prioritization skills
- Structured, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to align different stakeholders
- High level of ownership, reliability, and accountability
What’s in It for You
- A clear and realistic long-term path into a leadership role, with the opportunity to gradually take over key responsibilities
- Direct collaboration with the Director, including exposure to strategic decision-making and business development
- A high-impact role in a small, expert team, where your contribution is visible and meaningful
- Work in an international, innovation-driven environment at the intersection of industry, science, and sustainability
- A dynamic role combining operations, project management, and organizational development
- Flexible working hours depending on workload and project phases
- Performance-based bonus linked to company results
- Stable, long-term employment with growth potential
Selection Process
- Interview with PROFESIO (online)
- Two rounds of in-person interviews with the client in Lenart