Job description for Lab Manager Shrimp Farm at UdangX
JOB OPENING – Lab Manager Shrimp Farm
Date: 10/11/2026 – 31/11/2026
About PT Berkah Semesta Maritim
PT Berkah Semesta Maritim is a modern, sustainable aquaculture company dedicated to advancing the future of shrimp production in Indonesia. Operating ultra-intensive Litopenaeus vannamei culture systems, we integrate advanced water treatment engineering, high-density stocking protocols, and data-driven farm management to achieve maximum land-use efficiency and exceptional yields. By combining cutting-edge technology with rigorous biosecurity and environmental stewardship, PT Berkah Semesta Maritim sets new standards for productive, resilient, and eco-friendly commercial shrimp farming.
Job Summary
PT Berkah Semesta Maritim is seeking an experienced, analytical Laboratory Manager to oversee and direct all technical laboratory operations at our intensive shrimp farm facility. The Laboratory Manager will supervise lab technicians and crews, lead diagnostic testing across water chemistry, microbiology (Vibrio), plankton taxonomy, and PCR pathogen screening, and oversee probiotic and microalgae mass cultivation. This role bridges analytical data with pond-side decision-making by prescribing targeted water treatments, enforcing rigorous SOPs, and implementing preemptive biosecurity and water quality measures to optimize Litopenaeus vannamei health and survival rates.
Position Overview
Title: Laboratory Manager
Department: Aquaculture Operations & Quality Assurance
Company: PT Berkah Semesta Maritim
Employment Type: 1-Year Fixed-Term Contract (with 3-Month Performance Review / Probation
Location: On-Site Shrimp Aquaculture Farm Facility (Surade, Sukabumi, West Java)
Reporting To: General Manager / Head of Farm Operations
Key Responsibilities
1. Lab Team Leadership & Operational Supervision
Direct daily operations of the farm laboratory, managing and training lab technicians, samplers, and support personnel.
Establish work shifts, assign diagnostic workloads, verify testing accuracy, and enforce high standards of laboratory hygiene, calibration, and safety.
2. Comprehensive Diagnostics & Biological Analysis
Execute and oversee diagnostic procedures, including:
Water Quality Chemistry: Daily tracking of pH, alkalinity, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrite (〖"NO" 〗_2^-), nitrate (〖"NO" 〗_3^-), phosphate, calcium, magnesium, and hardness.
Microbiology: Plating and quantification of Vibrio bacteria populations (green vs. yellow colonies on TCBS media) across pond water, sediment, intake water, and shrimp hepatopancreas samples.
Plankton Taxonomy: Monitoring phytoplankton and zooplankton composition, cell density, and cyanobacteria ratios.
Shrimp Health & PCR Screening: Running PCR/qPCR protocols for key pathogens (WSSV, EHP, AHPND/EMS, IMNV) alongside gross pathology, gut fullness, hepatopancreas condition, and stress testing.
3. Probiotics & Algae Inoculation & Cultivation
Oversee multi-stage inoculation, incubation, fermentation, and mass cultivation of beneficial probiotics and microalgae strains (e.g., diatoms, green algae).
Monitor bioreactor/incubation tanks to verify cell densities, purity, optical density (OD), pH, and contamination risks prior to pond application.
4. Water Quality Prescription & Site Remediation
Analyze daily diagnostic trends and issue exact technical prescriptions for chemical, mineral, and biological treatments (e.g., alkalinity buffers, probiotic dosing, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio adjustments, bio-remediators).
Work closely with farm supervisors and pond technicians to ensure prescriptions are correctly dosed and timed.
5. Sampling Management & Analytics Reporting
Design, schedule, and enforce standardized sampling routines for pond water, soil, post-larvae (PL), and grow-out stocks.
Maintain central data logging, synthesize daily/weekly diagnostic reports, and deliver clear risk assessments to farm leadership.
6. Preemptive Water Quality & Pathogen Management
Implement early-warning indicator systems to detect water quality shifts, algal crashes, or Vibrio spikes before clinical disease outbreaks occur.
Formulate proactive conditioning plans during weather transitions, rainfall, or high-feed stages.
7. SOP Development, Chemical Safety & Waste Management
Draft, update, and audit Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all laboratory testing, reagent preparation, and sample handling.
Enforce Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) guidelines for chemical storage, handling, hazardous waste treatment, and pond additive application safety.
8. Material & Chemical Quality Assurance
Evaluate, select, and approve all laboratory consumables, reagents, diagnostic kits, probiotics, minerals, and pond treatment chemicals.
Perform quality checks on incoming raw inputs and maintain strict inventory control to avoid stockouts of essential testing supplies.
Required Qualifications & Competencies
Education: Bachelor’s degree (S1) in Aquaculture, Fisheries, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Marine Biology, Chemistry, or a closely related scientific discipline. (Master's degree S2 is an asset).
Experience: Minimum 5 years of hands-on technical experience in the aquaculture industry, with a direct focus on intensive or super-intensive shrimp farming (Litopenaeus vannamei). Proven experience in a supervisory or laboratory leadership role is required.
Technical Proficiency:
Demonstrated expertise in water quality chemistry, TCBS microbiological plating, plankton microscopy, and thermocycler PCR diagnostics.
Practical understanding of probiotic mass fermentation, carbon dosing (Biofloc/Semi-Biofloc/RAS context), and mineral balance ("Ca":"Mg":"K" ratios).
In-depth knowledge of shrimp pathology, histology screening, and immunology.
Competencies: Strong statistical and analytical skills, decisive leadership under pressure, clear technical report writing, and readiness to live on-site in a coastal farm environment.
Compensation & Benefits Structure
Base Salary: IDR 10,000,000 – IDR 25,000,000 per month (negotiable based on technical expertise, background, and proven track record).
Housing & Amenities: Free on-site dormitory / mess accommodation provided.
Meals: 3x daily meals provided on-site.
Insurance: Full coverage under BPJS Kesehatan & BPJS Ketenagakerjaan / Private Health Insurance.
Bonuses:
Religious Festive Bonus (Tunjangan Hari Raya / THR).
Farm Harvest / Production Performance Bonus based on cycle success metrics (FCR, SR, Biomass).
Leave Allowance: Paid Annual Leave entitlement.
