lab manager

Laboratory Manager based in Bromley office

Responsible for Bromley and Warrington UKAS accredited labs (including 12 staff)

Requirement to travel to Warrington for 2/3 days on a monthly basis.

Basic package £35k per annum 37.5 hours

25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays increasing to 31 with service

About this role

The ultimate purpose of this role is to ensure the delivery of a high quality and fully compliant laboratory service (primarily asbestos bulk-sampling analysis) for our in-house team and external clients. This in turn will support the operational and commercial performance of the asbestos team in delivering our key business objectives and targets and the asbestos service plan objectives and targets.

In conjunction with the Asbestos Operations Leaders, the Training & Quality Manager and Asbestos Services Director; and through effective leadership of the Laboratory team the job holder will be required to ensure that all client works are being delivered in accordance with contractual requirements and to the required level of quality.

In addition to this the job holder will take a lead role in securing additional and/or new business to deliver the growth objectives and targets of the laboratory within the service/business plan and therefore ensure the long-term sustainability of the asbestos service.

Key Accountabilities and responsibilities

The job holder is accountable for the effective delivery of all laboratory activities for the asbestos team. This includes:

• Laboratory services including in-house laboratory analysis and asbestos sampling

• Compliance with all UKAS requirements and other quality standards
• Asbestos related training and development for in house laboratory staff and clients (in conjunction with the Training and Quality Manager)

Supported by the Laboratory Technicians, you will directly line- manage lab teams in all locations (currently Warrington and Bromley but expansion may give rise to further locations).

The job holder will work collaboratively with the other leaders across the business to ensure we have an integrated approach to service delivery and business development, which delivers our key business objectives and targets and our asbestos service plan objectives and targets.

Responsibilities include:

• Laboratory Services – the management of all laboratories in Warrington and Bromley (including all equipment), along with any subsequent laboratories set up in the future. Laboratory services include air sampling, bulk sampling, fibre counting, bulk identification, asbestos sampling kits, water absorption testing, materials and soil analysis. You will measure and report on productivity levels within the laboratory.

• Quality Control – you will support the Training and Quality Manager to ensure we remain consistently and fully up to date with asbestos legislation, guidance and industry best practice. You will support the Training and Quality Manager in maintaining our UKAS accreditation for the asbestos service. You will embed a lab team culture of attention to detail and high levels of quality in all work.
• Equipment – you will manage all laboratory equipment including calibration, repairs and procurement of PPE, inventory, consumables, as well as having responsibility for waste management.
• Customer Relationship Management – in conjunction with the Operations Managers you will foster positive, productive and long-lasting relationships with each of our clients.
• Line Management – you will line manage the Laboratory Technicians at Warrington and Bromley (as well as any future laboratory locations), and support them in the supervision of the wider laboratory teams. You will provide effective leadership and management through the line management structure and ensure line management activities are delivered to a consistently high standard. This will include recruitment, inductions, briefings and staff engagement, people management, people development, H&S, management of resources, managing performance and managing compliance.
• Growth and Business Development – Marketing, sales and cross-selling. In conjunction with the Asbestos Services Director and the commercial team you will lead on business development for the laboratory. This will include supporting the bid team with tenders, pricing and bids; personally driving and generating new enquiries and directly selling services to new clients.
• Technical Specialist – in conjunction with the Technical Manager (Asbestos) and Operations Managers you will provide technical support to the delivery of surveying and analytical projects, including project management, scoping, and compliance risk assessment.

Personal Specifications

Required - P401
Desirable - S301 written or CoCA, W504, P402, P403, P404

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave (3 days allocated over the Christmas shut down) plus 8 days Bank Holidays
• Additional leave for length of service up to a maximum of 31 days
• Opportunity to buy additional annual leave or sell surplus leave
• Company events
• Enhanced employer pension contributions of 4% when you contribute 6%
• Cycle to work scheme, offering savings of at least 32%* on a new bike and cycle safety accessories
• Access to an online employee discount platform
• Life insurance/Death in service offering 2 x salary cover
• Private medical insurance
• Referral programme
• Wellness programmes

If you are interested in this position, please submit your CV and a covering letter.