Team Leader, Laboratory, Esbjerg

Business Esbjerg; Esbjerg; Hybrid; DKK 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Competitive pay

Health service

Job summary

Arla Foods is seeking a Laboratory Teamlead at the Esbjerg Dairy Center to lead a skilled team of lab technicians, specialists, and part-time staff through a major digitalization and automation transformation. You will drive daily operations, ensure compliance, and coordinate external analyses to deliver quality products.

You will lead change with a focus on efficiency, quality, and team development, leveraging your lab experience and leadership skills to motivate the team and deliver continuous

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience managing a laboratory team.
• Track record of driving digitalization and automation projects.
• Ability to motivate and develop people through change.
• Basic proficiency in Danish and English.

Responsibilities

• Daily management and development of a larger laboratory team.
• Lead the laboratory's change journey focusing on digitalization and automation.
• Deviations handling and release of finished goods.
• Ensure optimal lab operation and coordination of external analyses.
• Collaborate with QEHS Manager to ensure quality-assured product release.
• Handle and process customer complaints with QEHS colleagues and lab specialists.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Digitalization

Automation

Team development

Communication

Danish language

English language

Laboratory experience

Microbiology

Job description

Are you ready to lead a skilled laboratory team on an exciting change journey? Do you want to drive lager projects and digitalization to shape the laboratory of the future at one of Denmark’s largest dairies? If you are passionate about continuous improvement and want to make a real impact, keep reading to discover your next career opportunity at Esbjerg Dairy Center.

As our new Laboratory Teamlead, you will be at the forefront of modernizing our laboratory, supporting both people and processes on our journey towards increased digitalization and automation. You’ll play a key role in taking our quality standards to the next level

How you will make an impact

As Laboratory Teamlead, you will manage and develop a larger team of lab technicians, specialists, and part-time employees at our Esbjerg Dairy Center. You’ll not only ensure the daily operations and compliance but will also lead the team through a significant transformation - embracing new digital tools and automating processes to enhance efficiency and quality.

Your key responsibilities will include

• Daily management and development of a larger laboratory team
• Drive lager projects and leading the laboratory’s change journey with a strong focus on increased digitalization and automation
• Deviation handling and release of finished goods
• Ensuring optimal and rational operation of the laboratory, including coordination of external analyses
• Collaborating with the QEHS Manager and Team to ensure quality-assured product release in accordance with regulations
• Handling and processing customer complaints in cooperation with QEHS colleagues and lab specialists

What will make you successful

We are looking for a forward-thinking professional with leadership experience and a passion for leading teams through change. Your ability to engage and inspire others will be crucial as you help bring digital transformation and automation to life.

Furthermore you bring

• A track record of driving change, especially within digitalization or automation projects
• Ability to motivate people and foster a growth mindset
• Basic proficiency in Danish and English
• Laboratory experience, ideally including microbiology, is an advantage.

You stand out for your strong organizational skills and your ability to approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset. Your excellent interpersonal skills, combined with a proactive attitude, enable you to engage effectively with your team and drive positive change throughout the laboratory.

What do we offer?

You will join a passionate team at Esbjerg Dairy Center, where collaboration and a willingness to embrace new ways of working are key. At Arla, we are committed to professional development and promoting from within. You’ll have the opportunity to drive meaningful change and bring out the best in yourself and your colleagues, as part of a market leader producing nutritious household-favorite brands.

For additional information, please contact Senior QEHS Manager Anne Sofie Huusmann Jepsen at [phone].

True work-life balance takes trust. And Arla has it in spades. The freedom we get makes everything more enjoyable.

Sean Rankine, Copywriter

Grow

We are ambitious people doing good together – that is the spirit of our cooperative, whether at the office, in the dairy or on the farm. We enable good food choices that make life better and work hard to bring health and inspiration to the world, naturally. If you are looking to shape the future with a company that truly cares about your development and success, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.

At Arla, we believe that great things happen when people work together with purpose.

We’re committed to creating a culture built on collaboration, responsibility, and trust - where you can grow, take ownership, and make a real-life impact.

I love working somewhere with a clear purpose. At Arla, we support each other, and it feels like we’re building something meaningful together.

Employee Benefits

Enjoy great office facilities, a good canteen at most locations, a vibrant social community through our employee clubs, and discounted dairy products in our employee shops.

Flexibility

We support flexible ways of working while valuing time together on-site to foster collaboration. As some roles require in-person work, flexibility depends on role and business needs.

Competitive pay

We offer fair and competitive pay, with annual salary reviews designed to recognize and reward individual performance and impact.

We offer enhanced paid parental leave to support you and your family during important life moments.

Health Service

As an employee at Arla Foods, you have free access to a healthcare programme provided by PensionDanmark, supporting both your physical and mental health.

Pension

We offer an attractive pension scheme, contributing to your long-term financial security.

Where do you see yourself?

Across offices, dairies, and trucks on the road, at Arla we work together across the globe. We all have different roles and different backgrounds - one shared effort. Together, we Feed Life™.