Product Safety Lab Manager

DS Smith Plc; Valencia; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

DS Smith Plc seeks a Product Safety Laboratory Manager to lead a new Valencia laboratory, providing analytical chemistry testing and technical leadership for R&D and major initiatives. You will manage a team, oversee budgeting, and act as the technical face to clients, shaping findings into actionable recommendations.

Ideal candidate brings senior level expertise in analytical instrumentation (HPLC/GC/ICP), data interpretation, and a strong grasp of food contact regulations within packaging

Qualifications

• MSc in Analytical Chemistry or related fields. PhD advantageous.
• Experience with analytical instrumentation in industrial/R&D/testing environments.
• Strong knowledge of food contact regulations and packaging materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead the laboratory and team, managing daily operations, workflows, and resource allocation.
• Serve as the primary technical contact for customers, presenting results and providing commercially relevant recommendations.
• Represent the laboratory during customer visits, audits, and technical reviews.
• Support R&D projects through experimental design, testing, data interpretation, and technical reporting.
• Manage the laboratory budget, purchasing, inventory, and cost control.
• Drive continuous improvement of laboratory methods, processes, and equipment.
• Maintain knowledge of food contact regulations and testing methodologies.
• Collaborate with R&D teams to ensure consistent quality, productivity, and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, quality, and maintenance standards.
• Prepare and review scientific reports, maintaining confidentiality and professional standards.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

HPLC

GC

ICP

Method development

Validation

Troubleshooting

Data analysis

Team leadership

Communication

Education

MSc in Analytical Chemistry

PhD advantageous

Tools

HPLC

GC

ICP

Job description

Location: Valencia, Spain (onsite)

About the Role:

DS Smith has an exciting new opportunity for a Product Safety Laboratory Manager to lead our new Product Safety laboratory based in Valencia, Spain. You will provide analytical chemistry testing and technical expertise for R&D, strategic innovation projects, and major business initiatives.

The role combines hands-on technical leadership - designing, executing, and interpreting experiments in line with agreed milestones - with management skills: leading a team, running the laboratory as a well-governed operation, and owning its budget and performance.

Beyond laboratory and people management, you will act as the technical face of the laboratory to DS Smith's customers and internal stakeholders - presenting results, explaining technical findings in commercial terms, and building trust directly with clients. The successful candidate will bring seniority and confidence operating at manager and customer level, alongside strong analytical and laboratory management credentials.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the laboratory and team, managing daily operations, workflows, and resource allocation
• Serve as the primary technical contact for customers, presenting results and providing commercially relevant recommendations
• Represent the laboratory during customer visits, audits, and technical reviews
• Support R&D projects through experimental design, testing, data interpretation, and technical reporting
• Manage the laboratory budget, purchasing, inventory, and cost control
• Drive continuous improvement of laboratory methods, processes, and equipment
• Maintain knowledge of food contact regulations and testing methodologies
• Collaborate with R&D teams to ensure consistent quality, productivity, and best practices
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, quality, and maintenance standards
• Prepare and review scientific reports, maintaining confidentiality and professional standards.

About You

• MSc (or equivalent) in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Food Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, or a related discipline. A PhD is advantageous
• Previous experience using analytical instrumentation within an industrial, R&D, testing, or CRO environment
• Experience assessing food contact materials and regulatory compliance
• Strong practical experience with HPLC, GC, ICP, method development, validation, and troubleshooting
• Sound understanding of food contact regulations and packaging materials, particularly paper, board, and cellulose-based products
• Proven ability to analyse data, solve technical problems, and communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience managing projects, laboratory operations, quality systems, and regulatory compliance activities
• Previous experience with paper, board, or packaging materials is an advantage
• Very good written and spoken Spanish and English - level B2/ C1

Travel: Occasional travel within the UK and Europe to support R&D trials and business activities.

To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.