Group Leader - Quality Control

Lonza Group Ltd.; Slough; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Agile culture and dynamic working

Inclusive and ethical workplace

Performance-based compensation

Benefits depend on role/location

Job summary

Lonza Group Ltd. in Slough is seeking a Scientific Group Leader to lead a QC team delivering customer product stability studies within Analytical Services. This role combines scientific leadership with operational management to ensure work is safe, compliant with cGMP and delivered on time.

You will coach and develop the team, manage resources, build strong stakeholder relationships, and drive improvements across QC operations to achieve high-quality laboratory execution at scale.

Qualifications

• BSc or equivalent in a scientific subject is preferred.
• Experience leading teams in a laboratory or quality environment.
• Experience working in a cGMP-regulated environment.
• Strong scientific and technical problem-solving skills with risk-based decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing QC team, creating an engaging environment that supports performance, career development, retention and succession planning.
• Own resource and workload planning, prioritising people and activities to ensure testing and customer commitments are delivered on time.
• Provide scientific and technical leadership, supporting the team in troubleshooting complex issues and making confident, risk-based decisions where information may be limited or ambiguous.
• Drive continuous improvement across QC operations, identifying and implementing opportunities to improve quality, efficiency, compliance and ways of working.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders, influencing priorities and aligning customer and business requirements with effective laboratory execution.
• Lead and contribute to departmental and cross-site strategic projects, helping shape improvements and the future direction of the QC function.
• Champion quality, regulatory and safety compliance within the laboratory, supporting customer and regulatory audits and ensuring the team maintains the highest standards of cGMP performance.

Skills

People leadership

Problem solving

Planning & organising

Stakeholder management

Quality in cGMP

Education

BSc or equivalent in science

Job description

Job Title: Group Leader Location: Slough

The role: Are you an experienced scientific leader who enjoys developing people, solving complex problems and delivering for customers? We are looking for a Scientific Team Leader to lead a talented team responsible for delivering customer product stability studies within our Analytical Services function. This role offers the opportunity to combine scientific expertise with people leadership and operational management, ensuring work is delivered safely, efficiently and in compliance with cGMP requirements. You will coach and develop your team, manage resources and priorities, influence key stakeholders, drive continuous improvement and contribute to wider departmental and cross-site strategic initiatives. This is a fully site-based role. Working together in person supports close, real-time collaboration and the technical precision needed to manufacture medicines to the highest quality and safety standards.

What you will get: undefined

• An agile career and dynamic working culture
• An inclusive and ethical workplace
• Compensation programs that recognize high performance
• A variety of benefits dependant on role and location
• The full list of our global benefits can be also found on https://www.lonza.com/careers/benefits

What you will do:

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing QC team, creating an engaging environment that supports performance, career development, retention and succession planning.
• Own resource and workload planning, effectively prioritising people and activities to ensure testing and customer commitments are delivered on time.
• Provide scientific and technical leadership, supporting the team in troubleshooting complex issues and making confident, risk-based decisions where information may be limited or ambiguous.
• Drive continuous improvement across QC operations, identifying and implementing opportunities to improve quality, efficiency, compliance and ways of working.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders, influencing priorities and aligning customer and business requirements with effective laboratory execution.
• Lead and contribute to departmental and cross-site strategic projects, helping shape improvements and the future direction of the QC function.
• Champion quality, regulatory and safety compliance within the laboratory, supporting customer and regulatory audits and ensuring the team maintains the highest standards of cGMP performance.

What we are looking for:

• BSc or equivalent experience in a scientific subject is preferred, reflecting your strong foundational knowledge.
• People leadership or mentoring experience, with the ability to coach, develop and motivate scientific team members within a laboratory or quality environment.
• Experience within Quality within a cGMP-regulated environment.
• Strong scientific and technical problem-solving skills, with the confidence to make sound, risk-based decisions when managing complex laboratory challenges.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, with experience managing resources, competing priorities and operational deadlines to ensure successful delivery.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across functions, build effective relationships and confidently represent QC with senior stakeholders and customers.

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow.

Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together.

Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.

Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table.

At Lonza, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.