Lab Manager

vwr; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent role

Career development

Competitive salary

Scientific excellence

Job summary

VWR in Macclesfield is seeking a proactive Lab Manager to oversee day-to-day operations across multiple laboratory spaces, ensuring safety and compliance.

You will serve as the main point of contact for scientists, service providers, and visitors, coordinating preventive maintenance, equipment servicing, and supplies.

This permanent role offers a collaborative environment, opportunities for professional growth, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Experience in laboratory operations, laboratory management, scientific support, facilities management, or a related environment.
• Strong organisational and project coordination skills.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders, suppliers, and service providers.
• Knowledge of laboratory health and safety requirements, including risk assessments and compliance processes.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Experience managing inventories, consumables, equipment, and operational budgets is advantageous.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage the daily operation of assigned laboratory areas, serving as the key point of contact for scientists and external visitors.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance, repairs, and service activities with Facilities Management (FM) providers to minimise disruption to laboratory operations.
• Monitor and track FM helpdesk requests, ensuring timely resolution of issues.
• Investigate service-level agreement (SLA) deviations, conduct root cause analyses, and communicate improvement plans to stakeholders.
• Support scientific teams with reagent and consumable planning, inventory management, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Coordinate laboratory inductions for new, temporary, and visiting laboratory users.
• Organise and support visits from internal stakeholders, external partners, and regulatory agencies.
• Provide operational support to business projects and identify opportunities for process improvement.

Skills

Laboratory operations

Project coordination

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Inventory management

Job description

The Opportunity:

Lab Manager

Location: Macclesfield, UK

Contract Type: Permanent

About the Role

We are seeking a proactive and highly organised Lab Manager to oversee the day-to-day management of a portfolio of laboratory spaces in Macclesfield. Acting as the primary point of contact for scientists, service providers, and visitors, you will play a critical role in ensuring laboratories operate safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with regulatory and company standards.

This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with laboratory operations, facilities management, or scientific support experience who thrives in a collaborative environment and is passionate about delivering high-quality operational support to scientific teams.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Operations & Facilities Management

• Manage the daily operation of assigned laboratory areas, serving as the key point of contact for scientists and external visitors.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance, repairs, and service activities with Facilities Management (FM) providers to minimise disruption to laboratory operations.
• Monitor and track FM helpdesk requests, ensuring timely resolution of issues.
• Investigate service-level agreement (SLA) deviations, conduct root cause analyses, and communicate improvement plans to stakeholders.
• Support scientific teams with reagent and consumable planning, inventory management, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Coordinate laboratory inductions for new, temporary, and visiting laboratory users.
• Organise and support visits from internal stakeholders, external partners, and regulatory agencies.
• Provide operational support to business projects and identify opportunities for process improvement.

Equipment Management

• Partner with IT teams and service providers to ensure laboratory equipment is operating effectively and utilised efficiently.
• Coordinate equipment servicing, planned maintenance, breakdown management, installations, and decommissioning activities.
• Attend planning meetings, monitor facility-related issues, and support service delivery excellence.
• Maintain relevant operational, compliance, and training documentation.
• Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs), service metrics, and weekly operational activities.
• Promote best practice through collaboration with the wider laboratory management network.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Support departmental leadership in maintaining high standards of Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) compliance.
• Assist with documentation including risk assessments, COSHH assessments, and other compliance requirements.
• Facilitate SHE meetings and ensure important safety information is communicated effectively.
• Participate in audits and drive corrective actions to maintain regulatory and operational excellence.
• Support quality compliance activities in partnership with Quality Assurance and operational teams.

Additional Responsibilities

• Monitor laboratory consumables and capital expenditure, maintaining accurate inventories and asset records.
• Support future equipment demand planning and technology enhancement initiatives.
• Liaise with suppliers to organise demonstrations, training sessions, and equipment evaluations.
• Support change control activities and laboratory quality compliance programs.
• Identify and implement opportunities for cost savings and operational efficiencies.
• Assist with laboratory skills training for new starters when required.
• Provide flexibility in working hours when business needs require additional support.

About You

• Experience in laboratory operations, laboratory management, scientific support, facilities management, or a related environment.
• Strong organisational and project coordination skills.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders, suppliers, and service providers.
• Knowledge of laboratory health and safety requirements, including risk assessments and compliance processes.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Experience managing inventories, consumables, equipment, and operational budgets is advantageous.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across cross‑functional teams.

What We Offer

• Permanent employment with a stable and growing organisation.
• Opportunity to work within a highly collaborative scientific environment.
• Career development and professional growth opportunities.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• A key role supporting cutting‑edge laboratory operations and scientific excellence.

#LI-Onsite

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to b