Lab Manager

Specsavers; Swadlincote; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary from £27,500

Full Time - 37.5 hours per week

28 days annual leave + birthday off

Pension contribution

Specsavers Perks – discounts

Job summary

Specsavers is seeking an Optical Lab Manager to lead a critical lab team within the UK. You’ll build on hands-on optical lab experience and grow into a more advanced leadership role, guiding colleagues and maintaining quality.

You’ll manage workloads, ensure accuracy, and support staff to deliver high-quality work for customers, in a full-time, 37.5-hour weekly schedule with dedicated development and team support.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in an optical lab
• Ability to lead by example and develop others
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills

Responsibilities

• Lead a lab team to ensure high-quality optical outputs
• Coordinate workflow and support colleagues and customers
• Drive continuous improvement and maintain lab standards

Skills

Optical lab experience

Leadership

Attention to detail

Tools

Lab equipment handling

Job description

Specsavers. A household name and a High Street staple — and you could be leading one of our most vital teams.

We’re looking for an Optical Lab Technician who’s ready to take the next step in their career and grow into a more advanced role within the lab.

At Specsavers, you’ll be part of a community‑focused team made up of people from all walks of life and levels of experience. This is a great opportunity for someone who is eager to develop their skills, take on more responsibility, and make a real contribution behind the scenes.

If you’re driven, detail‑focused, and passionate about producing high‑quality work, you can make a real impact here. As long as you’re ready to work hard and support both colleagues and customers, whoever you are, you can build your future with Specsavers.

What’s on offer?

As well as all the support you need and great training and development opportunities, we have a whole load of benefits on offer for you to enjoy. These include:

• Salary - from £27,500
• Full Time - 37.5 hours per week
• 28 days annual leave plus your birthday off
• Pension contribution
• Specsavers Perks – our discounted benefits scheme
• Annual subscription to the “Headspace” app
• WeCare – UK confidential employee helpline

Find out more

To thrive as a Lab Manager, you’ll bring a strong foundation of hands‑on experience from working in an optical lab, along with the confidence to lead by example — although previous management experience isn’t essential, strong lab experience is key. You’ll be an excellent communicator, highly organised, and someone who naturally spots the finer details that keep quality high.

We’re looking for someone flexible and adaptable, passionate about supporting and developing people, and committed to maintaining a smooth, efficient, and high‑performing lab. If you’re hardworking and ready to take ownership, this could be the perfect next step for you.