Lab Manager

GMP Worldwide; Worcester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Limited travel

Ownership of function

Diverse role

Job summary

GMP Recruitment Agency Ltd are recruiting on behalf of a well-established engineering and manufacturing organisation based in Worcester for a Lab Manager.

You will oversee laboratory testing, reporting, compliance and continuous improvement activities, supporting Technical, Quality and NPI teams.

Salary £35,000-£45,000 dependent on experience; the role includes limited travel and opportunities to own a technically important function within a quality‑driven operation.

Qualifications

• Degree in Metallurgy or Materials Science or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in a laboratory, metallurgy, foundry or engineering setting.
• Knowledge of Nadcap heat treatment requirements.
• Experience with failure analysis.
• Strong technical report-writing skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and analytical approach.
• Ability to interpret specifications and maintain testing standards.
• Good organisational skills across multiple priorities.
• Foundry knowledge, particularly aluminium alloys, is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Oversee laboratory testing, reporting, compliance and continuous improvement activities.
• Support Technical, Quality and NPI teams in testing needs.
• Ensure Nadcap heat treatment compliance and industry standards.
• Manage tensile testing and reporting.
• Operate and maintain Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) equipment.
• Conduct aluminium metallurgy and metallographic analysis.
• Produce high-quality technical reports and investigations.
• Maintain testing methods and equipment in line with specs.
• Coordinate lab functions, training and staff cover.
• Develop and monitor lab KPIs.

Skills

Metallurgy

Materials science

Lab testing

Analytical skills

Technical report writing

Quality systems

Nadcap heat treatment

Failure analysis

Aluminium alloys

OES operation

Education

Metallurgy or Materials Science degree

Tools

Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES)

Job description

GMP Recruitment Agency Ltd are proud to be recruiting on behalf of a well-established and highly regarded engineering and manufacturing organisation based in Worcester.

We are looking for an experienced Lab Manager to take responsibility for the smooth day-to-day operation of the company's laboratory and testing facilities, supporting a busy foundry environment and ensuring the highest standards of technical accuracy, compliance and reporting.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a strong background in metallurgy, materials science, laboratory testing or foundry operations who is looking to take ownership of a technically important function within a quality-driven engineering business.

The Role

As Lab Manager, you will oversee laboratory testing, reporting, compliance and continuous improvement activities, while supporting colleagues across Technical, Quality and New Product Introduction teams.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring compliance with Nadcap heat treatment requirements and relevant industry standards.
• Managing and carrying out tensile testing and associated reporting.
• Operating and maintaining Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) equipment.
• Conducting aluminium metallurgy and metallographic analysis.
• Carrying out failure analysis and producing high-quality technical reports.
• Ensuring laboratory equipment, testing methods and reporting remain compliant with current specifications.
• Managing the smooth day-to-day running of laboratory functions, including training requirements and staff cover.
• Supporting the development and maintenance of testing requirements within Right First Time (RFT) and Q-Pulse systems.
• Working alongside the NPI team to establish appropriate testing requirements for new products.
• Coordinating Round Robin tensile testing with external laboratories.
• Developing and maintaining relevant laboratory KPIs.
• Ensuring OES equipment remains calibrated to the highest possible standards.
• Conducting metallographic evaluations of test bars and components as part of failure investigations.
• Carrying out SAT and TUS testing and reporting.
• Supporting the Quality department with manuals, work instructions, COSHH requirements and audit activities.
• Reviewing and approving analysis results and authorising reanalysis where required.
• Completing solution titration, pH testing, surface roughness testing and intergranular testing.
• Managing and controlling Etchline laboratory chemicals.
• Supporting and developing the technical skills of laboratory colleagues.

About You

We are looking for someone who combines strong technical knowledge with a methodical and quality-focused approach.

Ideally, you will have:

• A degree in Metallurgy, Materials Science or another relevant technical discipline.
• Experience working within a laboratory, metallurgy, foundry or engineering environment.
• Knowledge or experience of Nadcap heat treatment requirements.
• Experience of failure analysis.
• Strong technical report-writing skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and a highly analytical approach.
• The ability to interpret technical specifications and maintain accurate testing and reporting standards.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple laboratory priorities.
• Some knowledge of foundry processes, particularly aluminium alloys, would be highly advantageous.

What's on Offer?

• Salary of £35,000-£45,000 depending on experience
• Worcester-based role
• Limited / occasional travel
• Opportunity to take ownership of an important technical function
• A varied position covering laboratory management, metallurgy, quality and continuous improvement
• Opportunity to work within an established engineering and manufacturing environment

Interested?

If you are an experienced Lab Manager, Metallurgist, Materials Engineer, Laboratory Engineer or technically focused engineering professional looking for your next opportunity in Worcester, we would love to hear from you.