Laboratories Manager - 12 Month FTC

Matchtech; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Matchtech partnered role in Farnborough seeks a Laboratories Manager to oversee more than 50 laboratory environments, ensuring safe, compliant operations that support cutting-edge development.

You will balance operational excellence with safety leadership, coordinating equipment, contractors and facilities while maintaining governance standards in a complex technical setting.

Qualifications

• Experience managing laboratories, technical facilities, or specialist engineering environments.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety, risk management, compliance, governance and audit requirements.
• Experience across facilities with diverse hazard profiles.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operation of 50+ laboratory environments, ensuring safety and compliance.
• Manage laboratory equipment, maintenance, calibration, and lifecycle tracking.
• Lead governance, safety, audits, risk assessments and COSHH documentation.
• Coordinate contractors, suppliers, and internal users across disciplines.
• Support procurement and introduction of new equipment and facility improvements.
• Drive continuous improvement in laboratory operations and practices.

Skills

Lab management

Health & Safety

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Prioritisation

Independent working

Technical teams support

Job description

Are you an experienced laboratory or facilities professional looking for a role where no two days are the same?

We're seeking a Laboratories Manager to oversee the safe, effective, and compliant operation of more than 50 diverse laboratory environments, supporting cutting-edge research, development, and testing activities.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a complex technical environment and enjoys balancing operational excellence, stakeholder management, and safety leadership.

The Opportunity

As Laboratories Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring a broad range of laboratories remain operational, safe, compliant, and ready to support critical engineering and research programmes.

Working across a wide variety of facilities with differing technical requirements and hazard profiles, you'll be responsible for coordinating laboratory activities, managing specialist equipment and contractors, maintaining compliance standards, and building strong relationships with internal users and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the operation of more than 50 laboratory environments, ensuring facilities are safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.
• Manage laboratory equipment, maintenance schedules, calibration activities, asset tracking, and lifecycle management.
• Lead compliance activities relating to health & safety, governance, security, audits, risk assessments, COSHH, and associated documentation.
• Coordinate contractors, suppliers, laboratory users, and stakeholders across multiple technical disciplines.
• Support procurement activities and the introduction of new equipment and facility improvements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across laboratory operations and working practices.
• Ensure laboratories are maintained and operated across a broad range of hazard profiles and technical environments.

About You

We're looking for a proactive and organised professional who can confidently manage their own workload whilst supporting a diverse user community.

You’ll bring:

• Previous experience managing laboratories, technical facilities, or specialist engineering environments.
• Strong knowledge of Health & Safety, risk management, compliance, governance, and audit requirements.
• Experience working across facilities with diverse hazard profiles.
• Excellent relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The ability to prioritise competing demands and work independently.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach to supporting laboratory users and technical teams.
• An engineering, scientific, technical, or laboratory background.

Why Apply?

• Opportunity to manage a highly varied portfolio of laboratory facilities.
• Work alongside engineers, scientists, and technical specialists supporting innovative research programmes.
• Significant autonomy and responsibility within a collaborative environment.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Gain exposure to a wide range of technical disciplines and specialist facilities.

If you're passionate about laboratory operations, health & safety, and building strong working relationships across complex technical environments