Laboratory and Quality Manager

Aberystwyth University; Aberystwyth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institute in Aberystwyth is seeking a Laboratory and Quality Manager for their new animal disease testing facility. This role involves developing and implementing quality management systems, ensuring laboratory compliance with biosafety standards, and supporting animal health surveillance. The ideal candidate will have a degree in biological sciences and experience in laboratory management, particularly in a diagnostic lab environment. Opportunities for flexible working arrangements are available.

Benefits

Flexible working policy

Generous leave entitlements

Commitment to Professional Development

Enhanced pension contributions

Opportunity to learn Welsh for free

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in laboratory management within a diagnostic environment.
• Familiarity with ISO17025 standards.
• Ability to manage out-of-hours emergencies and perform shift work.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a new diagnostic testing facility for animal diseases.
• Ensure compliance with quality management systems such as ISO17025.
• Support health surveillance and enhance teaching and research.

Skills

Laboratory management

Understanding of biosafety regulations

Risk management

Quality management systems development

Emergency response

Oral and Written Welsh

Education

Degree in biological or biomedical science

Tools

Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

Job description

• The Role
• What you’ll do
• Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
• How to apply
• Benefits
• Employment Visa

The Role

To make an informal enquiry, please contact Dr Amanda Gibson at [e-mail] or Jackie Sayce [e-mail]

Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check, medical surveillance and (where applicable) government security clearance.

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

What you’ll do

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

VetHub(1) is a £4.2m Innovation Cluster providing secure facilities to research Animal and Human Pathogens. The Facility is set in the heart of the Aberystwyth University campus with access to world leading academic expertise and state of the art laboratory equipment. VetHub(1) has some of the best Containment Level 3 and Containment Level 2 facilities in the UK. As part of a new initiative, VetHub(1) has exciting opportunities available in a new animal disease testing facility. VetHub(1) works closely with the Sêr Cymru Centre of Excellence for Bovine TB, together these facilities enable cutting edge research in microbiology, immunology and microbial genetics and facilitate in-depth studies of host-pathogen interactions.

The Laboratory and Quality Manager will act as an integral part of developing and running a new Centre to deliver a service to provide animal disease diagnostic testing from VetHub(1). The role holder will work as part of a team within the laboratories to develop tests to meet regional and national demand for a fast, reliable, and high-quality diagnostic service. The Centre will ultimately support animal health surveillance, enhance teaching and research, and provide a public service through early detection and monitoring of emerging diseases. The role holder will support the development, implementation, and maintenance of quality management systems such as ISO17025.

A secondment opportunity is particularly welcomed.

This job description is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

1. A degree (or equivalent experience) in a biological or biomedical science discipline or equivalent work experience.
2. Demonstrable experience of laboratory management, ideally within a diagnostic laboratory environment.
3. Experience of working to ISO17025.
4. Experience of developing (or contributing to the development of) laboratory quality management systems for ISO accreditation, including risk management and SOP development.
5. Experience of or willingness to, work at high containment ACDP Hazard Group 3, SAPO/Schedule 5.
6. Previous experience in working with electronic sample and laboratory test management systems (e.g., LIMS); be able to identify issues and solutions and execute action plans that lead to resolution.
7. Strong understanding of biosafety regulations and compliance frameworks.
8. Experience of providing health & safety advice and support.
9. Willingness to undertake security clearance and occupational health surveillance as required.
10. Demonstrated ability to promote and maintain a safe, inclusive, and compliant laboratory environment.
11. Willingness to undertake security clearance, medical surveillance and have inoculations relevant to the post.
12. Demonstrable willingness to deal with out of hours emergencies in the facility.
13. Willingness to undertake shift work (on a rota basis, when the Centre is operational and responding to surge or outbreak response), which may include occasional weekend or bank holiday work depending on diagnostic service needs.
14. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh LevelAn ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually.

Desirable

1. In-depth knowledge of infectious diseases and containment practices.
2. Postgraduate qualification in infectious diseases, microbiology, or a related biomedical field.
3. Experience with regulatory audits and inspections.
4. Formal biosafety training or previous role as BSO/Deputy BSO.
5. Experience working in CL3 laboratories with ACDP Hazard Group 3 pathogens.
6. Provide specialist input on infectious diseases and related laboratory work.
7. Knowledge of genetically modified organism (GMO) work and associated compliance requirements.
8. Experience mentoring or supporting junior staff and students in a laboratory setting.
9. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B1*

*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/

How to apply

To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.

Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• 36.5 – hour week for full‑time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.

Please keep reading

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.

We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Employment Visa

We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.

Under the points‑based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.

Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:

Skilled Worker Route Points‑Based System

Mandatory / Non‑tradeable Criteria (50 points)

• A job offer from a UK licensed sponsor – 20 points
• Job is above the minimum sponsorable skill level – 20 points
• Appointed candidate to have appropriate knowledge of the English language* – 10 points
• Total = 50 points

Tradeable Criteria (dependent on candidate appointed)

• Salary meets minimum threshold – 20 points
• The candidate holds a PhD in a subject relevant to the job – 10 points
• The candidate holds a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job – 20 points
• The advertised role is on the UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL) – 20 points

*Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:

• A national of a majority English speaking country
• Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC)
• Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.

For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa