Laboratory Co-ordinator

Celnor Group; North East; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave + holidays

Performance bonus

Free on-site parking

Health and wellbeing programme

Life insurance (2x salary)

Referral bonus of £1,000

Sick pay and enhanced maternity & p?”

Christmas shutdown

Job summary

Chemtech Environmental Limited, part of the Celnor Group, seeks a Laboratory Co-ordinator in County Durham to lead daily laboratory operations and ensure timely, accurate analyses. You will supervise chemists and technicians, manage workloads, maintain quality systems, and drive continuous improvement while developing staff and coordinating equipment and consumables.

Reporting to the Laboratory Manager, this hands-on role combines technical analysis with people leadership in a busy, ISO-aligned

Qualifications

• BSc in Chemistry or a related scientific subject, or an equivalent qualification.
• A minimum of 2 years' hands-on experience in chemical analysis.
• Good understanding of analytical chemistry techniques, particularly inorganic analysis.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to supervise, motivate and develop laboratory staff.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organise and monitor daily workloads to ensure laboratory deadlines are achieved.
• Supervise and support Senior Chemists, Chemists and Laboratory Technicians, including day-to-day people management.
• Lead by example, promoting a positive, productive and supportive working environment.
• Work closely with other laboratory departments to ensure effective communication and workflow.
• Monitor stock levels, liaise with suppliers and coordinate ordering of laboratory consumables.
• Ensure good housekeeping and compliance with laboratory procedures.
• Oversee staff timesheets and relevant administrative task
• Undertake sample preparation and chemical analysis when required.
• Maintain and update laboratory worklists to ensure accurate tracking of samples and results.
• Provide technical guidance and troubleshooting support to the laboratory team.
• Identify opportunities to improve analytical methods, efficiency and laboratory processes.
• Support method development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and coordinate training plans for Chemists and Laboratory Technicians.
• Deliver practical training and technical guidance to team members.
• Ensure training records are maintained and kept up to date.
• Identify individual development needs and support ongoing technical progression within the team.
• Maintain high standards of quality across all laboratory activities.
• Attend monthly quality meetings, reporting on performance and communicating updates to the team.
• Ensure laboratory records, daily checks and quality documentation are completed accurately.
• Coordinate and undertake Non-Conforming Work Report (NWR) investigations, ensuring appropriate corrective actions are completed.
• Monitor internal Analytical Quality Control (AQC) results against acceptance criteria and maintain relevant quality control charts.
• Investigate AQC failures and support the implementation of corrective actions.
• Coordinate the preparation and analysis of external Proficiency Testing (PT) samples.
• Investigate and report on PT failures where required.
• Support the laboratory in maintaining relevant quality and accreditation standards.
• Oversee routine equipment maintenance, troubleshooting and calibration.
• Ensure equipment servicing and calibration are completed in line with laboratory schedules.
• Support the team in resolving technical equipment issues to minimise disruption to laboratory operations.

Skills

Chemical analysis

Analytical chemistry

Laboratory leadership

People management

Education

BSc in Chemistry or related field

Job description

Laboratory Co-ordinator

Department: Laboratory

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: County Durham

Compensation: £29,000 - £32,000 / year

Description

Laboratory Co-ordinator

Chemtech Environmental Limited

9am-17.00

Who we are

At Chemtech Environmental, we like to think of ourselves as an extension of your team — the kind that adds value without adding hassle (and yes, the sample containers are free). We keep things simple, personal and practical, offering tailored solutions and responsive support through our network of regional laboratories. With years of industry experience behind us, we help clients get the answers they need, make smart decisions and keep projects moving — all while sweating the small stuff so they don’t have to.

We're filthy and we're proud of it

Part of the Celnor Group

Celnor Group is a UK-based environmental services group operating across the Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC) landscape. With a growing portfolio of specialist businesses, Celnor provides essential services that protect people, property and the environment.

While each business retains its own identity, culture and technical specialism, all are supported by a central group function that invests in people, systems and long-term sustainable growth.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Laboratory co-ordinator to join our team at Chemtech Environmental.

Working closely with the Laboratory Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of your laboratory section, ensuring analytical services are delivered to the highest standards, within agreed deadlines.

This is a hands-on leadership role, combining technical laboratory analysis with team supervision, staff development, quality management and operational planning.

You will play a key role in maintaining laboratory performance, supporting continuous improvement and ensuring the team has the training, equipment and resources needed to deliver accurate and reliable results.

What you will do

Laboratory Operations & Team Management

• Plan, organise and monitor daily workloads to ensure laboratory deadlines are achieved.
• Supervise and support Senior Chemists, Chemists and Laboratory Technicians, including day-to-day people management.
• Lead by example, promoting a positive, productive and supportive working environment.
• Work closely with other laboratory departments to ensure effective communication and workflow.
• Monitor stock levels, liaise with suppliers and coordinate ordering of laboratory consumables.
• Ensure good housekeeping and compliance with laboratory procedures.
• Oversee staff timesheets and relevant administrative task

Laboratory Analysis & Technical Support

• Undertake sample preparation and chemical analysis when required.Maintain and update laboratory worklists to ensure accurate tracking of samples and results.
• Provide technical guidance and troubleshooting support to the laboratory team.
• Identify opportunities to improve analytical methods, efficiency and laboratory processes.
• Support method development and continuous improvement initiatives.

Training & Development

• Develop and coordinate training plans for Chemists and Laboratory Technicians.
• Deliver practical training and technical guidance to team members.
• Ensure training records are maintained and kept up to date.
• Identify individual development needs and support ongoing technical progression within the team.

Quality & Compliance

• Maintain high standards of quality across all laboratory activities.
• Attend monthly quality meetings, reporting on performance and communicating updates to the team.
• Ensure laboratory records, daily checks and quality documentation are completed accurately.
• Coordinate and undertake Non-Conforming Work Report (NWR) investigations, ensuring appropriate corrective actions are completed.
• Monitor internal Analytical Quality Control (AQC) results against acceptance criteria and maintain relevant quality control charts.
• Investigate AQC failures and support the implementation of corrective actions.
• Coordinate the preparation and analysis of external Proficiency Testing (PT) samples.
• Investigate and report on PT failures where required.
• Support the laboratory in maintaining relevant quality and accreditation standards.

Equipment & Maintenance

• Oversee routine equipment maintenance, troubleshooting and calibration.
• Ensure equipment servicing and calibration are completed in line with laboratory schedules.
• Support the team in resolving technical equipment issues to minimise disruption to laboratory operations.

Who you are

Essential experience and skills:

• A BSc in Chemistry or a related scientific subject, or an equivalent qualification.
• A minimum of 2 years' hands-on experience in chemical analysis.
• Good understanding of analytical chemistry techniques, particularly inorganic analysis.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to supervise, motivate and develop laboratory staff.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays — and it increases the longer you stick around.
• Performance bonus- win together, celebrate together.
• Free on-site parking, because the only thing you should be hunting for at work is results, not a parking space.
• Health and wellbeing programme to help keep both mind and body in good working order.
• Life insurance (2x salary) for a little extra peace of mind.
• Referral bonus of £1,000 if you bring great people into the team.
• Sick pay and enhanced maternity & paternity pay to support you when life happens.
• Christmas shutdown, giving you proper time to switch off, relax and enjoy the festive season.

Important information

Celnor Group and its businesses manage recruitment directly. We do not require agency support for this role and will only engage with recruitment partners from our preferred supplier list where necessary.

We may use technology, including AI-enabled tools, to support parts of the recruitment process. AI is not used for candidate screening, scoring or hiring decisions. All hiring decisions are made by people, for people. Our recruitment systems are ISO 42001 accredited, reflecting our commitment to ethical, transparent and responsible use of technology.