Laboratory Manager

Tarmac; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Enhanced holiday entitlement

Contributory pension scheme

Employee discounts on retailers

Job summary

Tarmac is seeking a Laboratory Manager to lead all laboratory activities, ensuring accurate testing, certification, and compliance across Specialist Products. You will manage audits, drive improvements, and safeguard product quality while supporting operational and commercial teams.

The role emphasizes safety, data-driven decision making, and leadership of a capable laboratory team to meet performance targets and accreditation standards.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience within the construction materials industry.
• Experience managing laboratory teams.
• Strong understanding of quality control, product testing, and laboratory management systems.
• Experience managing non-conforming materials and implementing corrective actions.
• Strong IT skills with ability to record, analyse, and report testing data.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of health, safety, quality and environmental standards within a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe, accurate, and timely testing of products and reporting of laboratory results.
• Verify finished products meet required specifications, standards, and customer requirements.
• Collaborate with production, operations, and commercial teams to support quality and reduce waste.
• Manage all laboratory audits and calibration schedules.
• Lead and develop a laboratory team with resource planning and performance management.
• Promote zero-harm culture and compliance with safety standards.
• Drive continuous improvement in testing processes and lab efficiency.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and ensure fit-for-purpose operation.
• Monitor KPIs and reporting of laboratory performance.
• Support customer requirements with reliable testing and QA.

Skills

Laboratory management

Quality assurance

Data analysis

Team leadership

Audit management

Calibration

Non-conformance

Education

Materials Science degree

Tools

Laboratory information systems

Job description

Role Purpose

The Laboratory Manager is responsible for leading and managing all laboratory activities to ensure the accurate testing, certification, and compliance of products across the Specialist Products operation and wider business. The role is accountable for maintaining product quality standards, ensuring compliance with testing procedures and audit requirements, and supporting operational and commercial teams to drive efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall product performance. The Laboratory Manager provides leadership to the laboratory team, fostering a culture of safety, continuous improvement, technical excellence, and customer focus. The role is instrumental in ensuring products meet required specifications while supporting business objectives through effective quality control, data analysis, and process improvement initiatives.

Key Accountabilities

In this role you will:

• Ensure the safe, accurate, and timely testing of products and reporting of laboratory results.
• Verify that finished products consistently meet required specifications, standards, and customer requirements.
• Work closely with production, operational, and commercial teams to support product quality, streamline production changes, and minimise waste.
• Manage all laboratory audit activities, ensuring compliance with testing standards, accreditation requirements, calibration schedules, and quality procedures.
• Lead, develop, and manage a team of Laboratory Technicians, including resource planning, training, performance management, and career development.
• Promote and maintain a zero-harm culture, ensuring the highest standards of health, safety, and environmental compliance within the laboratory.
• Ensure compliance with internal management systems and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage non-conforming materials, including investigation, root cause analysis, trend reporting, and implementation of corrective actions.
• Monitor and report laboratory performance against key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Support customer requirements by ensuring reliable testing, quality assurance, and product compliance.
• Drive improvements in testing processes, laboratory efficiency, and quality performance.
• Ensure laboratory equipment is maintained, calibrated, and fit for purpose.

Key Deliverables

The successful candidate will be accountable for:

• Achieving laboratory safety objectives and maintaining a zero-harm environment.
• Delivering laboratory KPIs and quality performance targets.
• Ensuring compliance with product specifications and quality standards.
• Supporting customer satisfaction through accurate and responsive laboratory services.
• Reducing product failures, waste materials, and non-conformance incidents.
• Maintaining accreditation, audit readiness, and testing compliance requirements.
• Developing a high-performing and engaged laboratory team.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Relevant experience within the construction materials industry, preferably within cementitious products, concrete, mortar, or related manufacturing environments.
• Previous experience managing or supervising laboratory teams.
• Strong understanding of quality control, product testing, and laboratory management systems.
• Experience managing non-conforming materials and implementing corrective actions.
• Strong IT skills with the ability to accurately record, analyse, and report testing data.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to make informed decisions based on technical evidence and analysis.
• Knowledge of health, safety, quality, and environmental standards within a manufacturing environment.

Desirable

• Degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience working within accredited laboratory environments.
• Knowledge of cementitious products, building materials, or construction product manufacturing processes.
• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives and process optimisation projects.

Key Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Laboratory management and leadership.
• Product testing and quality assurance.
• Quality management systems and compliance.
• Audit management and laboratory governance.
• Data analysis and technical reporting.
• Root cause investigation and problem solving.
• Non-conformance management.
• Calibration and equipment management.
• Continuous improvement methodologies.
• Health, Safety and Environmental compliance.

Behavioural Competencies

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to Health, Safety and Environmental standards.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Proactive and confident in making decisions.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop teams.
• Collaborative approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Customer-focused with a commitment to quality and operational excellence.
• Flexible and responsive to changing business demands.

Why Tarmac

We don't just offer a job, we offer a career. Aside from this role, you'll have access to industry-leading rewards, development opportunities, and a culture that puts people first, including:

• Bonus scheme
• Enhanced holiday entitlement
• Contributory pension scheme
• Access to the Tarmac Reward website with discounts on retailers, holidays, etc.
• Access to our Employee Assistance helpline for free and confidential advice
• Access to our Employee Communities, where you can network, learn from others, and increase your awareness of the support available to you.

Our three Employee Communities are:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Inclusion and Identity
• Personal Growth and Development

Training and development opportunities

Training and development opportunities

Tarmac iscommittedto being aForces‑friendly employer.

If you’re coming from a military background, we’ll support your transition and help you build a successful career with us.

We’re proud to be part of CRH, and even prouder to be an equal opportunity employer.

We celebrate diversity and arecommittedto creating an inclusiveenvironment for everyone.

If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know, we’re here to support you.