Laboratory Manager

Danone; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Danone within Nutricia Liverpool is seeking a Laboratory Manager to lead and develop all laboratory operations across Chemistry, Microbiology, IN PROCESS CONTROL, Sensory and Laboratory Administration. You will drive strategic and operational leadership, ensuring safe, compliant, accurate and timely analytical services that support product release, process control and continuous improvement.

The role is critical in a high-risk Specialized Nutrition manufacturing context, requiring risk-based

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Microbiology, Food Science, Life Sciences or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Significant experience leading laboratory operations in highly regulated environments.
• Experience leading laboratory teams through Team Leaders or technical specialists.
• Strong understanding of analytical chemistry, microbiology, in-process control, sensory and lab administration processes.
• Experience with ISO 17025, method validation/verification and laboratory QMS requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop all laboratory operations across Chemistry, Microbiology, IN PROCESS CONTROL, Sensory, and Lab Administration.
• Ensure delivery of safe, compliant, accurate and timely analytical services supporting product release and process control.
• Drive risk-based decision-making, continuous improvement and transformation while maintaining daily testing performance.
• Safeguard product integrity and consumer safety per Danone standards and regulatory expectations.
• Collaborate with Operations, QFS, Engineering, Supply Chain and Global AE to support plant quality strategy.

Skills

Strong leadership

Strategic thinking

Project management

Structured problem-solving

Risk-based decision-making

Effective communication

Change leadership

Work under pressure

Education

Degree in Chemistry, Microbiology, Food Science, Life Sciences

Tools

LIMS

Digital laboratory tools

Data integrity

Job description

About The Job

Nutricia Liverpool are seeking applications for the role of Laboratory Manager, reporting to the Head of Quality and Food Safety.

In this role you will be responsible for leading and developing all laboratory operations across Nutricia Liverpool, ensuring the delivery of safe, compliant, accurate and timely analytical services that support product release, process control, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement.

The role is critical in a high-risk Specialized Nutrition manufacturing context, requiring strong leadership, sound risk-based decision-making and the ability to deliver transformation while maintaining day-to-day testing performance.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership across Chemistry, Microbiology, IN PROCESS CONTROL, Sensory, Method Development and Laboratory Administration / Sample Management.

The position safeguards product integrity and consumer safety by ensuring reliable, timely and data-driven laboratory results in line with Danone standards, regulatory expectations and site requirements.

You will also be accountable for building a high-performing laboratory organisation, strengthening capability, improving workflows and driving a culture of quality, scientific rigour and continuous improvement.

In return we offer a competitive salary and Danone UK benefits package.

About You

Key Competencies required

• Strong leadership, team motivation and interpersonal skills
• Strategic thinking, project management and prioritisation
• Structured problem-solving and analytical mindset
• Risk-based decision-making and ability to manage complexity
• Effective communication and stakeholder management
• Change leadership, continuous improvement mindset and ability to simplify processes
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining compliance and product safety standards

Qualifications, Experience and Skills required

• Degree in Chemistry, Microbiology, Food Science, Life Sciences or related scientific discipline; advanced degree preferred
• Significant experience in laboratory operations within food, nutrition, pharmaceutical or highly regulated manufacturing environments
• Proven experience leading laboratory teams, ideally through Team Leaders or technical specialists
• Strong understanding of analytical chemistry, microbiology, IN PROCESS CONTROL, sensory and laboratory administration / sample management processes
• Knowledge of ISO 17025 principles, method validation / verification, equipment governance and laboratory QMS requirements
• Experience with LIMS, digital laboratory tools, data integrity and analytical performance management
• Experience delivering continuous improvement, transformation, audit readiness and capability development programmes

About Us

Current role context

• The role operates within a Specialized Nutrition manufacturing environment with heightened quality, food safety and regulatory expectations.
• The Liverpool laboratories are undergoing transformation to strengthen compliance, capability, resilience, digital maturity and analytical performance.
• Key priorities include ISO 17025 alignment, analytical method enhancement, laboratory workflow improvement, digitalisation, IN PROCESS CONTROL deployment and continuous improvement in analytical reliability.
• The role will provide leadership across multiple laboratory areas and will be critical to product release, process control, audit readiness and business continuity.
• Strong collaboration with Operations, QFS, Engineering, Supply Chain and Global AE is essential to support the plant quality strategy and protect consumers and patients.

Your key achievements in 1-3 years

• Establish a stable, high-performing laboratory organisation covering Chemistry, Microbiology, In process control, Sensory, Method Development and Lab Administration.
• Deliver the Liverpool laboratory roadmap, including ISO 17025 alignment, analytical method improvements, laboratory modernisation and digital maturity.
• Strengthen analytical performance to meet Danone AE requirements and improve right-first-time, TAT and audit readiness.
• Implement digital and automated solutions that improve efficiency, data integrity, reliability and visibility of laboratory performance.
• Build a robust succession and capability model with strong technical depth, cross-training and reduced dependency on single experts.
• Embed a continuous improvement culture that delivers measurable productivity, compliance and service improvements