Laboratory Manager

YTL UK; Saltford; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer pension up to 20%

Career progression opportunities

25 days holiday (28 with service)

Health care package

Life assurance

Job summary

YTL UK in Saltford is seeking two Laboratory Managers to lead Analytical Services, driving continuous improvement and delivering safe, compliant, high‑performing laboratory operations.

You will shape the future of Analytical Services, develop workforce capability, manage budgets, and partner with stakeholders while ensuring UKAS and regulatory standards are met. Flexible working options may be available.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership and people management experience.
• Experience leading business change and continuous improvement.
• Strong planning and organisational skills.
• Experience with workforce planning and building team capability.
• Experience working in a laboratory, scientific or regulated environment.
• Knowledge of quality management systems and regulatory environments.
• Budget management and financial control knowledge.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Strong IT skills, including MS Office and business systems.
• Leadership qualification or equivalent experience.
• Degree-level qualification in science/STEM.
• Chartered Scientist (CSci) status or equivalent would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement to enhance laboratory performance and resilience.
• Support delivery of Analytical Services strategy through organisational development and change programmes.
• Develop workforce capability through recruitment, succession planning, coaching and development.
• Monitor operational performance and respond to risks, incidents, constraints and emerging challenges.
• Lead Technical Managers and teams to deliver safe, efficient and high-performing laboratory operations.
• Collaborate with laboratory managers and stakeholders to meet department and company objectives.
• Support development and implementation of business continuity and resilience arrangements.
• Ensure operations meet quality standards, regulatory requirements and UKAS accreditation.
• Promote a positive health, safety and wellbeing culture across the laboratory.
• Contribute to budget planning and efficient use of people, equipment and resources.
• Keep abreast of scientific, regulatory and industry developments and implement changes.
• Support the development of new laboratory facilities and ways of working at Filton.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Change management

Continuous improvement

Planning & organisation

Workforce planning

Quality/compliance

Budget management

Stakeholder management

IT skills

CSci qualification

Science degree

Education

Degree in science/STEM

CSci (Chartered Scientist)

Tools

Laboratory systems

Job description

An opportunity has become available for two Laboratory Managers to join our Analytical Services team in Saltford. We are looking for an experienced leader with a strong background in people management and continuous improvement to join our leadership team. You will work closely with the Head of Analytical Services and other laboratory managers, playing a key role in delivering an outstanding laboratory service.

Wessex Water's laboratory in Saltford processes more than 176,000 samples and five million analytical results annually and plays a critical role in protecting public health and the environment. We are a scientific centre accredited to ISO 17025 that utilises world‑class technologies and equipment to analyse water and environmental samples.

We are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of improvements to our facilities, systems and ways of working, including the development of our new laboratory at Filton. As a Laboratory Manager, you will play a key role in shaping the future of Analytical Services and ensuring we continue to deliver a safe, compliant and high‑performing service.

We would consider this role for part‑time or flexible working.

WhatYou'llDo

Your responsibilities will include:

• driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance laboratory performance, capability and resilience
• contributing to the delivery of the Analytical Services strategy through organisational development, business improvement and change programmes
• developing workforce capability through recruitment, succession planning, coaching, performance management and employee development
• monitoring operational performance and responding effectively to risks, incidents, constraints and emerging challenges
• leading and supporting Technical Managers and their teams to deliver safe, efficient and high‑performing laboratory operations
• working collaboratively with laboratory managers and business stakeholders to deliver departmental and company objectives
• supporting the development and implementation of business continuity and resilience arrangements across Analytical Services
• ensuring laboratory operations continue to meet quality standards, regulatory requirements and UKAS accreditation requirements
• promoting and maintaining a positive health, safety and wellbeing culture across the laboratory
• contributing to budget planning and ensuring effective utilisation of people, equipment and resources to meet service demands
• keeping abreast of scientific, regulatory and industry developments and ensuring relevant changes are appropriately implemented
• supporting the ongoing development of our new laboratory facilities and ways of working at Filton.

WhatYou'llNeed

We are looking for:

• significant leadership and people management experience, including coaching, performance management and development of teams
• experience leading business change, continuous improvement, technology deployment or improvement initiatives
• strong planning, organisational and decision‑making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• experience of workforce planning, organisational development and building team capability
• experience working within a laboratory, scientific or other regulated operational environment
• an understanding of quality management systems and regulated environments
• knowledge of budget management and financial control principles
• excellent stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills
• strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications and business systems
• a leadership or management qualification, or equivalent experience
• a degree‑level qualification in a science, STEM or related discipline
• Chartered Scientist (CSci) status or equivalent professional recognition would be advantageous.

You should be an inspiring and collaborative leader who is able to balance operational, regulatory, financial and people priorities while maintaining a focus on safety, quality and customer service. You will be comfortable leading through change, developing high‑performing teams and working across the business to deliver strategic objectives.

What you'll receive

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to sell up to five days of holiday every year.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions).
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• The opportunity to lease a new electric car through salary sacrifice (subject to conditions).
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• Access to an interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from trained mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by us.

Who we are

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include:

• Wessex Water – one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West
• YTL Developments – a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 350‑acre former airfield into an award‑winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community
• YTL Construction UK – a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industry, energy and environmental sectors
• YTL Live – the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 20,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space
• plus a number of other retail, environmental and specialist businesses.

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group.

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion – with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer.

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.