Laboratory Operations Manager

Brightsmith; Slough; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightsmith in London is seeking a Lab Manager to own and optimise the laboratory environment for energy storage R&D. You will manage safety, COSHH, risk assessments, and SOPs, ensuring chemicals are handled, stored and disposed of correctly while supporting hands-on experiments and test setups.

You will build robust processes for inventory, purchasing and equipment, keep instruments calibrated and maintained, and collaborate with engineers and scientists to accelerate development as the company

Qualifications

• Requires hands-on lab experience in a laboratory, R&D, engineering, chemical, energy or industrial testing environment.
• Strong understanding of laboratory safety, COSHH, risk assessments and SOPs.
• Experience with chemicals, electrochemistry, batteries, fuel cells or related test rigs is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of day-to-day running of the laboratory and test areas.
• Manage lab H&S, COSHH, risk assessments, SOPs and safe systems of work.
• Ensure chemicals and hazardous materials are handled, stored and disposed of correctly.
• Build better systems around inventory, stock, purchasing and equipment.
• Keep equipment maintained, calibrated, serviced and ready to use.
• Support test rigs, experimental set-ups and test builds.
• Prepare materials, samples, components and electrolytes for testing.
• Support engineers and scientists with experiments and longer-duration tests.
• Collaborate with suppliers, contractors and external service teams.
• Help build processes and systems the lab will need as the company scales.

Skills

Lab operations

Safety

COSHH

Risk assessments

SOPs

Inventory management

Equipment calibration

Test rigs

Experiment support

Hands-on R&D

Job description

Lab Manager | Energy Storage Technology | London

Are you the person in the lab who somehow knows where everything is, what needs fixing, what needs ordering and how to make sure everyone is working safely? ??

I'm working with a fast-growing energy technology company developing a next-generation flow battery platform, and we're looking for a Lab Manager to take ownership of the environment where a lot of that development happens.

This is definitely not just stock cupboards, paperwork and ordering supplies.

You'll be right in the middle of the R&D and engineering team - creating a safe, organised and effective laboratory environment, while also getting hands-on with experiments, test set-ups and builds when needed.

Think lab operations + safety + organisation + hands-on R&D support.

What will you actually be doing?

• Taking ownership of the day-to-day running of the laboratory and test areas
• Managing lab H&S, COSHH, risk assessments, SOPs and safe systems of work
• Making sure chemicals and hazardous materials are handled, stored and disposed of correctly
• Building better systems around inventory, stock, purchasing and equipment
• Keeping equipment maintained, calibrated, serviced and ready to use
• Supporting test rigs, experimental set-ups and test builds
• Preparing materials, samples, components and electrolytes for testing
• Supporting engineers and scientists with experiments and longer-duration tests
• Working with suppliers, contractors, calibration providers and external service teams
• Helping build the processes and systems the laboratory will need as the company scales

Who are we looking for?

Someone with around expereince within a laboratory, R&D, engineering, chemical, energy or industrial testing environment who is comfortable taking genuine ownership of how a lab operates.

You'll need a good understanding of laboratory safety, COSHH, risk assessments and SOPs, alongside the practical side of running a busy technical environment.

Experience around chemicals, electrochemistry, batteries, fuel cells, electrolysers, pressure systems, pumps, pipework or experimental test rigs would be particularly interesting.

But importantly, we want someone who is happy to get stuck in.

If a test needs setting up, you'll help.

If equipment isn't working, you'll investigate.

If a process doesn't exist, you'll build it.

If something isn't safe, you'll speak up and fix it.

You'll be joining an early-stage technology business where you can have a huge amount of ownership over how the laboratory operates as the company grows.

• London
• Energy Storage / Flow Batteries
• Laboratory | R&D | Operations | H&S