Laboratory Operations Manager

Intertek Group; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Global development opportunities

Senior operational leadership role

Job summary

Intertek Group is seeking a Laboratory Operations and Projects Manager in Stoke-on-Trent to lead and develop our food chemistry, water chemistry and water microbiology labs. You will manage a multidisciplinary team of 30–35 colleagues and drive performance, safety, and quality across the site.

You will partner with Quality, Customer Services, Logistics and Commercial teams to deliver strategic projects, optimise processes, and invest in people, equipment and infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Proven laboratory, operations or project management experience within a scientific environment
• Experience leading sizeable multidisciplinary teams
• Strong understanding of operational performance, KPIs and resource planning
• Familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025 and UKAS requirements
• Experience delivering operational, business improvement or capital projects
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and stay organised
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management
• Commercial awareness balancing efficiency, quality and customer expectations
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving mindset with continuous improvement
• Good health & safety, risk management and regulatory compliance knowledge

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day operations of food chemistry, water chemistry and water microbiology labs
• Coach and develop ~30–35 colleagues via five direct reports
• Plan staffing, resources, budgets and performance
• Monitor KPIs, turnaround targets and monthly reporting
• Drive operational, continuous improvement, capital and cross‑business projects
• Enhance processes through technology, automation and supplier management
• Ensure ISO/IEC 17025, UKAS, quality and safety compliance
• Oversee facilities, maintenance, contractors and statutory checks
• Manage operational, quality and business risks
• Build relationships with customers, suppliers and stakeholders
• Support investigations and corrective actions; promote high performance

Skills

Lab operations

Project management

Team leadership

KPI & staffing planning

Quality management ISO 17025

Capital projects

Prioritisation

Leadership & communication

Commercial awareness

Analytical thinking

Health & safety & risk

Tools

LIMS

Project management tools

Laboratory automation

Job description

Laboratory Operations and Projects Manager

Stoke-on-Trent

ABOUT YOU

The position requires an experienced laboratory or operational leader who can motivate a multidisciplinary team, manage competing priorities and deliver safe, efficient and high-quality services. You will be comfortable leading approximately 30-35 colleagues through a team of five direct reports and working collaboratively across technical, quality, customer service and commercial functions.

You will have a strong scientific or technical background, ideally in analytical chemistry and a fast-paced food or contract-testing environment, together with proven project management, continuous improvement and stakeholder leadership experience.

Required skills and experience:

• Proven laboratory, operations or project management experience within a scientific environment
• Experience leading, developing and motivating sizeable multidisciplinary teams
• Strong understanding of operational performance, productivity, KPIs and resource planning
• Knowledge of quality management systems, including ISO/IEC 17025 and UKAS requirements
• Experience delivering operational, business improvement or capital projects
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Commercial awareness with experience balancing efficiency, quality and customer expectations
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a continuous improvement mindset
• Good understanding of health & safety, risk management and compliance in a regulated environment

Desirable:

• Analytical chemistry experience within food testing or another high-volume laboratory
• Knowledge of food chemistry, water chemistry and/or water microbiology operations
• Experience managing laboratory facilities, contractors, maintenance and statutory compliance
• Experience using LIMS, project management tools and laboratory automation technologies

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

As Laboratory Operations and Projects Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the day-to-day operational performance of our Stoke site laboratories. You will ensure resources are effectively planned, KPIs and customer turnaround targets are achieved, and regulatory, quality and health & safety standards are consistently maintained.

Working closely with the Business Line Leader and colleagues across Quality, Customer Services, Logistics and Commercial teams, you will deliver strategic and group-wide projects, optimise processes and purchasing, and support continued investment in people, equipment and infrastructure.

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established and stable team at an important stage of development, with the scope to influence short-, medium- and long-term operational strategy and make a visible impact across the wider business.

Key activities:

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the food chemistry, water chemistry and water microbiology laboratories
• Lead, coach and develop approximately 30-35 colleagues through five direct reports
• Plan and optimise staffing, resources, budgets and operational performance
• Monitor KPIs, customer turnaround targets and monthly operational reporting
• Lead operational, continuous improvement, capital and cross-business projects
• Drive efficiency through improved processes, technology, automation and supplier management
• Ensure compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, UKAS, quality and health & safety requirements
• Oversee facilities, infrastructure, maintenance programmes, contractors and statutory compliance
• Identify and manage operational, quality and business risks
• Build effective relationships with customers, suppliers, contractors and internal stakeholders
• Support business continuity, investigations and corrective action activities
• Promote a positive, accountable and high-performing culture

WHAT WE OFFER

Join Intertek and become part of our global network of inspiring and entrepreneurial colleagues.We are a global family that values diversity and we thrive working together with precision, pace, and passion.We are working to make the world Ever Better, ensuring the quality, safety and sustainability of products and services used by millions of people around the world.

• Competitive salary/benefits
• Development and career opportunities around the Globe
• A senior operational leadership role within an established team and growing laboratory business

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate against applicants, and all qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We are committed to fair and equitable pay and are proud tobe aReal Living Wageemployer, ensuring our colleagues are compensated in line with independently assessed living standards. We are also committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment to support candidates and employees with disabilitiesor special needs.

Intertek operates a preferred supplier arrangement, and we do not accept unsolicited approaches from agencies.