Laboratory Quality Manager

Ellison Institute of Technology; Oxford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading scientific research institution in Oxford seeks a Laboratory Quality Manager to lead the development and implementation of a robust Quality Management System (QMS). This role ensures regulatory compliance and quality assurance across laboratory operations. Candidates must have a degree in a scientific discipline and significant experience in GLP-compliant environments. Benefits include a competitive salary of £50,000 - £60,000, enhanced holiday pay, and private medical insurance.

Benefits

Salary £50,000 - £60,000

Enhanced holiday pay

Pension

Life Assurance

Private Medical Insurance

Qualifications

• Degree in biology, chemistry, biomedical science, or biotechnology.
• Experience in a GLP-compliant laboratory environment.
• Experience with ISO 17025 or ISO 15189 quality management systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a robust Quality Management System for laboratory operations.
• Ensure compliance with Good Laboratory Practice and document control.
• Oversee preparations for ISO accreditation and conduct internal audits.

Skills

Leadership

Quality Management Systems (QMS)

Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)

Analytical Skills

Document Control

Education

Degree in a scientific discipline

Tools

ISO 17025

ISO 15189

Job description

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, policy makers, and entrepreneurs to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you’ll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas for lab to society. Explore more at www.eit.org.

Your Role

At EIT we are seeking an experienced and detailed orientated Laboratory Quality Manager to lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of our Laboratory Quality Management System (QMS). The post-holder will provide quality direction across laboratory teams, enabling assurance that testing, research, and analytical activities consistently meet regulatory expectations, accreditation requirements and scientific best practice.

Your Responsibilities

• Quality Management System (QMS) Leadership
  Develop, implement, and maintain a robust QMS tailored to laboratory operations. Ensure all processes are documented, controlled, and audit-ready. Lead the creation and review of quality policies, SOPs, and manuals to guarantee compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.
• GLP Compliance Oversight
  Act as the organisation’s subject matter expert for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Monitor study plans, raw data, reports, and sample handling to ensure adherence to GLP principles and data integrity (ALCOA+). Provide guidance to laboratory teams and maintain awareness of regulatory updates from MHRA and other authorities.
• ISO Accreditation Support
  Drive preparations for ISO 17025 or ISO 15189 accreditation and re-accreditation cycles. Oversee technical quality activities such as method validation, proficiency testing, calibration, and uncertainty of measurement. Serve as the primary contact during external audits.
• Internal Audits & Risk Management
  Design and execute an internal audit programme aligned with GLP and ISO standards. Conduct audits, produce detailed reports, and verify corrective actions. Support risk assessments for change control, equipment, and method implementation, using audit trends to inform continuous improvement initiatives.
• Incident, Deviation & CAPA Management
  Lead investigations into deviations, non-conformances, and complaints using structured root cause analysis tools (e.g., fishbone diagrams, 5 Whys). Develop and track Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPAs) to ensure sustainable improvements and verify their effectiveness.
• Document Control & Records Management
  Oversee document control systems for SOPs, technical methods, equipment files, and training records. Ensure all data and records are accurate, secure, and traceable, supporting digital QMS implementation for efficiency and compliance.
• Equipment & Method Quality Support
  Ensure equipment qualification, calibration schedules, and maintenance programmes meet regulatory requirements. Support method development and validation by embedding quality considerations into protocols and reviewing technical documentation for compliance.
• Training & Quality Culture Development
  Deliver training on GLP, ISO principles, data integrity, and audit readiness. Conduct competency assessments and promote a proactive quality culture where staff feel empowered to raise issues and contribute to process improvements.
• Quality Governance & Reporting
  Coordinate Laboratory Quality Meetings and Management Review Boards. Prepare and present quality reports, KPIs, and trend analyses to leadership. Provide strategic advice during planning for new methods, facilities, or technologies.

Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in a scientific discipline (e.g. biology, chemistry, biomedical science, biotechnology).
• Substantial experience working within a GLP-compliant laboratory environment.
• Demonstrable experience with ISO 17025 (preferred) or ISO 15189 QMS requirements, including audit preparation and technical quality processes.
• Practical experience in internal auditing, deviation management and CAPA systems.
• Strong understanding of laboratory data integrity, document control and records management.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate with laboratory staff, study teams and senior management.
• Excellent analytical, organisational and communication skills.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience interacting with UKAS or regulatory bodies (MHRA, OECD GLP monitoring authority).
• Formal QMS training (ISO 17025/15189 auditor training, GLP advanced courses, ISO lead auditor).
• Experience in a multidisciplinary research or technology environment (e.g. translational research, diagnostics, engineering/biotech labs).
• Experience managing or mentoring junior quality staff.

Our Benefits

• Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

Working Together – What It Involves

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford and can commit to being fully office based. Please note we cannot offer hybrid working for this role.