Laboratory Supervisor

ASR Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Tate & Lyle Sugars is seeking an experienced Laboratory Team Leader at the Thames refinery to drive efficient, compliant lab operations. You will lead a team of quality analysts, coordinate routine chemical analyses, and ensure timely reporting of results to support refinery performance and customer needs.

You will champion safety, maintain equipment and records, and work with multiple functions to uphold high quality standards and COSHH compliance across the site.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a laboratory team in a food or sugar industry.
• Proven ability to drive quality and safety in lab operations.
• Strong communication with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the laboratory team to maximise efficiency and minimise costs.
• Ensure routine chemical analysis and coordinated lab work with operators.
• Maintain records and ensure staff training and proficiency.
• Prioritise workload and establish testing regimes for performance/spec compliance.
• Audit subcontracted analysis for accuracy and value.
• Provide timely analytical data to customers, finance, and operations.
• Keep SAP updates, calibrations, and stock levels current.
• Maintain clean, safe lab conditions meeting BRC and customer standards.
• Promote COSHH and safe methods of work; support site safety culture.
• Support customer inquiries related to CofA issues and audits.
• Participate in site internal audits and manage lab spending.

Skills

People management

Quality improvement

Analytical skills

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline (Food Science or related subject)

Job description

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The ASR Group® family of companies make up the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar. The companies produce a full line of grocery, industrial, foodservice and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group® companies operate five sugar refineries, located in California, Maryland, Louisiana, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, ASR Group® companies operate sugar refineries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and, with a joint venture partner, Italy. The companies also farm sugarcane and own sugar mills in Mexico and Belize. The ASR Group® portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Florida Crystals®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle's®, Sidul® and Whitworths®. ASR Group® companies also produce and market Tellus®, a single-use, compostable tableware and foodservice product made from plant fibers, including sugarcane.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

ASR Group is the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar, with an annual production capacity of more than 6 million tons of sugar. The company produces a full line of grocery, industrial, food service and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group owns and operates six sugar refineries, located in Louisiana, New York, California, Maryland, Canada and Mexico. In the European Union, the company owns and operates sugar refineries in England, Portugal and Italy. ASR Group also owns and operates mills in Mexico and Belize. The company’s brand portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle’s® and Sidul®.

OVERVIEW

The purpose of the Laboratory Team Leader is to ensure the provision of accurate best practice analytical and performance data for customers, finance, refinery operations and raw sugar supply for T&L Sugars using experience gained within laboratory functions of the food and/or sugar industry. Key aspects of this role are supporting the Quality, Process and Packing managers, building relationships with the factory teams and providing timely results to meet the site requirements. The Laboratory Team Leader will be expected to work closely with personnel from a wide range of functions within ASR corporate & T&L Sugars.

DETAILED ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• To lead the laboratory team, maximising operational efficiency and minimising costs, ensuring safe working practices at all times.
• To ensure the completion of routine chemical analysis and work as a team with operators and laboratory to provide a mobile, flexible and committed workforce.
• To ensure the laboratory team are trained and proficient in procedures and maintaining adequate records to demonstrate this.
• To prioritise the workload of the laboratory, establishing testing regimes to validate refinery and packing performance and specification compliance.
• To manage and audit subcontracting of routine microbiological and chemical analysis ensuring results re accurate, timely and good value for money.
• To ensure that the analytical data required by customers, finance, raw sugar supply, corporate quality and all operational teams is provided within agreed timescales accurately.
• Maintain accurate recording of results and ensure SAP is updated in a timely manner.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and ensure calibrations are completed within require timescales.
• Maintain adequate stocks of consumables and laboratory chemicals and ensure they are maintained and stored in a safe manner.
• Ensure the laboratory is clean, tidy and maintained in such a manner as to meet the requirements of the site, BRC and customers.
• Ensure COSHH and safe methods or working are in place for all laboratory operations and are reviewed at required frequencies.
• To proactively champion safety and Ci within the department and site
• To provide support for customers enquiries relating to the Thames site including CofA issues.
• To participate in the site internal audit programs.
• To manage the laboratory spending on consumables and chemicals

WORK EXPERIENCES

• Experience in a laboratory environment in a similar management role
• Exposure to sugar and/or food industry best practice

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline (Food Science or related subject)

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• Shift and Day based Quality Analysts (Approx 8)
• Ability to successfully manage a laboratory and team members
• Ability to communicate best proactive knowledge to a wide audience
• Proven commitment to achieving the highest possible quality standards
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence people who may have conflicting priorities
• Proactive and motivated by change
• Knowledge of laboratory best practice
• Knowledge of relevant quality systems
• Experience in auditing

LOCATION OF ROLE

• Thames refinery

At Tate & Lyle Sugars, our goal is to be the most admired sweetener Company.

Service Excellence -Be the industry's Gold Standard by a relentless focus on reliability, providing products with superior quality and excellent customer services.Efficiency and Sustainability -Eliminate inefficiency to be a sustainable, low cost producer and to generate fuel for reinvestment.Value-Add -create strategic advantage and enhanced profitability through value-added products and services. The foundation of our values isTalent and Cultureas we aim to build, retain and motivate a winning team.