Laboratory Team Leader - Aylesbury Dairy

Arla Foods; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Arla Foods is seeking a Laboratory/Technical Team Leader for our Aylesbury Dairy, a flagship site producing over 1.3 million bottles daily. You will lead a 7-person team, drive quality improvements, and manage audits with retailers and food service partners.

You will champion quality, health and safety standards and report to the Senior QEHS Manager, shaping continuous improvement across the site.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years’ experience in a similar role.
• Strong HACCP and quality management knowledge.
• Experience in dairy industry and with UK retailers preferred but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality, food safety, and legal compliance across the site.
• Develop and coach the laboratory team to drive improvements.
• Use data and digital tools to monitor performance and generate reports.
• Lead and support audits and quality-related projects.
• Deliver training on quality to site colleagues and drive site business plans.

Skills

Team leadership

Auditing

Quality improvement

Education

HACCP Level 3 certification

Internal auditor training

HACCP Level 4 certification/lead auditor training

Job description

Mon- Fri Days

We are currently recruiting for a Laboratory/Technical Team Leader at our Aylesbury Dairy, our flagship site in the UK producing over 1.3 million bottles of milk a day. Reporting directly to the Senior QEHS Manager, you will be leading internal and external audits, liaising closely with external retailer and food service customers and coaching others to drive quality improvements across the site. You will also have direct management responsibility for a team of 7 colleagues.

How will you make an impact?

• Ensures quality, food safety, and legal compliance by implementing Arla standards, customer requirements, and industry regulations across the site. You will champion quality, health and safety standards.
• Develops and inspires the laboratory team of 5 laboratory professionals and work collaboratively with other departments to implement improvements on site. You will provide technical expertise and quality support, acting as a trusted advisor to help solve problems, manage risks, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Uses data and digital tools to monitor performance, maintain management systems and databases, generate reports, and support informed decision-making. Key attendee on site performance meetings and data providing
• Leads and supports audits, coaching activities, and quality-related projects to enhance compliance, efficiency, capability, and customer satisfaction.
• Maintains in full the quality management system working with group protocols and other Arla sites to ensure the highest standard is maintained at all times. Delivers training on quality to all site colleagues as part of our business planning sessions. You will drive business plan projects relating to quality and food safety reporting to all key stakeholders.

What will you need to succeed?

You will need a minimum of three to five years’ experience in a similar role, together with HACCP Level 3 certification and internal auditor training. Knowledge of the CLAS accreditation scheme would be advantageous but is not essential. HACCP Level 4 certification and/or lead auditor training would also be desirable. Experience in the dairy industry and working with UK retailers is preferred but not essential.

Please note the role will also require some weekend cover up to 2 weekends a year plus occasional out of hours auditing.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.