Laboratory Technician

Zest Recruitment; Essex; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Zest Recruitment is seeking a Laboratory Technician to join the quality team in Essex. The role focuses on keeping products safe, well-organised and running to the high standards required by the business.

You will be involved in sample preparation, routine analysis, experimental support and sensory facilitation, with varied days including shelf-life work and benchmarking sessions. A strong eye for detail and good communication are essential.

Qualifications

• GCSEs or A-levels in science subjects; a degree isn't essential, but prior lab experience is
• Confident with basic analytical equipment and quick to learn new techniques
• Genuinely precise — you understand a small error in sample prep can ripple through a whole project
• Organised and able to stay that way under pressure, juggling multiple projects at once
• A clear communicator, comfortable liaising with technical staff and external labs
• Curious — you want to understand why things work, not just how to do them
• A reliable team player

Responsibilities

• Keep the lab clean, safe, organised and fully stocked; maintain and calibrate equipment
• Run safety checks and keep accurate compliance records
• Prepare and process samples to precise formulations, including large-scale runs to deadline
• Run routine analysis in line with QC methodologies
• Execute experimental designs from technical briefs, coordinating external agencies where needed
• Support data collection, analysis, and shelf-life testing; report to the QC Manager
• Organise tasting sessions and competitor benchmarking
• Conduct shelf-life tasting reviews to consistent protocols
• Manage the ingredients library and order materials proactively, keeping stock in-date and to spec
• Support with any other ad hoc duties as required by the business

Skills

Lab experience

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Curiosity

Team player

Education

GCSEs/A-levels in science

Tools

Analytical instruments

Job description

A fast-moving, award-winning business that creates products for ambitious founder-led and major global brands. They're looking for a Laboratory Technician to join their quality team keeping products safe, organised, and running at the standard their work demands.

The Role:

This is the role that makes everything else possible. Without a well-run, well-stocked, properly maintained lab, the technical team can't do their best work - and that's exactly what you'll own. You'll work across sample preparation, routine analysis, experimental support, and sensory facilitation, with no two days quite the same. One day might involve shelf-life analysis; the next, preparing competitor benchmarking samples for a tasting session or calibrating equipment ahead of a trial.

What You'll Do:

• Keep the lab clean, safe, organised and fully stocked; maintain and calibrate equipment
• Run safety checks and keep accurate compliance records
• Prepare and process samples to precise formulations, including large-scale runs to deadline
• Run routine analysis in line with QC methodologies
• Execute experimental designs from technical briefs, coordinating external agencies where needed
• Support data collection, analysis, and shelf-life testing; report to the QC Manager
• Organise tasting sessions and competitor benchmarking
• Conduct shelf-life tasting reviews to consistent protocols
• Manage the ingredients library and order materials proactively, keeping stock in-date and to spec
• Support with any other ad hoc duties as required by the business

Who You Are:

• GCSEs or A-levels in science subjects; a degree isn't essential, but prior lab experience is
• Confident with basic analytical equipment and quick to learn new techniques
• Genuinely precise - you understand a small error in sample prep can ripple through a whole project
• Organised and able to stay that way under pressure, juggling multiple projects at once
• A clear communicator, comfortable liaising with technical staff and external labs
• Curious - you want to understand why things work, not just how to do them
• A reliable team player

Why Apply?

You'll work alongside technical specialists and a quality manager who are among the best in the industry, close enough to the work to actually learn from it - this isn't a role where you're hidden away running tests in isolation. It's a small team, so your contribution is visible and valued.

As you know over here at Zest we like to do things properly and always want to keep you, the candidate in the loop. Applying to this 'one of a kind' role you give Zest permission to hold your information. If you want to know more about how Zest look after your personal information please visit our privacy policy on the website http://www.zestfoodjobs.co.uk/privacy-policy/