Laboratory Technician

HEINEKEN UK; Hereford; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Pension scheme

32 days holiday plus public holidays

Life assurance

Free beverages

Job summary

HEINEKEN UK seeks a detail-oriented Laboratory Technician to join the Quality team in Hereford. You’ll work across Analytical, Microbiology, Effluent, and Sensory areas, performing tests and supporting production with data reporting and equipment upkeep.

The role requires a science degree and laboratory experience; GC and HPLC experience is highly desirable, with strong attention to detail and the ability to work both independently and within a team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biology or similar science qualifications.
• Prior experience working in laboratories with a consolidated understanding of laboratory procedures & safety protocols.
• Experience of using GC (Gas Chromatography) and HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) techniques is highly desirable.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Conducting routine and non-routine laboratory tests to support manufacturing operations
• Record, analyse, and report data with precision and accuracy
• Maintain laboratory equipment and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
• Support production teams with sample preparation, testing, and troubleshooting
• Perform in-plant sampling and support operational teams with training and improvement projects
• Assist in documentation and continuous improvement initiatives

Skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Independent work

Laboratory experience

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biology or similar

Tools

GC (Gas Chromatography)

HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography)

Job description

Function: Supply Chain – Quality

Location: Hereford

Salary: £32,099 per annum plus benefits listed below!

Contract: Permanent

Shift pattern: Monday – Friday, days based with 1 weekend every 6 weeks.

Closing Date: 6th October 2026

Please note: We may close vacancies early where we receive a high number of applications, so don’t delay!

Who we are

As the UK’s leading beer, cider and pub business, we’re home to some of the world’s best-loved beers and ciders, and a leading player in the international drinks industry.

We're proud to be a certified Great Place to Work®, as well as being recognised as one of the UK's Best Workplaces in Manufacturing, Production & Transportation™.

We're the name behind a host of brilliant brands, from Inch’s to Birra Moretti and many more. And with around 2,400 pubs to our name in the UK, our Star Pubs business is all about putting pubs at the centre of community life.

But we’re more than just great beers and ciders – we’re a place where passion meets purpose, careers are crafted as carefully as our brews, and enjoyment of life is part of the job.

About the role

We’re seeking detail-oriented and proactive Laboratory Technician to join our dynamic team. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge manufacturing processes in a fast-paced laboratory environment.

You’ll be working across our four key laboratory areas: Analytical, Microbiology, Effluent, and Sensory, supporting a wide range of testing and quality assurance activities. This role is not solely laboratory-based - you’ll also be active within the plant, carrying out sampling, equipment verifications, supporting training initiatives, and contributing to continuous improvement activities.

You’ll be tasked with:

• Conducting routine and non-routine laboratory tests to support manufacturing operations
• Record, analyse, and report data with precision and accuracy
• Maintain laboratory equipment and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
• Support production teams with sample preparation, testing, and troubleshooting
• Perform in-plant sampling and support operational teams with training and improvement projects
• Assist in documentation and continuous improvement initiatives

About the team

Helping millions of consumers enjoy our beers and ciders is a real team effort. As a Supply Chain colleague, you’ll be part of the biggest function in HEINEKEN UK! From barley to bar, our Supply Chain produces high-quality beers and ciders, prioritising safety, sustainability and innovation to keep our operations running smoothly.

You’ll be based in the Quality team, whose job is to ensure every single drop of our ciders and beers is packed with the consistent, tongue-tantalising taste that we all know and enjoy. The team is also at the centre of ensuring compliance throughout our cider & beer-making process as well as championing our safety principles.

Who we’re looking for

We’re seeking enthusiastic and robust individuals who can constantly prioritise and re-prioritise tasks, keeping colleagues updated on their actions in a way which instils confidence and trust.

As well as the above, the ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Chemistry, Biology or similar science qualifications.
• Prior experience working in Laboratories with a consolidated understanding of laboratory procedures & safety protocols.
• Experience of using GC (Gas Chromatography) and HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) techniques is highly desirable.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

You might not meet every single requirement for the roles listed above, and that’s okay – we all need the opportunity to develop and untap our full potential. If this advert’s piqued your interest, we’d encourage you to apply rather than ruling yourself out. We’re committed to finding great talent who can grow with us—no matter who you are or where you’re from.

Why join us?

We're all about brewing the Joy of True Togetherness, and that starts with our people. We believe in bringing everyone together, making sure you feel supported, valued, and included from day one – because every one of our colleagues has a role to play in shaping the future of beer, cider, pubs and beyond. It’s a brilliant time to join us. We’re pioneering in low and no alcohol products, continuing to wow the world with creative marketing campaigns, investing into pubs and brewing a better world for people and the planet.

We're a place where you can build a meaningful career, with plenty of opportunities for continuous learning and development. For those just starting out or looking for a change, our apprenticeships let you earn valuable qualifications while you work. And for our managers and leaders, our LEAD talent programme provides the tools and guidance to inspire drive long-term success.

This is your chance to step up, raise the bar and brew a great career.

Check out the hashtag #LifeAtHEINEKENUK on LinkedIn to hear directly from our people.

Our benefits

Here’s a flavour of what we offer:

• Annual bonus
• Double-matched pension (up to 10%)
• 32 days’ holiday, plus three listed public holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day)
• Life assurance (subject to policy terms)
• Free ciders and beers (including low and zero alcohol options)
• Retail discounts
• Wellbeing support, including Mental health champions, free Counselling, access to Colleague Networks.
• Comprehensive opportunities to develop
• Option to join our Colleague Networks to connect, share and build inclusion

…and much more!

Please note: Rewards and benefits can vary from role to role. Some benefits are taxable and may be based on employee contributions. We’re happy to discuss further throughout the application process.