Laboratory Technician

REFRESCO; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Annual pay review

Early finish on a Friday

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Purchase up to an additional 3 days'‑H

Life assurance

Employee referral scheme

GroceryAid

Cheers benefits platform

Free onsite parking

Job summary

Refresco in Milton Keynes is seeking a Laboratory Technician to provide analytical and microbiological support for operations. You will conduct testing on raw materials, in-process products and finished goods, report out-of-specification results, and help maintain quality and safety standards across the lab.

The role involves calibration of equipment, adherence to laboratory procedures, and collaboration with technical and production teams to meet customer requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience in a microbiology, quality, or laboratory-based role.
• Good understanding of microbiological and chemical testing procedures and quality standards.
• Able to follow laboratory methods and procedures accurately.

Responsibilities

• Conduct sampling and testing of raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods for chemical and microbiological analysis.
• Monitor and report out-of-specification results to Technical and Production Managers.
• Maintain laboratory standards by calibrating and maintaining equipment and managing dates on materials and chemicals.
• Support quality systems and compliance with accreditation requirements through accurate adherence to procedures.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety, Food Hygiene and Health & Safety regulations; maintain a clean, safe working environment.
• Provide technical support across departments and carry out product sensory evaluations as needed.

Skills

Microbiology testing

Quality control

Laboratory procedures

Attention to detail

Job description

Career Opportunities: Laboratory Technician (17618)

Requisition ID17618-Posted04/09/2026-United Kingdom-Milton Keynes

To provide business with analytical and microbiological service to support the operations function in achieving right first time quality.

• Annual bonus
• Annual pay review
• Early finish on a Friday
• 28 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Purchase up to an additional 3 days holidays
• Life assurance
• Employee referral scheme - earn a bonus for referring your friends or family
• GroceryAid – a support service offering financial, legal, wellbeing and practical support, advice and counselling
• Cheers – access to our award winning benefits platform offering discounts, free perks, and well-being tools for all employees
• Free onsite parking, and discounted products

Here are your key tasks and responsibilities as a Lab Technician at Refresco:

• Conduct sampling and testing of raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods for chemical and microbiological analysis in line with specified methods.
• Monitor and report out-of-specification results to Technical and Production Managers, supporting corrective action implementation.
• Maintain laboratory standards by ensuring equipment is calibrated, maintained, and all materials and chemicals are within acceptable date criteria.
• Support quality management systems, project work, and compliance with external accreditation requirements through accurate adherence to laboratory procedures.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety, Food Hygiene, and Health & Safety regulations while maintaining a clean, safe, and organised working environment.
• Provide technical support across departments and carry out product sensory evaluations to meet quality and customer requirements.

About You

We are looking for someone with experience working in a microbiology, quality, or laboratory-based role, ideally within the food or drinks manufacturing industry. You will have a good understanding of microbiological and chemical testing procedures, quality standards, and food safety requirements. A strong attention to detail is essential, along with the ability to accurately follow laboratory methods and procedures. You should be confident communicating findings, particularly when escalating quality concerns or out-of-specification results, and be comfortable working collaboratively with production and technical teams. Experience working within accredited quality systems and maintaining laboratory equipment would also be advantageous.

Ultimately, we encourage everyone to role model our core values of agility, responsibility, passion, excellence, and entrepreneurship as we believe these are what has made Refresco successful so far.

About Refresco

Refresco is the global independent beverage solutions provider for Global, National and Emerging brands, and retailers with production in Europe, North America, and Australia.

Refresco offers an extensive range of product and packaging combinations from juices to carbonated soft drinks and mineral waters in carton, PET, Aseptic PET, cans, and glass.

Refresco continuously searches for new and alternative ways to improve the quality of its products and packaging combinations in line with consumer and customer demand, environmental responsibilities, and market demand

Refresco is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and has more than 13,500 employees. www.refresco.com .

Our drinks on every table. That's the Refresco vision. We’re a global business and currently produce 12 billion litres of soft drinks from 64 manufacturing plants in 12 countries and we’re only just getting started.

We’re the proud owners of six drinks manufacturing sites within the UK. Our UK business provides a great place to work for over 1,800 employees, who produce private label soft drinks and fruit juices for all the leading retailers.

Whether it’s packed in cartons, bottles or cans, we ensure that our products are made to the highest quality standards. Our products get where they need to be when they need to get there to meet the needs of our high-profile customers.

Refresco believes that equal opportunity for allis fundamental to our company's values and all our applicants can expect fairness and transparency in our recruitment process.