Multi-Skilled Technician

Cawood Scientific; Bracknell; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Cawood Scientific Group is seeking a Lab Analyst to support day-to-day operations in the NRM laboratory. You will handle high-volume sample analysis, input accurate data into the LIMs system, and maintain strict safety practices.

The role requires initiative and the ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team. Proactive problem-solving, attention to detail, and adherence to SOPs are essential.

Qualifications

• High attention to detail and accuracy in high-volume sample analysis.
• Ability to follow SOPs and safety procedures.
• Clear communication within a laboratory team and with supervisors.

Responsibilities

• Sort, prepare, and analyse client samples accurately following SOPs.
• Transcribe data into the LIMs system correctly.
• Prepare chemical standards and reagents safely per SOPs and Health & Safety policies.
• Maintain safety, keep equipment and PPE clean, report issues to management.

Skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Independent work

Communication

Tools

LIMS system

Job description

This role is located in NRM, within the Cawood Scientific Agriculture Division. NRM, part of the Cawood Scientific Group, are the UK’s largest independent provider of agronomic and environmental waste analysis for land-based industries. We offer water, soil, manures, fertilisers and plant tissue analysis to farmers, growers and agronomists for improved farm productivity, as well as land-based environmental services including composted waste, anaerobic digestate, effluents and industrial renewables. Learn more about NRM by clicking here.

Job Description: JOB PURPOSE STATEMENT The jobholder will be supporting the day‑to‑day laboratory operations to run smoothly, ensuring the clients expectations are met in a timely manner. Attention to detail is essential due to high volume workload. Must take initiative, work independently and can conduct hands‑on work.

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Sort/ prepare/ analyse client samples accurately as per the relevant SOP, and in a timely manner.
• Transcribe correctly data into the LIM’s system.
• Where required, prepare chemical standards and reagents in line with the relevant SOP and following the Health and Safety procedures.
• Keeping safety at the forefront of laboratory work and being proactive ensuring accidents and near misses are always reported straightaway to managers in line with our company accreditation and policy.
• Maintain Cawood credibility by always portraying a positive image, keeping equipment and PPE clean.
• Respect company equipment and use as per guidelines, undertaking maintenance where required and report any damage to management as soon as possible.
• High attention to detail is required to ensure no errors while working with high‑volume workload.
• Monitor, highlight and where confident problem solve unlocated, absent, insufficient samples.
• Weekly stock control of consumables.
• Fill in the visual management boards with up-to‑date information in relation to delivery and performance.
• Where appropriate, daily checking of KPI to ensure samples are not late.
• Ensure all balances used are cleaned, maintained and record books are kept up to date; highlighting to compliance any anomalies.
• Where competency is held, assist with on‑site training of employees providing proactive support ensuring their onboarding into the company is friendly, engaging, and inspiring.
• Work as a team and maintain morale and actively offer help and assistance wherever possible.
• Using a kaizen mindset, work must be completed efficiently and effectively to minimise waste and time used, therefore maximising the productivity and profitability of the laboratory.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Diligence Comply with all Cawood policies and procedures. Maintain safe, compliant, and effective working standards.
• Efficiency Use EBOS tools to continuously review & optimise your ways of working. Share good practice and be prepared to suggest better ways of working. Be able to work in a fast‑paced environment while keeping quality of work to a high standard.
• Communication Understand and utilise the structural reporting lines provided. Report problems in the lab effectively and promptly.
• Continuous Improvement Embrace change and seek clarity when required.

HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK

All employees have a duty to comply with and support the company HS & E policies and procedures work in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974), COSHH Regulations (1988) and other relevant policies and procedures.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

This job description does not intend to cover all aspects of the jobholder’s duties but is intended to be indicative of the main areas of responsibility. The Company reserves the right to alter elements this job description in line with business needs and in close communication with the jobholder.

Cawood is the UK’s leading scientific group, recognised for its technical capability and value‑added service to customers. We provide laboratory analysis to the agriculture, food and environmental sectors, as well as contract research to GLP standards to support the development of agrochemicals, biocides and other chemicals. Our field services team offers measurement and monitoring for water, construction and ecology across the UK. Cawood is the largest independent provider of analytical laboratory testing and sampling services for the land‑based industries in the UK. With 15 sites around the country specialising in different types of analysis, we are always looking for skilled and talented individuals to join our teams.

Our values of PRIDE underpin our approach: Partnership, Responsiveness, Innovation, Decency and Expertise. You can read about our values and how they make a difference to our people and our customers here. Our people make Cawood what it is. No matter how technically advanced and sophisticated our equipment, it is our people who keep our customers satisfied. Accuracy across a high number of tests and continually looking for ways to innovate and improve are key to our future. This is an exciting time to join Cawood.

The business is growing and there are plenty of opportunities for people who want to work hard, have fun and be part of our success. We spend a lot of our lives at work, so it’s important to us to make Cawood a place our people enjoy working. Cawood is a flexible employer, offering flextime, overtime and time off in lieu to help colleagues manage their work in a way that suits them as well as the business. We believe in working together to find the best outcome for all and we foster a culture of friendliness and family within our teams.

Why do people enjoy working at Cawood? Here’s what our colleagues say: “The people we work with are fun and supportive, even during the more difficult days” “The flexibility that is offered, especially when you have worked in other laboratory environments” “The GOAL, the growth plans and opportunities for development in a range of skills” “The new leadership team and their ambition to invest in people”. This year’s People Plan builds upon this fun, flexible and family feel to make Cawood one of the best places to work.

Russell Vaughan Russell joined Cawood shortly after leaving university in our Mambo‑Tox laboratory and has worked on the majority of our studies, from basic lab experiments to full‑sized field studies. He has been integral to new method development over his many years with the company, and is a key contributor to our reputation for clear, accurate reporting that can go straight into a dossier. After taking time out to complete his PhD in plant molecular biology, he returned to the business in 2005 and now leads our team of study directors at Mambo‑Tox. Russell enjoys working at Cawood because of our excellent team of people and our mission to support agriculture in meeting the needs of society whilst reducing its environmental impact.

Sean Stevenson Sean joined Cawood as a biochemistry graduate to work in the NRM soil analysis laboratory. Over the last 19 years he has worked his way up through sales and business development roles and is now Divisional Managing Director for Cawood Agriculture. Sean is responsible for creating commercial strategies which support and accelerate our growth. Having worked at all the different levels in the company, Sean is a firm believer in making the business a place where people can thrive. At the heart of Cawood is NRM, the UK’s leading agricultural laboratory, founded in 1990. The Cawood group was formed in 2006 with the acquisition of the animal feed testing business, Sciantec. Since then, we have grown rapidly through our strong relationships with customers, our ongoing investment in people and equipment, and the acquisition of businesses that complement or expand our services. This development has allowed us to increase our range of services and extend our reach into global markets. In 2021, Cawood was acquired by US corporation Ensign‑Bickford Industries (EBI), becoming a member of its Agriculture and Environmental Diagnostics Group. Watch the video below to learn more about EBI.