Quality and Laboratory Supervisor

Sherwin-Williams; Wales; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global coatings company is seeking a Quality & Laboratory Supervisor to ensure regulatory compliance and efficient lab operations. The role requires a strong background in chemistry and quality engineering principles, along with proven leadership experience in a laboratory setting. Major responsibilities include developing quality management systems and supervising laboratory staff. This position offers a competitive compensation package and opportunities for career growth.

Benefits

Work-life balance

Competitive compensation programme

Bonus plan

Private medical insurance

Career growth opportunities

Access to training resources

Wellbeing and inclusion support

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years in chemical manufacturing or process environment.
• At least 3 years in a supervisory role with quality responsibilities.
• Thorough understanding of analytical chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the Quality Management System.
• Lead investigations for non-conforming materials and complaints.
• Supervise and train laboratory staff, managing workloads and performance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Organisational skills

Education

Bachelor’s in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Quality Management, or related field

Tools

QMS implementation (ISO 9001)

Statistical methods (SPC, DoE)

Analytical techniques (FTIR, GC, Titration, Spectroscopy)

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Quality & Laboratory Supervisor to oversee both our quality management systems and the day-to-day operations of our chemical testing laboratory. This hybrid role is critical to ensuring product quality, regulatory compliance, and the efficient, accurate operation of the lab. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in chemistry, quality engineering principles (such as Six Sigma or Lean), and proven leadership ability in a laboratory setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Quality Management, or a related scientific field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a chemical manufacturing or process environment, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role that included significant quality and laboratory responsibilities.
• Thorough understanding of analytical chemistry and common lab instrumentation.
• Proficiency with QMS implementation (e.g., ISO 9001).
• Demonstrated experience with statistical methods for quality improvement (e.g., SPC, Design of Experiments (DoE)).
• Strong knowledge of HSE and regulatory compliance within a chemical lab setting.
• Soft Skills: good leadership, communication, problem-solving, and organisational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Six Sigma Green Belt certification.

What we can offer you

• Work-life balance that supports your wellbeing
• Competitive compensation programme
• Bonus plan to reward your impact
• Private medical insurance
• Career growth opportunities in a truly international environment
• Be part of innovation leaders in the protective coatings industry
• Access to Sherwin Academy for continuous training at all levels
• Wellbeing, mental health, women & inclusion networks and support, and ID& E programmes that make a difference

Responsibilities

Quality Engineering (Approx. 60%)

• Develop, implement, and maintain the company’s Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with relevant industry standards (e.g., ISO 9001) and regulatory requirements.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) investigations for non-conforming materials, production issues, and customer complaints.
• Design and implement statistical process control (SPC) methods to monitor and improve product quality and manufacturing yields.
• Conduct internal quality audits of processes, and products.
• Manage the document control system for quality records, specifications, and procedures.
• Collaborate with production and R&D teams to establish and approve material specifications and finished product quality standards.

Laboratory Supervision (Approx. 40%)

• Supervise, train, and mentor laboratory staff, managing workloads, scheduling, and performance reviews.
• Oversee the routine testing of raw materials, in-process samples, and finished chemical products using a variety of analytical techniques (e.g., FTIR, GC, Titration, Spectroscopy).
• Manage the laboratory instrument calibration and maintenance program to ensure the accuracy and reliability of testing equipment.