Quality Control & Laboratory Lead

Johnson & Johnson; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A global healthcare leader is seeking a QC Laboratory Lead in Blackpool, UK. This role oversees laboratory operations, manages resources, and resolves complex technical issues within the QC team. Strong leadership and a background in laboratory management within the healthcare industry are essential. Candidates must possess a relevant degree and extensive laboratory experience. This position is pivotal for ensuring compliance with quality standards and driving process improvements aimed at enhancing overall efficiency.

Qualifications

• Extensive laboratory experience in a senior role within the Food, Medical or Health Care industry.
• Proven ability to analyze and resolve complex technical problems.
• Working knowledge of GMP and related quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage QC laboratory operations and budget.
• Lead analysis of complex technical issues.
• Supervise and develop QC team members.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Analytical problem-solving

Strong communication skills

Leadership

Education

BSc or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline

Tools

LIMS

Job description

Overview

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com

Job Function: Quality

Job Sub Function: Quality Control

Job Category: People Leader

All Job Posting Locations: Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom

Job Description:

About Orthopaedics

Fuelled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we’re developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments.

Are you passionate about improving and expanding the possibilities of Orthopaedics? Ready to join a team that’s reimagining how we heal? Our Orthopaedics teams help keep more than 6 million people moving each year while delivering clinical and economic value to surgeons and healthcare systems. Our teams build solutions for joint reconstruction; trauma and craniomaxillofacial; sports, extremities, and elective foot and ankle; spine; and robotics and digital surgery.

Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/medtech

DePuy Synthes are looking for a QC Laboratory Lead, to be based at the Blackpool site.

As an QC Laboratory Lead, you will be:

The QC Laboratory Lead oversees laboratory resources, budget, and personnel to ensure timely, prioritized support for manufacturing and on-time product delivery to customers. The role leads technical problem-solving for highly complex issues, identifies opportunities to improve processes, and ensures cross-departmental alignment for product approvals.

The responsibilities and the impact YOU will have:

• Manage QC laboratory operations, including resource allocation, scheduling, equipment, and consumables to meet manufacturing priorities and delivery timelines.
• Manage the laboratory budget; monitor spend and prioritize investments to maintain operational readiness.
• Lead analysis and resolution of highly complex technical and scientific issues; define decision points and escalate appropriately.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in QC processes, methods, and documentation to increase efficiency and data quality.
• Supervise, coach, and develop QC team members; conduct performance management and ensure team training and competency programs are in place.
• Interface with Manufacturing, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, and Supply Chain to facilitate timely product approvals and release.
• Authorize or sign off on QC test results were permitted by experience and company policy; ensure robust data integrity and compliance with internal procedures.
• Ensure compliance with relevant quality systems, regulatory requirements (e.g., GMP), and safety protocols.
• Maintain laboratory equipment qualification, calibration, and maintenance records; oversee vendor management as needed.

We would love to hear from YOU, if you have the following essential requirements:

• Minimum of BSc or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline.
• Extensive laboratory experience, ideally already operating within a senior/supervisory role within a Chemical role in the Food, Medical or Health Care industry.
• Proven ability to analyse and resolve complex technical problems and implement corrective/preventive actions.
• Working knowledge of GMP, quality systems, and regulatory expectations relevant to manufacturing QC.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.

Preferred Skills

• Prior experience with method validation/transfer, stability testing, or analytical chemistry techniques relevant to the product portfolio.
• Experience with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), electronic data capture, and standard laboratory software.

Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate our Orthopaedics business to establish a standalone Orthopaedics company, operating as DePuy Synthes. The process of the planned separation is anticipated to be completed within 18 to 24 months, subject to legal requirements, including consultation with works councils and other employee representative bodies, as may be required, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and approvals. Should you accept this position, it is anticipated that, following conclusion of the transaction, you would be an employee of DePuy Synthes and your employment would be governed by DePuy Synthes employment processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans. In that case, details of any planned changes would be provided to you by DePuy Synthes at an appropriate time and subject to any necessary consultation processes.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Compliance Management, Controls Compliance, Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA), Developing Others, Econometric Models, Inclusive Leadership, ISO 9001, Leadership, Operational Excellence, Performance Measurement, Quality Control (QC), Quality Standards, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Strategic Thinking, Team Management, Technologically Savvy