Sample Preparation Assistant

Normec Group; Northampton; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Enhanced parental leave

Job summary

Normec i2 Analytical in Watford is seeking a detail‑oriented candidate to support sample preparation, logging, and client communications within a busy laboratory environment.

You will work with technicians to ensure audits are completed on time, maintain clean workspaces, and uphold Good Laboratory Practice while handling waste and sample storage. This role offers stable hours and a collaborative team culture.

Qualifications

• Efficient and able to work to deadline.
• Close attention to detail and an understanding of operating within a quality system.
• Able to work under pressure.
• Able to operate as part of a team as well as independently.
• Good written and verbal communication.
• Reliable with excellent time-keeping.
• Strong prioritisation and organisational skills.
• Positive attitude towards change.

Responsibilities

• Logging and locating all samples arriving on site.
• Logging and sending clients samples to the right departments within i2.
• Preparing samples in order to send to our laboratory testing.
• Dealing with any queries from the office or clients.
• Dealing with clients that will drop there samples off, gathering there information for us to stay in contact with regarding the testing.
• Ensure that all audit actions that arise in your area of work are actioned within the time frame laid out by the Quality Manager.
• If audit actions cannot be actioned within the time frame, this must be reported to the Section Head and the Quality Manager.
• Ensure that all work areas are kept clean and tidy.
• Ensure that all waste products within the sample preparation department are disposed of in the correct manner, ensuring adherence to Good Laboratory Practise.
• Disposal and storage of samples as directed.
• To ensure your own training records are kept up-to-date.
• If you wish to attend any training courses, to obtain details of the course, and to speak to your Supervisor. Only training courses relevant to your work will be considered.
• If you are asked to carry out a training session with a junior member of staff, you must ensure that you carry out the training under the direction of the Quality Manual, and Section Head.

Skills

Attention to detail

Deadline awareness

Teamwork

Communication

Time-keeping

Prioritisation

Adaptability

Reliability

Job description

Are you interested in Science and keen to pursue a career where you can make a meaningful impact? With a background in warehouse/production environment, you will work along side our technicians to support with the preparation and logging of samples and general housekeeping.

Step Into the Role

Role Accountabilities and Main Duties

• Logging and locating all samples arriving on site.
• Logging and sending clients samples to the right departments within i2.
• Preparing samples in order to send to our laboratory testing.
• Dealing with any queries from the office or clients.
• Dealing with clients that will drop there samples off, gathering there information for us to stay in contact with regarding the testing.
• Ensure that all audit actions that arise in your area of work are actioned within the time frame laid out by the Quality Manager.
• If audit actions cannot be actioned within the time frame, this must be reported to the Section Head and the Quality Manager.
• Ensure that all work areas are kept clean and tidy.
• Ensure that all waste products within the sample preparation department are disposed of in the correct manner, ensuring adherence to Good Laboratory Practise.
• Disposal and storage of samples as directed.

Health & Safety

• To ensure that all laboratory works are carried out to the standards laid out in the Quality Manual and Health & Safety Manual.
• To take responsibility for your own Health & Safety whilst working within the sample preparation department.
• To report any bad practises that you may witness to your supervisor or Quality Manager.

Training

• To ensure your own training records are kept up-to-date.
• If you wish to attend any training courses, to obtain details of the course, and to speak to your Supervisor. Only training courses relevant to your work will be considered.
• If you are asked to carry out a training session with a junior member of staff, you must ensure that you carry out the training under the direction of the Quality Manual, and Section Head.

These duties are by no means exhaustive and should not be interpreted as a complete definition of the role.

Our Offer

Watford (free onsite parking)

37.5 hours Mon-Fri

Company benefits include…

• Pension
• Enhanced parental leave

Your profile

Experience required:

• Efficient and able to work to deadline.
• Close attention to detail and an understanding of operating within a quality system.
• Able to work under pressure.
• Able to operate as part of a team as well as independently.
• Good written and verbal communication.
• Reliable with excellent time-keeping.
• Strong prioritisation and organisational skills.
• Positive attitude towards change.

Additional skills required

• Heavy lifting required.

Your New Workplace

Normec i2 Analytical is one of Europe’s premier and most dynamic laboratories. We specialise in delivering extensive analytical testing services across various sectors, including environmental, geotechnical, asbestos and occupational hygiene.

Normec i2 Analytical boasts one of the widest arrays of accredited analytical parameters conforming to the UK Environment Agency’s MCERTS (Monitoring Certification Scheme) standard among all UK-based laboratories.

Additionally, our laboratory in Poland achieved the distinction of being the first outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland to attain the UK Environment Agency’s MCERTS quality standard.

About Normec

DETS is part of Normec, a leading organization in the Testing, Inspection, Certification, and Compliance (TICC) industry. Our expertise covers essential areas such as water, air, and soil quality, fire safety, and food safety, ensuring the highest standards of quality and safety across various sectors. Founded in 2016, Normec is an ambitious, independent, and fast-growing organization with approximately 6,500 colleagues.

We offer our colleagues the opportunity to actively contribute to our mission while simultaneously developing their own careers within a dynamic and rapidly growing organization. Together, we work on impactful solutions for our clients and on a sustainable future. The culture within Normec is informal, open, energetic, and entrepreneurial, and is anchored in our GROWTH principles. Through our The Normec Fit program, which brings these principles to life, we ensure that not only our company grows, but also everyone who is part of it.

Job type Permanent

Join Us

Who we are

At Normec, we share one ambition: making the world safer, healthier and more sustainable.

Our culture is shaped by trust, respect, and a commitment to doing meaningful work together. We believe growth isn’t defined by size. It’s defined by people.

You grow through the impact you make, whether it’s improving product quality, ensuring building safety, strengthening systems, delivering reliable lab results or earning a client’s trust.

Founded in 2016, Normec has grown into a leading European partner in testing, inspection, certification and compliance. Through dozens of acquisitions and collaborations, we combine local expertise with international scale.

Entrepreneurship is in our DNA. From lab analyses to inspections on major infrastructure projects, our diversity shapes both our work and our culture.

Window of Opportunities

Today, we have over 5,000 motivated employees working to improve our clients’ organisations every day. We are the proud employer of professionals with years of experience in and knowledge of the industry in which they operate.

Knowledgeable. Enterprising. Ambitious. Diligent. Traits that are recognizable among the more than 5,000 Normec employees. We have a love of science and legislation but also always recognize a window of opportunities. Opportunities for our clients and our employees