Senior Laboratory Technician

Avantor; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Avantor is seeking a Senior Laboratory Technician to lead and deliver key lab support services across customer laboratories. You will work to defined SOPs and GMP standards, handling stock management, equipment support and advanced lab tasks to progress scientific projects.

Responsibilities include equipment maintenance, waste management, Kanban-based inventory control, and using CISPro for receipt and approval of chemicals. Training teammates and driving process improvements are expected.

Qualifications

• GCSE English and Maths or equivalent.
• Health and Safety qualifications an advantage.
• Trainer status (or working towards).

Responsibilities

• Perform standard and advanced laboratory support activities in adherence with GMP standards.
• Maintain equipment and perform preventative maintenance.
• Manage multiple laboratory waste streams with proper documentation.
• Handle laundry, distribute clean lab coats and order supplies.
• Use Kanban system daily to maintain lab consumables across labs.
• Use CISPro to receipt and approve chemicals and consumables.
• Source ad-hoc supplies with procurement to support lab activities.
• Provide training and guidance to existing and new lab technicians to maintain high standards.

Skills

Communication

IT proficiency

Microsoft Office

Planning

Written communication

Presentation

Education

GCSE English & Maths

Health and Safety qualification (advantage)

Trainer status (or working towards)

Tools

Kanban system

CISPro software

Job description

The Opportunity: Job Description

The Senior Laboratory Technician role is typically someone who has multiple years' experience working in a laboratory environment and has developed knowledge of advanced tasks. This role leads and delivers the key lab support services to our customers which allows them to focus on the science and progress their projects. Lab Technicians work to an agreed Scope of Work (SOW) in customer laboratories following set procedures and following all compliance and safety regulations. The role will typically include stock management, equipment support services and both standard and advanced laboratory tasks aligned to those laboratories.

Major Job Duties and Responsibilities

To perform standard and advanced laboratory support activities in adherence with GMP standards, as per defined scope of work and to agreed timelines. Follows agreed procedures and documents all activities.

• General laboratory housekeeping, equipment performance checks (e.g. balances, autoclave), glassware washing, equipment cleaning and operational readiness, GMP laboratory procedures
• Perform equipment preventative maintenance in line with standard operating procedures
• Management of multiple laboratory waste streams ensuring all waste is handled according to agreed processes and delivered to the waste service provider with the correct documentation and labelling
• Laundry management duties, distributing clean lab coats and ordering new as required
• Daily use of the Kanban system to maintain supply of the laboratory chemicals, solvents, plates, purchase media and consumables across multiple labs.
• Daily use of Customer software (CISPro) to receipt and approve (where applicable) defined chemicals, solvents and consumables
• Proactively works with the Avantor QAB procurement co-ordinator and end user to source ad-hoc supplies for the laboratory scientist
• Takes a lead role in ensuring ownership and accuracy in area of responsibility through regular audits
• Preparation of buffer, media and reagents utilising electronic notebook system to record batch details/ generate labels.
• Adheres to all Health and Safety regulations and promotes this ethos within the broader Avantor team by taking on specific roles to support area manager
• Proactively identifies, raises, leads and implements process improvement opportunities
• Following a 'One Team' approach, provides cover for colleagues when required. This may be in areas outside of normal working laboratories during times of absence and once fully trained
• Provide support, guidance and training to existing and new laboratory technicians sharing experience to ensure high standards are maintained

Qualifications

• GCSE English and Maths or equivalent
• Health and Safety qualifications an advantage
• Trainer status (or working towards)

Knowledge

• 1-2 years’ experience of working in a laboratory environment
• Experience of working to Health and Safety regulations in the laboratory environment
• Understanding and experience of a customer service role, Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Experience in working to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and knowledge of working to GxP or in regulated laboratory environments
• An understanding of GMP in the Pharma industry
• Excellent understanding of laboratory processes

Skills

• Excellent communication skills and ability to convey a message to all levels of the organisation
• Proficient in the use of IT equipment as part of daily role including laptop and smartphone
• Proficient in using Microsoft O365 systems including Teams, Word, Excel etc
• Excellent planning and time-management skills
• Good written communication and document writing skills
• Ability to formally present information to an audience

Abilities

• Proven willingness to work flexibly in a team and independently with minimal direct supervision
• Excellent customer service focus and ability to work collaboratively to understand customer needs
• A good team worker demonstrating loyalty and commitment to the organisation and team members
• Self-motivated to deliver a high-quality service
• Holds self-accountable for own actions and always looking to drive improvement
• Strives for excellence and not afraid to propose new ways of working to drive quality
• Leads by example and shows respect for co-workers and demonstrates positive attitude
• Ability to change plans or priorities to deliver team goals and to meet customer SLAs

Environmental Working Condition

• Mainly based in a laboratory environment but will involve visits to other areas and wearing of required PPE (e.g. Safety glasses, gloves, safety shoes etc.)
• Manual handling of deliveries and a level of fitness required

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.

Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science. The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor. We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world.

EEO Statement: We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process,

Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

3rd Party Non-Solicitation Policy: By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.

Avantor®, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries we serve. One of our greatest strengths comes from having a global infrastructure that is strategically located to support the needs of our customers. Our global footprint enables us to serve more than 225,000 customer locations and gives us extensive access to research laboratories and scientists in more than 180 countries. We set science in motion to create a better world.