Senior LC MS Analyst

Tetra Tech, Inc.; Bedford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Tetra Tech, Inc. seeks a Senior LC Analyst to lead the LC section within its Bedford ISO 17025 accredited laboratory.

You will oversee analytical output for a defined business stream and ensure delivery of client projects to quality, turnaround and KPI standards. You will manage from sample extraction to data analysis and reporting, operating HPLC, IC, and LC-MS/MS instrumentation, with emphasis on pesticides and emerging environmental contaminants.

Qualifications

• BSc in Chemistry or related subject; laboratory experience in accredited setting.
• Strong experience in an accredited analytical testing laboratory, ideally environmental.
• Proven experience training or mentoring junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Operate, maintain and troubleshoot HPLC, IC, LC-MS and LC-MS/MS systems, including single and triple quadrupole instrumentation.
• Supervise Analysts and Extraction Chemists, prioritising workloads and delivering against turnaround and quality targets.
• Assist method development, optimisation and validation to meet client needs and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure ISO 17025 compliance and defensible results within the laboratory quality framework.
• Support project delivery and instrument availability for ongoing client work.

Skills

LC-MS/MS operation

HPLC

IC

Data analysis

Team supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Tools

LC-MS instrumentation

Triple quadrupole MS

Job description

Lead LC-MS/MS Analysis in a Growing ISO 17025 Laboratory

Purpose and Scope of the Role

Tetra Tech is seeking an experienced Senior LC Analyst to join our ISO 17025 accredited laboratory at an exciting time of investment, growth and increased market demand. This is a pivotal role within the LC section, taking responsibility for the analytical output of a defined business stream and supporting the delivery of client projects to agreed quality, turnaround and KPI requirements.

You will oversee the analytical process from sample extraction through to data analysis and reporting, working closely with Analysts, Extraction Chemists and the Section Head – LC. The role includes operation of HPLC, IC, LC-MS and LC-MS/MS instrumentation, with a strong focus on pesticides and emerging environmental contaminants.

Your Impact in this Position

In the short term, you will help maintain high-quality project delivery, support team performance and ensure analytical workflows run efficiently. As you grow in the role, you will contribute to method development, optimisation and validation, helping the laboratory respond to evolving technical, regulatory and commercial requirements.

Longer term, this position offers the opportunity to build leadership capability, mentor developing analysts and play an active role in laboratory growth, technical improvement and future service development.

Core Capabilities Required for Success

Technical LC Expertise

• Operate, maintain and troubleshoot HPLC, IC, LC-MS and LC-MS/MS systems, including single and triple quadrupole instrumentation.

Analytical Quality and Compliance

• Work confidently within ISO 17025 and laboratory quality assurance requirements, ensuring accurate, reliable and defensible results.

Method Development and Troubleshooting

• Develop, optimise and, where appropriate, validate methods for pesticides and novel or emerging environmental contaminants.

Team Supervision and Delivery

• Supervise Analysts and Extraction Chemists, prioritising workloads and supporting delivery against agreed turnaround, quality and productivity targets.

Commercial and Project Awareness

• Understand client requirements, project priorities and laboratory KPIs, with desirable experience supporting prospective work or identifying chargeable activity.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

You will hold a BSc in Chemistry or a related subject, or bring equivalent laboratory experience. Strong experience in an accredited analytical testing laboratory is essential, ideally within the environmental sector. You will have excellent technical knowledge of LC-based systems and proven experience training or mentoring junior team members.

Desirable experience includes project management, supporting a small technical team or support desk, prioritising team workloads and contributing to commercially focused laboratory activity.

Work Patterns and Location

This is primarily a laboratory-based role at Tetra Tech’s Bedford facility, with on-site attendance required to support instrumentation, team supervision and project delivery.

Why join Tetra Tech?

Tetra Tech is a leading provider of consulting and engineering services working across the full project lifecycle worldwide. We have a wide range of expertise across our teams, providing a global support network with a personalised approach to client relationships to better understand where we can add value. We provide a collaborative environment that supports individual performance, innovation, and creativity.

We support public and private sector clients on local, national, and international projects to deliver sustainable and resilient solutions. Our operations in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands include more than 6,000 employees who are Leading with Science to solve our clients’ most complex problems.

In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees requiring additional arrangements. This could include adaptations to work schedules, training approaches, or the physical workspace. Please inform us if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process or in your day-to-day role.