Senior Materials Laboratory Technician - Falkirk

BALFOUR BEATTY; Falkirk; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction company in Falkirk is seeking a Senior Materials Laboratory Technician to manage material testing services. This role involves mentoring a team, ensuring compliance with quality standards, and supporting major infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate will have significant hands-on experience in accredited laboratory settings and strong knowledge of construction materials. This role offers a dynamic work environment with opportunities for professional development and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

25 days paid annual leave

Pension and share incentive plan

Qualifications

• Must have experience in a UKAS-accredited laboratory environment.
• Must be knowledgeable about construction materials and specifications.
• Confident leadership and mentorship skills required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day delivery of material testing services.
• Mentor and manage technicians and allocate resources.
• Ensure compliance with UKAS accreditation.

Skills

Hands-on experience in a UKAS-accredited laboratory environment

Strong knowledge of construction materials, specifications, and compliance

Confident leading audits and developing junior staff

Skilled in Microsoft Excel and Access

Experience managing testing programmes within tight deadlines

Education

Full UK driving licence and valid CSCS card

SMSTS qualification (desirable)

Member of a relevant professional institute (desirable)

Job description

About the role

Job Title: Senior Materials Laboratory Technician

Location: Falkirk

Company: Balfour Beatty Group

At Balfour Beatty, we design and deliver some of the UK’s most complex infrastructure projects safely, sustainably, and to the highest standards. We’re now looking for a Senior Materials Laboratory Technician to help us build with confidence by ensuring our materials meet the rigorous demands of performance and safety.

About the Role

As a Senior Materials Laboratory Technician, you'll lead the day-to-day delivery of material testing services across site and lab environments. You’ll mentor and manage technicians, allocate resources, ensure compliance with UKAS accreditation, and contribute to continuous improvement of our testing and quality systems. This role is pivotal in delivering safe, cost-effective and sustainable materials engineering support to major projects worth several million pounds. Now is a great time to join us. As a leading international construction group with a healthy pipeline of work, we’re growing our teams. Shape a career to be proud of as part of an award-winning team.

What you'll be doing

• Manage and allocate testing resources across sites and laboratories.
• Lead technician development, mentoring and succession planning.
• Ensure strict compliance with UKAS accreditation and Balfour Beatty quality systems.
• Perform and oversee laboratory and site material testing and inspections.
• Review and report on supplier test results, external lab findings and compliance metrics.
• Drive Zero Harm, write/review risk assessments and support H&S audits.
• Identify and share best practices across projects and teams.

Who we're looking for

Essential:

• Hands-on experience in a UKAS-accredited laboratory environment.
• Strong knowledge of construction materials, specifications, and compliance.
• Confident leading audits and developing junior staff.
• Skilled in Microsoft Excel and Access.
• Full UK driving licence and valid CSCS card (B&E category desirable for towing rigs).
• Experience managing testing programmes within tight deadlines.

Desirable:

• SMSTS qualification.
• Member of a relevant professional institute.

We’re looking for someone enthusiastic and quality-driven — a technician with a passion for precision, a head for health & safety, and a natural mentor who thrives on variety.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of award-winning major infrastructure projects
• Enjoy a culture that prioritises safety, development, and innovation
• Shape the future of construction through advanced materials engineering

Professional and personal development

The size and scale of Balfour Beatty coupled with our strong pipeline of work provides incredible opportunities, regardless of what stage you are at in your career. We encourage and empower our employees to take control of their career and explore which part of the business they want to work in and what role is right for them. We actively encourage our managers and employees to have open communication throughout the year about wellbeing, development and career opportunities. We\'re proud of the Balfour Beatty Academy. Whether it’s sharpening your technical expertise, improving your personal skills or seeking support to become professionally qualified, our 70:20:10 approach to development means we have a learning approach that suits everyone.
70% learning on the job, 20% learning from those around you, and 10% formal training courses and learning events.

Further information

For further information about Balfour Beatty Regional Scotland please go to www.balfourbeatty.com/careers/Scotland. You can also check out further job opportunities in the careers section.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Benefits

• Smart working, with flexible start/end times and up to 40% remote working where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata).
• Family friendly policies with maternity/adoption and paternity/partners leave.
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and more.

About us

From Dunfermline’s tramways in 1909 to highland hospitals today, Balfour Beatty has been trusted for over a century to deliver the complex and critical infrastructure and iconic buildings Scotland relies on. We have the people, knowledge and experience to safely deliver projects right first time, maximising value for money and ensuring a positive social impact and inclusive economic growth for local communities. Our award-winning sustainable projects, including active travel, Passivhaus and retrofit, demonstrate our commitment to supporting Scotland’s transition towards net zero in the built environment.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion. We are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to key long-term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers to employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/