Technical Lab Manager

Avantor; Milton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading laboratory service provider in Milton, UK, is seeking a Technical Lab Manager to oversee daily lab operations and ensure compliance with health and safety standards. The role involves coordinating numerous lab resources, training staff on lab policies, and maintaining equipment functioning at optimal levels. With a focus on supporting scientific delivery in a fast-paced environment, the successful candidate will collaborate with internal teams and external partners to enhance scientific capability.

Qualifications

• Experience in laboratory management and operations.
• Strong understanding of health and safety compliance.
• Ability to coordinate and allocate resources effectively.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate lab operations to ensure efficiency.
• Conduct onboarding training on lab policies.
• Manage lab safety compliance and SHE activities.

Skills

Operational coordination

Problem-solving

Communication

Lab operations knowledge

Education

Relevant scientific degree or equivalent

Tools

Laboratory equipment management skills

Knowledge of compliance standards

Job description

The Opportunity:

Responsible for the day-to-day operational coordination of a varied range of lab operations & support activities at customer facilities. Coordinates activities such as the management of gas cylinders and liquid tanks, dry ice, and instrument buffers, solvents and liquid nitrogen, and sampling execution in support of quality control workflows. Coordinates task allocation and streamlines workflows, and contributes operationally to the activities coordinated. Collects, documents, organizes and reports data and observations. Independently solves problems requiring a broad and deep understanding of lab operations and making judgements on the basis of insights gained through experience. Communicates with internal teams and customers on matters that involve a requirement to understand, support and engage others.

A Technical Lab Manager (LM) operates across multidiscipline Biopharma and Chemistry laboratories at AstraZeneca, playing a pivotal role within a dynamic environment, enabling great science across therapeutic areas. In coordination with multiple internal groups as well as external contractors and vendors, the Technical LM is tasked with providing support, guidance, services, efficiencies and infrastructure to enable Scientists to focus on scientific delivery. Technical LM ensures equipment is in good working order and that supplies, space and information are available to the end users. That all equipment and personnel are compliant and trained in relevant lab procedures. The Technical LM works alongside Lab Managers and Lab Technicians as part of numerous cross‑functional teams to accomplish a wide range of goals in a timely and effective manner.

Key Responsibilities:

• Delivery onboarding and refresher training on Oncology specific lab policies and workflows, including waste management policies.
• Cold storage management: coordination of the allocation and monitoring of departmental storage.
• Co‑ordinates Capital Expenditure Management of new equipment demand by liaising with the Capital Demand Manager and works with the scientists to conduct life cycle management, provide quotations, identify future requirements and new innovations in technology to further enhance scientific capability within the function.
• Leading process mapping projects including strategic space evaluations.
• May perform specialist equipment user performance checks and acts as the super‑user of defined instruments as agreed with Science leadership.
• Pipette inventory management for designated labs, managing calibration schedules with third parties and ensuring compliance.
• Is primary point of contact for SHE activities and direct engagement with science to ensure compliance to H&S across two laboratory spaces.
• Responsible for the coordination of the timely review and upkeep of scientific departmental risk assessments.
• Direct support of Person Designate (PD) in the lab for HTA.
• HTA Audit compliance: Management of training records for over 100 scientific staff, ensuring compliance.
• MyGreenLab Leadership. Leading sustainability initiatives and driving engagement with MyGreenLabs.

Key Supporting Tasks:

• Operational day-to-day Laboratory management providing a ‘single point of contact’ for laboratory scientists and external visitors.
• Ensures the laboratory maintains its operational efficiency by liaising with all Facilities Management (FM) suppliers – planning preventative and scheduled maintenance regimes with minimal impact to daily operations, ensuring any FM helpdesk requests are completed.
• Assists with organised visits from internal/external partners and regulatory bodies.
• Maintains and organises laboratory consumable inventories and provides reports to the Science leadership team as requested.
• Performs laboratory inductions for internal/external and temporary lab users working in the area to familiarise them with laboratory policies and procedures.
• Identifies opportunities for process improvements and efficiencies within laboratory spaces and cross-functional teams.
• Co‑ordinates with laboratory scientists to ensure housekeeping is completed effectively.
• Serves as a committee member on several cross functional teams including: Monthly Lab FM/SHE Meetings and FM Supply Partner meetings. Collates slides, ensures relevant actions are implemented and completed within a timely manner and disseminates the information.
• Manages and maintains positive working relationships with internal research groups, contractors, suppliers, service providers and inspectors.

Equipment:

• Works with FM/IT/other service providers to ensure equipment is running effectively, scientists are sufficiently supported and that lab assets are fully utilised and on the lab booking systems.
• Manages and co‑ordinates lab instrumentation maintenance, installation and repair through service providers.
• Knowledge or experience of equipment IQ/OQ/PQ is an advantage.

Health & Safety (SHE) and Compliance:

• Supports the Science leadership team with health and safety compliance and identification/delivery of improvements. This may include facilitating SHE meetings, supporting the Lab Safety Coordinator, ensuring SHE information is communicated to the laboratory reps.
• Performs monthly SHE inspections in the lab, participates in SHE or service audits and leads the implementation of actions.
• Ensures daily compliance to SHE procedures (e.g. PPE) and proactively reports and prevents near misses and unsafe conditions within the laboratory environment.

Additional Responsibilities – where applicable:

• Actively supports Scientists in researching and testing of alternative consumables.
• Liaise with external suppliers and industry specialists to arrange demo kit/training to support new equipment demand.

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.

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, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.