Technical Operations Manager

Precision Analysis North West Ltd; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Microbiological Services - a Tentamus Company - invites an experienced Technical Operations Manager to lead and optimize microbiological testing for food and cosmetics in a UKAS-accredited lab. You will be the on-site technical authority, ensuring ISO 17025 compliance, safety adherence, and proactive client interaction.

You will manage a team of analysts, drive quality improvements, and coordinate with QA to maintain KPI reporting and rapid project delivery in a dynamic lab environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a scientific discipline (Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry).
• Experience in cosmetics testing including CPSRs is beneficial.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 17025 accreditation and safety requirements.
• Proven track record in laboratory management or senior technical roles.

Responsibilities

• Quality and Compliance - oversee Laboratory Quality Management System (QMS) for ISO 17025 compliance.
• Team Leadership - mentor Technicians and Microbiologists and drive training.
• Testing and Analysis - oversee microbiological testing for food and cosmetics.
• Auditing - lead readiness and responses to third-party, customer and regulatory audits.
• Quality Management - collaborate with Quality Team to ensure KPI data is produced and presented.
• Technical authority on-site for testing methodologies and safety procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Quality Management

Auditing

ISO 17025

Laboratory Management

CPSRs knowledge

IT literacy

Communication

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry or related discipline

Job description

Wellington / Southern Microbiological Services - A Tentamus Company

Laboratory, R&D / Job Experience, Leadership Experience

Technical Operations Manager

Southern Microbiological Services - a Tentamus Company - has been providing a comprehensive UKAS-accredited testing service for the food, drink and related industries since 1987. In 2024, we added UKAS Cosmetics and Personal Care testing service to our collection. We offer microbiological testing, tailored projects, on-site troubleshooting and training amongst other services.

A competitive salary will be offered.

The Role:

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Technical Operations Manager to help lead our food and cosmetic testing laboratory operations. You will be a technical authority on-site, ensuring our testing methodologies and quality control align with UKAS (ISO 17025) standards and safety legislation. You will help lead a dedicated team of analysts, manage technical projects and act as a primary point of contact for client enquiries.

Key Responsibilities:

• Quality and Compliance - help oversee the Laboratory Quality Management System (QMS) ensuring compliance with ISO 17025 standards.
• Team Leadership - help lead and mentor Technicians and Microbiologists ensuring ongoing training and goals are met.
• Testing and Analysis - oversee microbiological food and cosmetic testing operations, ensuring accuracy and turnaround times.
• Auditing - Lead readiness and manage responses to third-party, customer and regulatory audits.
• Quality Management - Work with the Quality Team to ensure continual high standards, producing and presenting KPI data.
• Proven track record in laboratory management or a senior technical role within the food or cosmetics industry
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 17025 accreditation and safety requirements
• Excellent leadership and team-management skills
• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry or a related scientific discipline
• Strong IT literacy
• Experience in cosmetics including microbiological, chemical and physical testing, with knowledge of writing CPSRs.