Laboratory Manager

Müller UK & Ireland; Hampton Lovett; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A family-run dairy business is seeking an experienced Laboratory Manager in the United Kingdom to oversee laboratory operations for a 12-month fixed-term contract. This role includes ensuring compliance with laboratory standards, managing methods and audits, and providing support to site teams. The position requires strong leadership and technical expertise, with benefits such as a company car and annual bonus. Join a passionate team committed to high quality and safety standards.

Benefits

Company car

Private medical care

4 x life assurance

25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays

Up to 10% annual bonus

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing a laboratory, ideally within food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of LIMS systems and SAP.
• Expertise in laboratory methods and equipment servicing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage laboratory operations, ensuring compliance with standards.
• Oversee laboratory methods, audits, and accreditation.
• Provide technical advice and training to site teams.

Skills

Laboratory management

Knowledge of LIMS systems

Problem-solving skills

Collaboration

Education

Level 4 Food Hygiene

Level 4 HACCP

Tools

SAP

Laboratory testing equipment

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Laboratory Manager to join our team on a 12-month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead laboratory activities, ensuring best practice, compliance, and alignment across our UK operations. This role will have a requirement for regular travel across our sites: Glasgow, Manchester, Skelmersdale, Market Drayton, Droitwich, Severnside and Bridgwater. A company car will be provided.

• Lead and manage laboratory operations, driving technical excellence and compliance.
• Oversee laboratory methods, audits, and accreditation standards.
• Provide technical advice, training, and support to site laboratory teams.
• Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers, LIMS and third-party labs.
• Identify and deliver cost‑saving initiatives and continuous improvement projects.
• Ensure laboratory safety performance meets company standards.
  Proven experience managing a laboratory, ideally within food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of LIMS systems and SAP.
• Expertise of laboratory methods, testing, calibrations, and equipment servicing.
• Ability to lead change, influence stakeholders, and foster collaboration.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• Professional qualifications such as Level 4 Food Hygiene, Level 4 HACCP, or similar are desirable.
  We're Müller UK & Ireland, a family‑run dairy business and we're experts at what we do. Dairy is a key part of a healthy and balanced diet and we're super proud to help meet the nutritional needs of millions of people, every, single, day. To do this, our business has been split into two areas: Müller Milk & Ingredients (MMI) and Müller Yogurt & Desserts (MYD).
• Join MMI and step into a culture that's fast‑paced and full of opportunity. With great benefits, exciting challenges, a dream team of people, this is your chance to make a real impact. Over here, we're processing enough milk to make 66 billion cups of tea every year. And we're so much more than just milk. This is the place to come for cream, butter, milk drinks and ingredients products (a lot, we know), all made from milk from over 1,000 supplying farmers in Britain. Why Müller? Milk flows through everything at Müller - from farm to factory to fridge. But the true impact comes from our people, in each and every corner of the business, working hard and as a team to put smiles on faces everywhere, making each day delicious for our shoppers. As the UK's most popular dairy brand, we're always striving to make a real difference for our planet, our partners and our people, making sure we're helping to create a more sustainable dairy future. We're growing to keep up with the millions of people reaching for our branded and private label products on shelves everywhere. Join a culture full of pace that's bold and entrepreneurial, with opportunities that are yours for the taking - and even enjoy every benefit and bonus to sweeten the deal.
  This role offers the chance to make a real impact, working with a passionate team and contributing to high standards of quality and safety.
• Up to 10% annual bonus
• Company car
• Private medical care
• 4 x life assurance
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays