Lab Operations Directions

EPM Scientific; Utrecht; On-site; EUR 116,000 - 161,000; Full time

Job summary

EPM Scientific is seeking a Lab Operations Director to lead its Sweden-based laboratory site. This senior, hands-on position requires ownership, decisive problem solving and a strong focus on regulatory and quality standards.

You will own lab operations, facilities, and coordination across the site, ensuring the right infrastructure and processes are in place for pharma and biotech clients worldwide. The role involves driving site strategy, budget ownership, audits, vendor management, and a

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in life science with solid industry experience.
• Experience leading laboratory or technical operations in a regulated setting.
• Exposure to GxP (GLP, GCLP, GMP) and ISO quality systems.
• People leader who motivates through energy, trust and collaboration.
• Comfort owning decisions under time pressure.
• Able to juggle multiple stakeholders and priorities.
• Experience working with vendors, contractors or technical service partners.
• Strong English communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across the laboratory site.
• Act as the main escalation point for lab teams and project delivery.
• Ensure lab infrastructure, equipment and facilities run efficiently.
• Manage relationships with vendors, service providers and contractors.
• Support prioritisation, problem solving and operational decisions.
• Collaborate with scientific and operational leads to deliver client projects.

Skills

Lab operations leadership

People leadership

Regulated environment

GxP exposure

Vendor management

English communication

Education

MSc or PhD in life sciences

Tools

ISO 17025

GxP knowledge

Job description

A growing, internationally recognised molecular analysis CRO is hiring a Lab Operations Director to lead its laboratory site in Sweden. It's a senior, hands-on role for someone who likes ownership and solving problems, and who can make confident decisions in a fast-moving environment while keeping regulatory and quality standards high.

You'll own lab operations, facilities and coordination across the site. Your job is to make sure the site runs smoothly, the right infrastructure and processes are in place, and the scientific teams have what they need to deliver for pharma and biotech clients around the world.

About the organisation

• Specialist molecular analysis CRO, part of a wider international group
• Supports pharmaceutical and biotech sponsors worldwide
• Works under GxP (GLP/GCLP) and holds an accredited quality system (ISO 17025)
• Technical strengths in qPCR, dPCR, NGS and biomarker analysis
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial culture focused on precision medicine

What you’ll do

• Lead day-to-day operations across the laboratory site
• Act as the main escalation point for lab teams, operational issues and project delivery
• Make sure lab infrastructure, equipment and facilities are well maintained and run efficiently
• Manage relationships with vendors, service providers, contractors and facility partners
• Help teams with prioritisation, problem-solving and operational decisions
• Work with scientific and operational leads to deliver client projects successfully
• Drive capacity planning, resource allocation and site growth
• Build a safe, compliant, high-performing site culture
• Represent site operations to clients, vendors and regulators, including during audits and inspections
• Own the site operations budget
• Shape site strategy in line with group goals, and present progress to the COO, CEO and board

What we’re looking for

We’re keen to hear from people with a range of backgrounds, such as laboratory operations, site or facility leadership, test facility management, QA/compliance leadership, or senior scientific management.

• MSc or PhD in a life science or related field, plus solid industry experience
• Experience leading laboratory or technical operations, ideally in a regulated setting
• Exposure to GxP (GLP, GCLP, GMP) and/or accredited quality systems such as ISO 17025 or ISO 15189
• A people leader who motivates through energy, trust and collaboration
• Comfortable owning decisions, including under time pressure
• Able to juggle several stakeholders and priorities at once
• Experience working with vendors, contractors or technical service partners
• Strong communication skills in English