40 hours a week, Exeter based with frequent travel to Ringwood and other sites as required.
Benefits
* Life Assurance
* Discount platform (supermarkets, high street, cinema & travel)
* 25 days annual leave (28 days after 3 years of service)
* Enhanced absences (sickness and parental)
* Learning & Development opportunities
* Dog friendly offices
Responsibilities
* Contribute constructively, decisively, and consistently to the senior leadership team and play a central role in formulating strategy
* To ensure that your laboratories achieve the financial targets set within the context of the performance of the whole group and in line with the VPG strategy as directed by the Executive team. To work closely with all VPG leadership to monitor finance, quality and safety.
* To grow your laboratories within the context of the growth of the group as a whole and in line with the VPG strategy in conjunction with the other Laboratory Directors, the Business Development Manager and the Operations Director
* To understand the current and potential client base with active and ongoing engagement and discussion
* To be effective and timely in the delivery of your integrative and groupwide projects taking a lead role in the complex co-ordination and project management
* To perceive specific opportunities for long term change and improvement within own function or operation, or for the group.
* Translate larger corporate objectives or strategy into relevant action plan and functional strategy.
* Utilise own experience to provide different solutions, integrating a variety of information.
* Manage change enthusiastically but sensitively, recognising the necessity of a moving environment.
* Make and implements decisions and be able to justify these based on available information regarding effects and risks.
* Face into challenging situations and conversations in an open and honest fashion with a high degree of emotional intelligence.
* Review customer and client satisfaction measures and identify opportunities to improve. Appropriately challenge existing ways of working, empowering employees to meet client needs. All decisions made will consider the impact on the client.
* Respond to and resolve complaints and queries quickly and to the client's satisfaction, aligning to the VPG quality policies.
* To manage resources efficiently and to promote and maintain good morale in your teams during. To encourage staff to participate in wider VPG activities / projects and promote a wider VPG team environment. To provide the working environment / structure to support your teams in the wider roles within the group and participation in projects.
* Responsible for the recruitment, training and further education of your teams and to identify colleagues with special talents and qualifications who could contribute in groupwide positions as part of the VPG wide succession plan as well as adequate resourcing of all areas of the laboratories at all times.
* To ensure compliance with all VPG policies (health and safety, quality management, and HR).
* Work with Operations Director to implement best practices throughout the laboratories to resolve operational issues.
* Work with the Operations Director to improve business co-ordination across the group.
* Create long and stable relationships with a network of people across the business.
* Provide timely and accurate information to the support functions of the business eg. order processing, payroll and HR.
* Provide timely and accurate information to support the budgeting process.
* Ultimate responsibility for the quality of the output of the laboratories including close monitoring of QA and QC reporting.
* Proactively manage poor performance of staff, grievance, disciplinary and attendance issues in a sensitive and professional manner and in line with the relevant VPG policy.
* To ensure that the laboratory meets its published reporting timeframes
* To perform annual appraisals for staff
* Ensure that all new members of staff receive the appropriate health and safety training, induction and other mandatory training in a reasonable timeframe.
* Contribute to campaigns, CPD and other marketing initiatives
* Establish, develop and maintain positive business and customer relationships
* Continuously improve through feedback
* Attend exhibitions and other industry trade events as and when required.
* On site attendance at VPG laboratories, including those under other Laboratory Directors as and when required.
* To undertake any other reasonable duty, when requested to do so by an appropriate manager.
The duties and responsibilities in this job description are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and will be updated on a regular basis as part of the appraisal review process and may be amended in the light of changing circumstances.
Knowledge, Skills and Responsibilities
Essential
* Masters Degree or equivalent qualification or experience (preferably in a Life Science)
* Experience in veterinary Biochemistry and Haematology analysis
* Significant experience managing or supervising a veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
* Excellent IT skills, familiar with Microsoft office and LIMS systems.
* Experience in leading, developing and delivering a change programme whilst improving employee engagement
* Experience in client-facing meetings and presentations with excellent negotiation and influencing skills
* Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders and employees at all levels
* Excellent prioritising, time management and organisational skills
* Clean driving licence
Desirable
* Extensive knowledge of the Veterinary community and client base
* Highly motivated and target driven with a proven track record in business development and management