Job Description
Contaminants Technical Development Manager
Location: Cambridge
Hours: Monday to Friday
Are you a scientific leader with a passion for method innovation, technical excellence, and driving high‑quality analytical performance?
Join us as our Contaminants Technical Development Manager, a pivotal, hands‑on role at the heart of our Contaminants & Pesticides laboratory operations.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape technical strategy, elevate laboratory standards, and contribute to the development of future‑facing methodologies that keep our services at the forefront of the industry.
About the Role
In this laboratory‑based role, you will be responsible for ensuring the technical integrity, accuracy, and efficiency of our contaminants testing activities. Working closely with the Contaminants Operations Manager, you will lead technical development, oversee instrument performance, enhance operational processes, and support our R&D project portfolio.
You’ll also play a key role in staff development, quality assurance, and external engagement—making this a diverse and influential technical leadership position.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership
1. Ensure full technical compliance across the contaminants laboratory, delivering high‑quality, traceable testing aligned with policies, procedures, and industry standards.
2. Lead instrument maintenance programmes, resolving issues and minimising downtime.
3. Deliver method validation and continuous improvements, and oversee new method development (hands‑on and through project/team management).
Process & Resource Management
4. Embed lean principles to maximise efficiency and minimise waste.
5. Collaborate with the Operations Manager to align equipment, consumables, and staffing with commercial demands.
6. Recommend future technical investments in partnership with global technical stakeholders.
Quality, Compliance & Client Support
7. Partner with Quality teams on external quality assurance (EQA), audits, and investigations.
8. Respond to customer technical queries and support complaint resolution.
9. Represent the laboratory during audits, visits, and occasional client meetings.
Operational Engagement
10. Contribute to daily production meetings and weekly team reviews.
11. Ensure QHSE KPIs and training requirements are met.
12. Present monthly operational reports and participate in site‑wide meetings.
Industry Engagement
13. Participate in external committees and working groups to stay informed on regulatory and industry developments, helping guide R&D priorities.
Training & Development
14. Design and deliver technical training programmes across methods and shift patterns.
15. Support recruitment, interviewing, and capability development of laboratory and technical staff.
What You’ll Bring
16. Strong technical expertise in contaminants and/or pesticides analysis.
17. Proven experience in method development, laboratory troubleshooting, and analytical instrumentation.
18. Solid understanding of quality systems, audit requirements, and laboratory compliance.
19. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence, guide, and mentor technical teams.
20. A proactive approach, with the confidence to lead technical strategy and innovate.
Qualifications
What You’ll Bring
21. A degree in a relevant scientific discipline (, Chemistry, Analytical Science, Environmental Science, or a related field).
22. Strong technical expertise in contaminants and/or pesticides analysis.
23. Proven experience in method development, laboratory troubleshooting, and analytical instrumentation.
24. Solid understanding of quality systems, audit requirements, and laboratory compliance.
25. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence, guide, and mentor technical teams.
26. A proactive approach, with the confidence to lead technical strategy and innovate.