Manufacturing Laboratory Manager
Company: Ball Corporation
Location: Kettering, ENG, GB
Date: 20 May 2026
Job Category: Quality/ Continuous Improvement
Position overview
The Laboratory Manager is responsible for leading the Laboratory Services function across the region, providing technical expertise and support to manufacturing plants, customers, Global Engineering, Global Innovation, suppliers, and licensees. This role drives laboratory strategy, operational excellence, risk mitigation, and industry leadership related to aluminum packaging and packaged-product interactions while ensuring high standards of safety, quality, and customer support.
Key responsibilities
* Lead and prioritize Laboratory Services activities across the region to support business and operational objectives.
* Manage a $2M+ annual budget and oversee a $20M laboratory facility with business‑critical assets.
* Develop and execute laboratory strategic plans, including talent development, safety initiatives, CAPEX planning, KPI management, and SLA performance improvement.
* Serve as the company’s technical expert within global trade organizations and industry groups related to aluminum packaging and packaged‑product interactions.
* Partner with global customers and key stakeholders to support development of industry standards impacting commercial agreements, warranties, and product performance.
* Provide technical expertise and risk‑based guidance to customers, suppliers, operations, engineering, innovation, legal, and commercial teams.
* Lead beverage screening and coating requirement evaluations to mitigate risk and ensure successful aluminum packaging performance.
* Drive global standardization and continuous improvement across laboratory operations and testing methodologies.
* Prepare and present technical findings, risk assessments, and analysis results to senior leadership, customers, and suppliers.
* Support operational decision‑making through data analysis, technical expertise, and industry knowledge.
Qualifications
* Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Materials Engineering, or a related technical field.
* 10+ years of experience in aluminum packaging analysis or related industry environments; 15+ years preferred.
* Strong expertise in failure analysis, corrosion engineering, materials engineering, and aluminum packaging interactions.
* Experience supporting manufacturing operations, beverage processing, and packaged‑product performance.
* Strong analytical and statistical analysis capabilities with a data‑driven approach to decision‑making.
* Working knowledge of electrochemistry, sensory science, and organic coatings.
* Proven leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills within complex global organizations; involvement with Metal Packaging Europe (MPE) or similar industry organizations is desirable.
Ball Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively encourage applications from everybody, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, faith, ability, or orientation. When you join Ball you belong to a team of over 16,000 members worldwide. Our products range from infinitely recyclable aluminium cans, cups to aerosol bottles solutions that enable our customers to contribute to a better world.
Please note the advertised job title might vary from the job title on the contract due to local job title structure and global HR systems.
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