Laboratory Manager
Location Tewkesbury
Salary - £36,637.20 per annum
Hours: 40 hours, usually Monday - Friday (with flexibility for urgent operational needs
Rewards & Benefits
Competitive salary with growth and development opportunities
22 days' holiday plus bank holidays (rising after 3 years' service)
Cycle to Work scheme
Discounted products & doorstep delivery
Enhanced pension via Salary Exchange
Health & wellbeing support through Simply Health (post-probation)
Private Medical Insurance (after qualifying service)
Job description
Department: Technical | Reports to: Technical Manager.
The company is a long-established, family-owned business, proud to deliver quality dairy products with first-class service. We're seeking a dynamic, knowledgeable Laboratory Manager to lead our laboratory function, develop our people, and work closely with the technical team to uphold the high quality and standards of our family dairy. You'll ensure strict compliance with BRCGS certifications, HACCP protocols and food safety legislation while driving continuous improvement across testing, audit readiness, and documentation.
The Role - What You'll Lead
Own product safety, quality and compliance across all testing activities (raw materials, in-process, finished product, shelf life).
Plan and oversee testing schedules, ensuring the correct methods are followed and results are recorded, monitored, analysed and trended.
Manage and develop the Laboratory Technicians and Team Leader; foster a collaborative, high-performance culture with clear communication on food safety and quality issues.
Maintain audit readiness: prepare for and participate in site accreditation audits (BRCGS), supporting the Technical Manager.
Ensure all laboratory equipment is maintained, calibrated, validated and serviced to schedule; manage new installs and verifications.
Coordinate external laboratory analysis and provide Certificates of Conformance to customers; initiate and manage non-conformance investigations with Technical and Production.
Champion HACCP, Food Safety Management Systems, and robust laboratory procedures; oversee the Laboratory Manual and testing regimes in line with legislation and COSHH.
Drive KPI reporting, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement of testing procedures and documentation.
Lead sensory panel training and uphold hygiene, housekeeping, and safety standards.
About You - Skills & Experience
Confident people leader with excellent communication, problem-solving and coaching skills; experienced coordinating small teams in a lab environment.
Strong working knowledge of BRCGS Food Safety, HACCP, CCP validation, microbiological safety and QMS platforms.
Hands-on background in a laboratory function (ideally Food Science/Microbiology/Biology); meticulous attention to detail in reporting and SOP writing.
Competent with Microsoft Office and comfortable with data trending/analysis.
Desirable
HNC/Degree in a science-related subject with strong knowledge of Food Microbiology and Food Chemistry.
Knowledge of the dairy industry and laboratory accreditation standards.
Hours & Location
40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, based at our Tewkesbury Production Site, with occasional out-of-hours presence for urgent operational needs.
How to Apply
If you're an experienced Laboratory Manager (or ambitious Laboratory Team Leader) with a passion for food safety, BRCGS compliance and HACCP, we'd love to hear from you.
Laboratory Manager Food Safety BRCGS HACCP Quality Assurance Microbiology Dairy Audit Readiness QMS COSHH
Please apply with your CV in the first instance.
Wright Staff are acting as an employment business in relation to this vacancy.