Laboratory Manager - Running a lab where precision, people and purpose meet
2 days ago
Gateshead
🧪 Laboratory Manager Gateshead | Running a lab where precision, people and purpose meet Do you thrive in a fast-paced lab where accuracy matters, standards are high, and no two days look the same? Are you the kind of leader who knows their ISO from their UKAS, can spot a bottleneck a mile off, and still makes time to develop their team? Then welcome — this one’s for you. 🔬 The Role As our Laboratory Manager, you’ll be at the heart of our Gateshead laboratory, keeping everything running smoothly, safely and efficiently. You’ll lead a talented team of analysts and technicians, maintain UKAS-accredited standards, and drive continuous improvement across quality, service and technical capability. This is a hands-on leadership role with real influence — perfect for someone who enjoys balancing people management, technical excellence and operational performance. 🧠What You’ll Be Doing (aka: Running the Lab Like a Pro) On any given day, you’ll be: • Leading a team of 10+ lab legends, keeping morale high, standards higher, and safety non-negotiable, • Being the calm, capable force behind a UKAS-accredited operation — ISO 17025 and LAB 30 are basically your second language, • Orchestrating the daily flow of samples, workflows and analysis so everything runs smoothly (and on time), • Making sure results land where they should, when they should — hitting OTD targets without cutting corners, • Keeping a close eye on budgets, consumables and kit, ensuring the lab is well-stocked, well-equipped and well-run, • Training, authorising and developing your team — spotting potential, building confidence and growing capability, • Leading UKAS audits with confidence (and minimal stress), keeping compliance tight and documentation spotless, • Making sure the lab shines in RICE, AIMS, AISS, SEMS and other proficiency testing schemes, • Driving innovation by improving methods, upgrading capability and championing smarter ways of working, • Interpreting analytical data and translating numbers into meaningful, trusted results, • Acting as the lab’s technical north star — mentoring chemists and analysts, and setting the gold standard for safety and quality 🧩 About You You’re a confident, people-focused leader with a strong technical background and a passion for doing things properly — and better every time. You’ll bring: • Experience in asbestos testing or chemistry laboratory operations, • Proven experience managing teams, • A solid understanding of ISO 17025, LAB 30 or equivalent quality systems, • A track record of improving laboratory performance and customer service, • Experience managing budgets, resources and laboratory operations, • Competence in BOHS proficiency modules, • Strong knowledge of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, • Hands-on experience with UKAS accreditation and audit processes 🌟 Why Join Us? Because this is more than managing a lab — it’s shaping how it operates, how it grows, and how people succeed within it. You’ll have the autonomy to make improvements, the support to lead confidently, and the chance to make a real impact from our Gateshead base. Plus, we believe laboratories should be places where high standards and great teamwork go hand in hand.