Science jobs in East Sussex

• Join Imerys Minerals Ltd in Heathfield, Devon.
• Opportunity to grow within a company committed to continuous improvement.

About Our Client

Imerys is the world's leading supplier of mineral‑based speciality solutions for industry. We use our technical knowledge, global reach and commitment to responsible development to provide essential mineral solutions that improve everyday life.Every member of our team matters. We prioritise safety, collaboration and continuous improvement - and we invest heavily in helping our people grow their skills and build long‑term careers.

Job Description

Leading a small team of Laboratory Technicians, you'll be responsible for coordinating laboratory activities, ensuring testing is completed accurately and on time, and supporting the quality assurance processes that underpin our Ball Clay operations.You'll also play a key role in promoting a strong Health, Safety and Environmental culture, ensuring safe laboratory practices are maintained, supporting compliance activities and helping to drive continuous improvements in both laboratory performance and safe ways of working.This role combines technical laboratory expertise with people leadership and would suit someone who enjoys remaining hands-on whilst developing others, promoting high standards of safety and quality, and creating a positive team environment.Laboratory Operations

• Coordinating day-to-day laboratory activities and priorities.
• Supporting routine quality control testing and validation activities.
• Reviewing and approving laboratory data and quality results.
• Managing sample requests and laboratory workflow.

Health, Safety & Environment

• Promote a zero-harm safety culture.
• Lead EH&S inspections and programmes.
• Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses.
• Conduct root cause investigations and implement corrective actions.

Team Leadership

• Supporting, coaching and developing Laboratory Technicians.
• Coordinating workloads and ensuring priorities are achieved.
• Promoting a collaborative and high-performing team culture.
• Supporting training and competency development.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Maintaining high standards of quality, safety and environmental compliance.
• Supporting ISO9001 and ISO14001 requirements.
• Investigating quality issues and supporting corrective actions.
• Contributing to audits and compliance activities.

The Successful Applicant

Essential

• Previous experience working within a laboratory, quality control, testing or analytical environment.
• Experience leading, supervising or coordinating the work of others.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A methodical approach with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience investigating quality issues and supporting corrective and preventative actions.
• Confidence using laboratory systems, databases and reporting tools.
• A full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel between sites when required.
• A scientific, laboratory or technical qualification, or equivalent industry experience.
• Previous experience in a Laboratory Supervisor, Quality Supervisor, Senior Laboratory Technician or Team Leader role.

Desirable

• Experience within the minerals, ceramics, manufacturing, chemical or industrial processing sectors.
• Knowledge of SAP or similar ERP systems.
• Experience using Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards.
• Experience supporting continuous improvement activities.
• Knowledge of health, safety and environmental requirements within a laboratory or production environment.

What Success Looks Like:

• Enjoys guiding, coaching and supporting others to achieve their best.
• Takes ownership of delivering accurate, high-quality results.
• Builds strong working relationships and communicates effectively with colleagues at all levels.
• Thrives in a hands-on laboratory environment and enjoys problem-solving.
• Is well organised, proactive and able to prioritise competing demands.
• Champions high standards of safety, quality and continuous improvement.
• Enjoys combining technical expertise with leadership and team coordination responsibilities.
• Leads by example and encourages a positive, collaborative team culture.
• Takes a practical approach to identifying and implementing improvements.
• Is committed to ensuring customers receive products that consistently meet quality expectations.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week
• Full Time, Permanent
• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Generous pension scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Group Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Discount Portal
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities