Science jobs in West Yorkshire

Laboratory Manager – Construction Materials Testing

Location: Castleford, West Yorkshire
Job type: Full-time, permanent
Hours: Minimum 40 hours per week, with flexibility required in line with company needs
Salary: Dependent on level of experience
Work location: Castleford, West Yorkshire

About White Rose Laboratory Services

White Rose Laboratory Services is a well-established, independent small to medium-sized company based in Castleford.

We provide UKAS-accredited laboratory testing and materials engineering services to construction contractors, quarries and material suppliers throughout the UK. Our work covers soils, aggregates, earthworks, stabilisation and concrete.

This appointment will support the natural growth of White Rose by strengthening our day-to-day management and helping us develop our people, systems and services. This will give the company greater capacity to take on new work and create further opportunities across both laboratory testing and materials engineering.

Due to the size of the company, this is a visible and influential role with genuine input into how the laboratory, its staff and its services develop.

The role

We are looking for an experienced Laboratory Manager to lead the day-to-day operation of our Castleford laboratory and support the delivery of our site-testing services.

This is a hands-on management position with responsibility for laboratory performance, technical quality, staff development and the coordination of laboratory and site-testing resources.

You will manage the laboratory supervisors and supervise and manage the wider laboratory and site technician teams. You will also work closely with the Quality Team to maintain compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, UKAS accreditation requirements and the company quality system.

You will organise workloads, maintain testing standards and ensure accurate results are reported and issued to customers within agreed timescales. You will also support the continued development of our laboratory testing and wider materials engineering services.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the laboratory, including workloads, sample throughput, turnaround times and reporting.
• Manage laboratory supervisors and supervise and manage laboratory and site technicians.
• Ensure supervisors effectively control workloads, staff performance, training, competency and the day-to-day delivery of laboratory and site testing.
• Coordinate laboratory and site resources to meet customer requirements and agreed timescales.
• Review, authorise and issue accurate test reports to customers within agreed timescales.
• Work closely with the Quality Team to maintain ISO/IEC 17025 compliance, UKAS accreditation and the company quality system.
• Support the Quality Team during UKAS assessments, internal audits and proficiency testing.
• Manage nonconforming work, corrective actions and audit findings relating to laboratory and site operations.
• Ensure test methods are correctly documented and verified or validated, as appropriate.
• Ensure staff competency records, training plans and technical authorisations are maintained and kept up to date.
• Monitor capacity, performance and turnaround times, addressing resource or training requirements where necessary.
• Oversee the calibration, maintenance and suitability of laboratory and site-testing equipment.
• Ensure subcontracted testing is appropriately selected, controlled and reviewed.
• Maintain effective stock and consumables control.
• Support health and safety arrangements, including risk assessments, COSHH records and safe systems of work.
• Review results and provide technical advice to colleagues and customers where required.
• Support contract reviews, quotations and the introduction of new testing and materials engineering services.
• Identify and implement practical improvements to quality, efficiency and turnaround times.
• Maintain oversight of relevant laboratory vehicles and shared fleet responsibilities.

About you

This role is aimed primarily at experienced Laboratory Managers from within the construction materials testing industry.

Candidates will be assessed first and foremost on their practical experience, previous laboratory management responsibilities and proven ability to lead people and deliver an effective testing service.

Professional qualifications are welcomed and will support an application, but they are not essential. They will be treated as an additional benefit rather than the main requirement for the position.

Applicants without professional qualifications are encouraged to apply where they can demonstrate substantial and relevant laboratory management experience. Professional qualifications will not be considered a substitute for the practical experience required for this role.

You should have:

• Proven experience as a Laboratory Manager or in an equivalent senior laboratory management position within construction materials testing.
• Experience managing supervisors, team leaders or senior technicians.
• Experience supervising and managing laboratory and site technicians.
• Practical knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025 and UKAS-accredited laboratory operations.
• Experience supporting or leading UKAS assessments and internal audits.
• The ability to work closely with a separate Quality Team while retaining responsibility for operational delivery and technical standards.
• Good knowledge of relevant BS and EN test standards.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: soils, aggregates, concrete, earthworks or stabilisation.
• The ability to plan workloads, manage competing priorities and meet customer deadlines.
• Sound technical judgement and a methodical approach to records and reporting.
• Strong communication, leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Good general IT skills and experience using electronic laboratory or quality records.
• A full UK driving licence.

Experience expanding a UKAS scope, introducing new testing services or working within a commercial testing laboratory would also be beneficial.

What we offer

• Company pension.
• Company bonus scheme.
• Company vehicle for business use and commuting.
• On-site parking.
• Support for relevant professional training and development.
• Other benefits depending on experience and the agreed package.
• A senior position with genuine responsibility and influence over the development of the laboratory and its services.
• Involvement in laboratory testing and materials engineering for major construction and infrastructure projects.

To apply, please submit your CV together with a short explanation of your construction materials testing, staff-management and UKAS experience.

White Rose Laboratory Services is an equal opportunities employer.

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Free flu jabs

Application question(s):

• Have you previously worked as a Laboratory Manager, or in an equivalent senior laboratory-management position, within the construction materials testing industry?
• Do you have practical experience working within an ISO/IEC 17025 and UKAS-accredited testing laboratory?
• Have you managed supervisors and been responsible for laboratory or site-testing technicians?
• How many years of construction materials laboratory-management experience do you have?

Work Location: In person