Laboratory Team Leader

The Team Leader (TL) will take responsibility for the laboratory team including the onboarding of new team members, performance management, maintaining accreditation, introducing new tests and the day-to-day workload within the Water Sciences Laboratory. They will be challenged to meet KPIs on turnaround time, throughput, quality and reporting to internal and external customers. The TL will set the daily tasks for the laboratory analyst team, whilst leading the response to changing demands throughout the day - for example emergency fast turnaround analysis requests.

The TL will work with the Laboratory Manager and Quality Laboratory Analyst to develop the laboratory quality assurance system to ensure operations within the NSI Laboratory conform to the established ISO 17025 Quality System.

The TL will support the development of new testing services and projects as the laboratory grows its testing catalogue.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Set an example by building a good team culture
- Provide direction and guidance to the laboratory team by organising and prioritisation of workloads throughout the laboratory. Adapting workloads to meet the demand on priority testing when required to ensure timelines are adhered to
- Performance management of the laboratory team, setting team objectives in line with the laboratory objectives
- Management responsibilities may include undertaking performance reviews, absence management meetings and disciplinaries
- Ensuring preventative maintenance is undertaken on all instrumentation
- Mentoring the laboratory team to build a high performing team by organising staff training when required for all relevant laboratory methods, inclusive of the onboarding of new team members
- Overseeing data quality and integrity by ensuring information is accurately entered into the Laboratory Information Management System within required timeframes
- Authorising results entered on to the Laboratory Information Management System by the laboratory team to ensure it meets quality standards
- Auditing internal practices to ensure compliance to the management system
- Ensure that the laboratory areas are kept clean and tidy by all team members and to remove waste frequently and ensure it is disposed of in the correct manner
- To ensure that all records are completed concisely and accurately
- To ensure that all PPE and Health and Safety guidelines are adhered to in the laboratory
- Support the Laboratory Manager and the Quality Laboratory Analyst to ensure the laboratory maintains its ISO 17025 accreditation
- Dealing with customer queries and complaints in a timely and professional manner
- Be available to provide out of hours cover, in the event of a plant emergency by means of participating in an on-call rota (1 week in 6 approximately) - not mandatory
- This is not a fully comprehensive list of responsibilities, and other duties will be expected to be completed within the limits of the position

**Required Skills/Qualifications (Essential)**:

- Existing knowledge of good laboratory practice, routine testing, instrument maintenance and troubleshooting gained from at least 3 years practical experience
- Excellent numeracy, literacy, computer literacy and laboratory skills
- Good working knowledge of Quality systems such as ISO 9001 and ISO 17025
- Good awareness of all HSE aspects in a laboratory environment (i.e., COSHH, RA)
- Laboratory experience of over 3 years

**Required Skills/Qualifications (Desirable)**:

- Degree/HND in Biochemistry/Chemistry or related science
- Experience in line management (highly desirable)
- Experience in auditing quality systems
- Experience in a customer facing role
- Experience of water, wastewater, cooling water and boiler water in the Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, food & beverage industries
- Experience in developing analytical techniques
- Qualification in auditing
- Management training or experience

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

**Salary**: Up to £31,200.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Company pension

Supplemental pay types:

- Bonus scheme

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: LTL