Laboratory Manager

Job Description

Fugro is looking for an experienced and commercially minded Laboratory Manager to lead our laboratory operation in Wallingford.

This is much broader than a traditional laboratory management position. You will have overall responsibility for the performance and future direction of the laboratory, bringing together commercial performance, operational delivery, people leadership, client relationships, safety, quality and technical capability.  Effectively operating as the business leader for the laboratory, you will ensure it performs successfully today while building the capability, capacity and infrastructure needed for the future.

You do not need to be the person carrying out the laboratory testing. What is important is that you understand how to lead a complex technical operation, can take ownership of its financial and operational performance and know how to bring people, customers and commercial priorities together.

Your role and responsibilities:

You will have ownership of the overall laboratory operation, with a particular focus on commercial performance, operational excellence and sustainable growth.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Taking ownership of the laboratory’s commercial and operational performance, including P&L and budget responsibility

• Ensuring work is delivered safely, efficiently, on time and to the required quality standards

• Understanding workload, capacity and utilisation and ensuring the right people, equipment and resources are available

• Identifying opportunities to improve revenue, efficiency and overall business performance

• Leading and developing the senior laboratory management team

• Building capability across the laboratory through succession planning, development and effective organisational structure

• Maintaining strong relationships with key clients and ensuring a consistently high level of customer service

• Supporting major bids, commercial opportunities and the development of new business

• Ensuring appropriate technical governance and maintaining the laboratory’s ISO 17025 accreditation

• Maintaining a strong focus on health, safety, quality and operational risk

• Developing investment plans for equipment, facilities, technology and people

• Driving continuous improvement across the operation, including opportunities for automation and digitalisation

• Developing the longer term strategy for the laboratory, ensuring it has the capability to meet changing business and customer needs

What you’ll need to thrive in this role:

We are looking for an established senior operational leader who combines strong commercial judgement with experience of managing a complex technical environment.

You are likely to bring:

• Significant senior operations, business unit or technical services leadership experience

• Proven responsibility for P&L, budgets and commercial performance

• Experience leading managers and larger multidisciplinary teams

• An established background within a laboratory environment is essential

• Experience in a soil laboratory is preferred but not essential

• Strong operational management skills, including resource, workload and capacity planning

• Experience working closely with customers and supporting commercial growth

• A strong understanding of quality, governance, safety and regulatory requirements

• Experience improving, developing or transforming an operation

• The ability to balance immediate operational demands with longer term strategic priorities

• Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust and accountability across an organisation

Knowledge of ISO 17025 would be particularly valuable.

A Master’s degree, MBA, Chartered Engineer or Chartered Geologist status, or qualifications such as IOSH or NEBOSH would be advantageous, but we are equally interested in the depth and relevance of your leadership and operational experience.

About Us

Who we are

Do you want to join our Geo-data revolution? Fugro’s global reach and unique know-how will put the world at your fingertips. Our love of exploration and technical expertise help us to provide our clients with invaluable insights. We source and make sense of the most relevant Geo-data for their needs, so they can design, build and operate their assets more safely, sustainably and efficiently. But we’re always looking for new talent to take the next step with us. For bright minds who enjoy meaningful work and want to push our pioneering spirit further. For individuals who can take the initiative, but work well within a team. 

What we offer

Fugro provides a positive work environment as well as projects that will satisfy the most curious minds. We also offer great opportunities to stretch and develop yourself. By giving you the freedom to grow faster, we think you’ll be able to do what you do best, better. Which should help us to find fresh ways to get to know the earth better. We encourage you to be yourself at Fugro. So bring your energy and enthusiasm, your keen eye and can-do attitude. But bring your questions and opinions too. Because to be the world’s leading Geo-data specialist, we need the strength in depth that comes from a diverse, driven team. 

Our view on diversity, equity and inclusion

At Fugro, our people are our superpower. Their variety of viewpoints, experiences, knowledge and talents give us collective strength. Distinctive beliefs and diverse backgrounds are therefore welcome, but discrimination, harassment, inappropriate behaviour and unfair treatment are not. Everybody is to be well-supported and treated fairly. And everyone must be valued and have their voice heard. Crucially, we believe that getting this right brings a sense of belonging, of safety and acceptance, that makes us feel more connected to Fugro’s purpose ‘together we create a safe and liveable world’ – and to each other. 

Benefits of joining our team

• Extensive career & training opportunities

• Competitive salary

• Contributory pension scheme

• Private medical insurance

• Health cash plan

• Group life assurance

• Group income protection

• Electric car scheme

• Cycle to work scheme

• Discounted gym membership

• Discounts platform

• The Fugro Card (pre-paid virtual visa card, which earns cash back automatically when money is spent at any participating retailers)

• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

• Long service awards

• Fugro values awards

• Employee referral bonus scheme

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Disclaimer for recruitment agencies:

Fugro does not accept any unsolicited applications from recruitment agencies. Acquisition to Fugro Recruitment or any Fugro employee is not appreciated**.**