Laboratory Team Leader

Laboratory Team Leader About the Opportunity

We are looking for a Laboratory Team Leader to join our Ross-on-Wye site, working 6am - 4pm Monday - Thursday.

The Laboratory Team Leader is responsible for the smooth and efficient running of the Quality Assurance Laboratory, inclusive of chemical, physical and microbiological testing functions. The role involves working closely with the Quality Manager to ensure that product standards are consistently met with respect to food safety and quality parameters, including complaint handling and investigation and ensuring operational compliance of new and existing product formulations. You will support the quality agenda through the development and implementation of improvement activities with the delivery of key performance indicators.

Role Responsibilities

• Conducting and ensuring day to day laboratory testing is completed in a timely manner
• Provide or arrange shift cover where appropriate to cover holidays and absences
• Analytical and microbiological testing
• Manage and own the sensory assessment programme for the site
• Maintain laboratory batch trending to ensure accuracy to specification
• Coordinating customer complaint investigations amongst the QA team
• Implement product changes to the site, whilst creating an effective relationship between NPI and production
• QMS, H&H, Glass & brittle material audits; participate in internal auditing as necessary
• Ensuring calibration log is kept updated and non conformances are escalated
• Laboratory stock take and ordering as well as good laboratory stock rotation
• Escalation of out of specification results and reporting as necessary
• Ensure all non conforming stock is suitably labelled and isolated
• Training of QA Technicians including proficiency testing
• Work in conjunction with the Quality manager to assess positive microbiological trends and remedy these
• Laboratory COSHH management - coordinating COSHH assessments of all laboratory chemicals
• Participation in HACCP as part of the HACCP team
• Ensure product specifications, MMIs & visual standards are suitably maintained
• Frequent communication with R&D and production to facilitate continuous improvements in formulations
• Conduct one to one discussions with analysts; participate in objective settings with the Quality Manager

About You

To make a splash in this role you will bring:

• Relevant quality experience in the soft drinks industry
• Laboratory testing experience - analytical and microbiological
• Sound working knowledge of HACCP & food safety
• Auditing experience
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent testing methodology knowledge
• An understanding of principles of preservation and process requirements to achieve and sustain product integrity
• Understanding of ingredient interactions, methods, and order of additions for product make up
• Good organisation skills: able to prioritise work and communicate with team and at all levels within the business and externally as required
• Self motivation and a proactive approach to problem solving
• Being a role model for a culture of continuous improvement, seeking opportunities with a cross functional team approach wherever possible
• Experience of coaching and supporting QA Technicians
• Ability to remain calm under pressure to pass batches including batch additions

Benefits

• 25 days holiday (with opportunity to buy extra every year)
• Annual Bonus
• Save as You Earn Share Scheme
• Option to join our private medical cover scheme
• Enhanced Primary Carers leave and sick pay

Perks

• Holiday home stay
• Your birthday off work
• Free on site parking
• 1 day a year off work to volunteer in the community (you choose when and where)
• Help yourself to our drinks when at one of our sites
• Staff shop with discounts on our products

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe diverse teams perform at their best, and we welcome people with different backgrounds, life experiences, perspectives and ways of thinking.

Any job offer is subject to an individual's Right to Work in the UK.

Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor visas.