Laboratory Manager in London

Laboratory Manager – Cotteswold Dairy (Tewkesbury)

Location:

Tewkesbury Production Site |

Hours:

40 hours, usually Monday - Friday (with flexibility for urgent operational needs) |

Department:

Technical |

Reports to:

Technical Manager

Join Team Cotteswold

Cotteswold Dairy is a long-established, family-owned business, proud to deliver quality dairy products with first-class service. We're seeking a dynamic, knowledgeable

Laboratory Manager

to confidently lead our laboratory function, develop our people, and work closely with the Technical team to uphold the high quality and standards of our family dairy. You'll ensure strict compliance with

BRCGS

certifications,

HACCP

protocols and food safety legislation while driving continuous improvement across testing, audit readiness, and documentation.

The Role – What You'll Lead

Own product

safety, quality and compliance

across all testing activities (raw materials, in-process, finished product, shelf life). Plan and oversee

testing schedules , ensuring the correct methods are followed and results are recorded, monitored, analysed and trended. Manage and develop the

Laboratory Technicians

and Team Leader; foster a collaborative, high-performance culture with clear communication on food safety and quality issues. Maintain audit readiness: prepare for and participate in

site accreditation audits

(BRCGS), supporting the Technical Manager. Ensure all

laboratory equipment

is maintained, calibrated, validated and serviced to schedule; manage new installs and verifications. Coordinate

external laboratory

analysis and provide Certificates of Conformance to customers; initiate and manage

non-conformance

investigations with Technical and Production. Champion

HACCP ,

Food Safety Management Systems , and robust laboratory procedures; oversee the Laboratory Manual and testing regimes in line with legislation and

COSHH . Drive KPI reporting, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and

continuous improvement

of testing procedures and documentation. Lead

sensory panel

training and uphold hygiene, housekeeping, and safety standards. About You – Skills & Experience

Confident people leader with excellent

communication , problem-solving and coaching skills; experienced coordinating small teams in a lab environment. Strong working knowledge of

BRCGS Food Safety ,

HACCP , CCP validation, microbiological safety and QMS platforms. Hands-on background in a laboratory function (ideally

Food Science/Microbiology/Biology ); meticulous attention to detail in reporting and SOP writing. Competent with

Microsoft Office

and comfortable with data trending/analysis. Desirable

HNC/Degree in a science-related subject with strong knowledge of

Food Microbiology

and

Food Chemistry . Knowledge of the

dairy industry

and laboratory accreditation standards. Hours & Location

40 hours per week, usually Monday–Friday , based at our

Tewkesbury Production Site , with occasional out-of-hours presence for urgent operational needs.

Rewards & Benefits

Competitive salary with growth and development opportunities 30 days' holiday (rising after 3 years' service) Cycle to Work scheme Discounted products & doorstep delivery Enhanced pension via Salary Exchange Health & wellbeing support through Simply Health (post-probation) About Cotteswold Dairy

Established in 1938, Cotteswold Dairy is one of the UK's leading independent family-owned dairies, supporting local farmers and communities with the freshest products and first-class customer service. We succeed as

Team Cotteswold —valuing each other and our customers—so our company remains the first preference for employees and customers alike, over the long term. Our purpose is to be at the heart of a responsible and sustainable dairy community.

How to Apply

If you're an experienced

Laboratory Manager

(or ambitious Laboratory Team Leader) with a passion for

food safety ,

BRCGS compliance

and

HACCP , we'd love to hear from you. Laboratory Manager Food Safety BRCGS HACCP Quality Assurance Microbiology Dairy Audit Readiness QMS COSHH TPBN1_UKTJ