Laboratory Manager in Woodhall Spa

Department: Quality / Laboratory Operations

Reports To: TBC

Location: Louth

Role Summary

Sitting within the site leadership team, the Laboratory Manager oversees all laboratory operations within a food-grade plastic recycling facility. This role ensures that raw materials, in-process materials, and finished recycled plastic products meet strict food safety, regulatory, and customer quality requirements, as appropriate. The manager leads a team of lab technicians, manages testing protocols, maintains compliance with relevant standards (e.g., FDA, EFSA), and supports continuous improvement within the facility.

Key Responsibilities

• Laboratory Operations & Testing
  • Oversee daily lab activities, ensuring timely and accurate testing of incoming, in-process, and finished recycled plastic materials.
  • Develop, implement, and maintain laboratory testing methods, SOPs, and work instructions related to food-grade plastic recycling.
  • Ensure testing complies with food safety requirements, including contamination control, migration testing, physical and chemical analysis, and traceability standards.
  • Review and validate test results; ensure data integrity and accurate documentation.
• Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
  • Act as the specialist focal point for our Customers relating to their specific product requirements.
  • Ensure lab operations comply with food safety regulations (e.g., FDA/EFSA) requirements for recycled plastics.
  • Participate in external audits; prepare and maintain required documentation.
  • Support risk assessments, corrective actions, and preventive measures related to laboratory and production processes.
  • Ensure proper handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals and test materials in compliance with safety standards.
• Leadership & Team Development
  • Supervise, train, schedule, and mentor laboratory technicians.
  • Set performance goals, conduct evaluations, and provide ongoing feedback.
  • Promote a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement within the laboratory.
• Equipment & Quality Systems Management
  • Oversee calibration, maintenance, and proper use of laboratory instruments (e.g., FTIR, GCMS, melt flow index testers, moisture analysers).
  • Ensure equipment logs, calibration records, and test documentation meet quality system requirements.
  • Manage lab inventory, including reference standards, reagents, and supplies.
• Continuous Improvement & Technical Support
  • Identify opportunities to improve testing efficiency, accuracy, and turnaround times.
  • Collaborate with production and engineering teams to support problem-solving and root-cause investigations.
  • Provide technical expertise related to plastic material characterisation, contamination risks, and food-grade compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Materials Science, Food Science, Environmental Science, or related field required.
• 3–5+ years of laboratory experience, preferably in plastics, polymer science, or food-grade materials, in a supervisory or management position.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of plastic recycling processes, polymer properties, and analytical testing techniques.
• Knowledge of food safety systems.
• Excellent organisational and documentation skills; strong attention to detail.
• Effective communication, leadership, and team-building skills.
• Ability to troubleshoot laboratory issues and recommend technical solutions.

This position is critical to ensuring that recycled plastic products meet stringent quality and food safety requirements. The Laboratory Manager plays a key role in supporting sustainable manufacturing processes while maintaining compliance with industry and regulatory standards.