Laboratory Team Leader: Scope House, Telford

Are you looking to join a passionate, fun and hardworking team? The Cattle Information Service is part of the Holstein UK Group; a progressive and dynamic company with family values at its core and a drive for personal development, as well as team spirit. At the heart of the UK dairy industry, the Holstein UK Group provides a wide array of services to assist members in breeding profitable, robust and productive dairy cattle.

We are seeking a Team Leader within the Milk laboratory department to efficiently organise their team ensuring that all samples are analysed to a high standard by suitably trained staff within a time limit suitable to the client. Along with the Laboratory Supervisor, co-ordinate staff training. To maintain communication with laboratory staff and management regarding any instrumentation failures, QC failures, health and safety issues that impact the overall operation.

Leadership

• To analyse/oversee the analysis of samples to enable results to be reported within the 24 hour turnaround time in Milk lab and 5 day turnaround in Animal Health to our clients.
• To inform the Laboratory Manager and clients as appropriate, if deadlines are unlikely to be met.
• To inform the Laboratory Manager if resources, be they staffing or equipment are inadequate to meet analysis demands.
• To ensure that additional stocks of chemicals, kits and consumables are placed on order when necessary.
• Championing staff training and ongoing development, ensuring that all staff within their team are adequately trained in all tasks to be undertaken whilst maintaining a high standard of quality and ensuring delivery of accurate results obtained.
• Interpretation and investigation of anomalous results where necessary.
• To ensure that agreed quality and safety systems are continually adhered to by each team such as calibration checks i.e. pilots, PSC, IRM.
• To ensure that all samples (i.e. herds) are registered and organised using in-house web-based systems, including scanning of samples, checking for animal health requests, and marking as received.
• To ensure completion of all necessary documentation/records i.e. daily cleaning, temperature monitoring, pipette checks, chemical preparation, combi start-up and shutdown, relevant Elisa paperwork etc.
• To undertake, as required, external communications with clients (CIS) regarding matters requiring clarification, anticipated date of analysis completion etc. and also suppliers, including equipment repair and servicing.
• To ensure that all Animal Health herds are recorded on the transfer sheet and transferred into the Animal health section of the cold store.
• To ensure tested samples are disposed of, boxes are washed and reassembled in a timely manner.
• To ensure all laboratory areas are kept clean and tidy at all times.

Operational Planning and Management

• Work with the CIS Management Team to plan actions to meet Company objectives, including attendance at Monthly Management & IT meetings.
• Attend monthly HUK Group & CIS Marketing meetings to discuss campaigns, highlight services, review and proof content for adverts and e-shots.
• Coach and mentor staff as appropriate to improve performance, including organising training modules.
• Develop an operational plan for the Field Services Team, which incorporates the Company goals and objectives that work towards the strategic direction of the organisation.
• Ensure that the operation of the Field Services Team meets the expectations of the CEO, CIS Board, and Trustees of the parent company. Provide reports as required for the Quarterly Board meetings.
• Oversee the efficient and effective day-to-day operation of the Field Services Team.
• Ensure CIS offer services and testing facilities to enable customers to manage their business and fulfil the requirements of their contractual arrangements, including milk processors, Red Tractor, etc.
• Advise required updates to the Field program to include enhancements and requirements relevant to customer needs and testing of system updates.
• Ensure herds awaiting milk files and errors pages are reviewed by the Field Services Management Team and identify any delays.
• Liaise with CIS Processing and Field Services Management Team regarding recording discrepancies to ascertain if it is an on-farm or recorder issue.
• Ensure recordings requiring a Check Test are actioned in accordance with ICAR requirements.

Experience/Skills/Qualifications:

• A good standard of education
• Knowledge of H&S
• Preferable previous experience of working in a senior position in a laboratory
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Highly organised
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills