Labs & Validation Manager

If you’re looking for a progressive and rewarding career and you thrive in a fast-paced, fun and team-orientated environment, then look no further!

Overview of Vax

Our heritage-rich, expert-led business has always had the same goal: to prioritize innovation and to design easy-to-use products that seamlessly integrate into our customers' lives, offering reliable, quick solutions to cleaning homes, whatever the mess. Vax has forged its reputation as a brand that focuses on the needs of its customers. Our culture of innovation is at the heart of everything we do and we work hard to constantly think of new ways to improve our products, ensuring that we deliver premium quality products for our customers.

This is a newly created position with a global function. The Test function is responsible for delivering robust, repeatable, and decision ready test data to support product development. Operating across both Advanced Development and later stage New Product Development, the labs play a critical role in risk reduction and gating projects at key development stages. The Vax Test Labs support all dry floorcare testing and prototyping activities and operate as part of a wider global network of test facilities in TTI, spanning USA, China and Vietnam. Consistency of methodology, adherence to standards, data quality, safety and operational performance across this network is essential to enable confident product development, commercial and regulatory decision making.

The Labs & Validation Manager leads the UK dry testing and prototyping facilities day to day, acting as the voice of the test organisation and owning lab performance, capability and credibility.

The role also covers - Day to day role

• Lead and develop the UK Test Team, providing clear direction, prioritisation and support across programmes.
• Own the planning, execution, analysis and release of test data for dry & wet floorcare products, covering both prototypes, production and in market products.
• Facilitate early test scoping with engineering and product teams to define appropriate test strategies and Quality Test Plans (QTP’s).
• Support claims substantiation by ensuring appropriate test evidence is generated, robust and traceable.
• Maintain oversight of relevant standards and methodologies (IEC, ASMT, UL) assessing the impact of emerging requirements may have on in development or future development programmes.
• Represent the UK test function within the global test network, aligning on methodology, documentation, standards and performance with teams across the USA, China and Vietnam.
• Plan and manage lab capacity, schedules, and utilisation and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

What we need from you

• Bachelor’s degree (BEng or BSc) in an engineering or scientific discipline, or equivalent. Master’s degree desirable but not essential.
• Experience in test, validation or verification roles within consumer products or similarly regulated environments.
• Experience in leading test engineers and technicians within Lab or Validation settings.
• Strong understanding of test planning, execution, data analysis and result interpretation.
• Experience working within a product development setting, including the handling of early to later stage prototype units and rigs.
• Experience producing clear, decision ready reports and presenting test outcomes to engineering and senior stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of international test standards and methodologies, including IEC, ASTM, UK or equivalent.
• Ability to assess the impact of emerging standards.

Does this sound like you? This is a great role within an innovative business. If you are interested please do not hesitate to apply!