Regional Head of Laboratories (south west) in Exeter

40 hours a week, Exeter based with frequent travel to Ringwood and other sites as required.

Benefits:

• Life Assurance
• Discount platform (supermarkets, high street, cinema & travel)
• 25 days annual leave (28 days after 3 years of service)
• Enhanced absences (sickness and parental)
• Learning & Development opportunities
• Dog friendly offices

Responsibilities:

• Contribute constructively, decisively, and consistently to the senior leadership team and play a central role in formulating strategy.
• Ensure laboratories achieve financial targets set within the context of overall group performance and in line with the VPG strategy as directed by the Executive team; work closely with all VPG leadership to monitor finance, quality and safety.
• Grow laboratories in line with the group's growth and the VPG strategy in conjunction with other laboratory leads, the Business Development Manager and the Operations Director.
• Understand the current and potential client base with active and ongoing engagement and discussion.
• Deliver integrative and groupwide projects, taking a lead role in complex coordination and project management.
• Identify opportunities for long‑term change and improvement within own function or operation, or for the group.
• Translate larger corporate objectives or strategy into relevant action plans and functional strategy.
• Utilise experience to provide innovative solutions, integrating a variety of information.
• Manage change enthusiastically but sensitively, recognising the necessity of a moving environment.
• Make and implement decisions and justify them based on available information regarding effects and risks.
• Face challenging situations and conversations in an open and honest manner with a high degree of emotional intelligence.
• Review customer and client satisfaction measures and identify opportunities to improve; challenge existing ways of working, empowering employees to meet client needs with consideration of client impact.
• Respond to and resolve complaints and queries quickly and to the client’s satisfaction, aligning to the VPG quality policies.
• Manage resources efficiently and promote good morale in teams; encourage staff participation in wider VPG activities/projects and a wider VPG team environment.
• Provide the working environment/structure to support teams in wider group roles and project participation.
• Recruit, train and further educate teams; identify colleagues with special talents and qualifications for groupwide positions as part of the VPG wide succession plan; ensure adequate resourcing of all laboratory areas at all times.
• Ensure compliance with all VPG policies (health and safety, quality management, and HR).
• Work with the Operations Director to implement best practices throughout the laboratories to resolve operational issues.
• Work with the Operations Director to improve business coordination across the group.
• Create long and stable relationships with a network of people across the business.
• Provide timely and accurate information to the support functions of the business (order processing, payroll and HR).
• Provide timely and accurate information to support the budgeting process.
• Ultimate responsibility for the quality of laboratory output, including close monitoring of QA and QC reporting.
• Proactively manage poor performance of staff, grievance, disciplinary and attendance issues in a sensitive and professional manner in line with VPG policy.
• Ensure that the laboratory meets its published reporting timeframes.
• Perform annual appraisals for staff.
• Ensure new staff receive appropriate health and safety training, induction and other mandatory training in a reasonable timeframe.
• Contribute to campaigns, CPD and other marketing initiatives.
• Establish, develop and maintain positive business and customer relationships.
• Continuously improve through feedback.
• Attend exhibitions and other industry trade events as and when required.
• On site attendance at VPG laboratories, including those under other Laboratory leads, as and when required.
• Undertake any other reasonable duty when requested by an appropriate manager.

Essential:

• Masters Degree or equivalent qualification or experience (preferably in a Life Science).
• Experience in veterinary Biochemistry and Haematology analysis.
• Significant experience managing or supervising a veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
• Excellent IT skills, familiar with Microsoft Office and LIMS systems.
• Experience in leading, developing and delivering a change programme whilst improving employee engagement.
• Experience in client‑facing meetings and presentations with excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders and employees at all levels.
• Excellent prioritising, time management and organisational skills.
• Clean driving licence.

Desirable:

• Extensive knowledge of the Veterinary community and client base.
• Highly motivated and target driven with a proven track record in business development and management.