Technical Laboratory Manager

The Opportunity:

Technical Laboratory Manager

Cambridge, UK Permanent

We are looking for a Technical Laboratory Manager to support multiple research laboratories within a dynamic scientific environment in Cambridge.

This is a highly hands-on role, with approximately 50-60% of your time spent in laboratories working directly with scientists and scientific support services, ensuring facilities, equipment, safety, and laboratory operations run smoothly and efficiently.

We're particularly interested in candidates with a strong chemistry background, excellent health & safety expertise, and previous experience supporting multiple laboratories within a research, pharmaceutical, or scientific setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day operation of multiple laboratories across the site.

• Act as the main point of contact for laboratory users, providing practical support and guidance.

• Drive a strong culture of Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) compliance across laboratory spaces.

• Lead laboratory safety activities, inspections, risk assessments, and corrective actions.

• Coordinate laboratory equipment maintenance, servicing, calibration, and lifecycle planning.

• Partner with scientists, facilities teams, contractors, and suppliers to ensure uninterrupted laboratory operations.

• Deliver laboratory inductions, training, and ongoing support to laboratory users.

• Manage laboratory consumables, cold storage areas, and operational processes.

• Lead sustainability and continuous improvement initiatives within the laboratories.

• Support laboratory space planning, utilisation, and optimisation projects.

• What We're Looking For

• Essential

• Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Sciences, or a related scientific discipline.

• Previous experience managing or supporting laboratory operations in a scientific environment.

• Strong knowledge of laboratory Health & Safety, risk management, and compliance requirements.

• Experience supporting multiple laboratories and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Hands-on approach with a genuine interest in working closely with laboratory users and scientific teams.

• Excellent organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Desirable

• IOSH certification or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.

• Experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, research, or life sciences environments.

• Knowledge of equipment qualification processes (IQ/OQ/PQ).

• Experience with continuous improvement or process optimisation initiatives.

• Why Apply?

• This is an excellent opportunity to join a leading scientific organisation where you'll have a visible impact on laboratory performance, safety, and user experience. You'll work closely with researchers, influence site-wide laboratory operations, and play a key role in enabling world-class science in a modern research environment.

• Interested? Let`s talk!

EEO Statement:

• We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

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3rd Party Non-Solicitation Policy:

• By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.