Laboratory Site Lead

Job description

Reporting directly to the COO, you will hold full site leadership responsibility for this Dover-based laboratory, overseeing all operations, people management, quality, safety, and commercial performance.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a highly respected laboratory team with a heritage spanning nearly 30 years. The site has built an outstanding reputation supporting global clients in medical device testing, helping bring innovative medical products to market safely and compliantly.

More recently, the laboratory became one of the founding businesses within a wider specialist laboratory group, creating an exciting new chapter of investment, collaboration and shared expertise. For the right leader, this role offers the chance to shape the future of an already successful site while helping unlock the opportunities that come from being part of something bigger.

The Role

You’ll lead a knowledgeable, welcoming and highly committed team, driving day to day lab operations. You will work collaboratively with senior leaders and peer sites across the group to shape long-term strategy, growth, and capability.

This is a senior leadership role with accountability for site operations, P&L, team performance, safety, quality, client relationships, and continuous improvement. You will ensure the site delivers excellent scientific and operational outcomes, meets regulatory and client expectations, and remains positioned for future growth.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading site operations to deliver exceptional quality and client service
• Driving KPI performance, capacity, utilisation and on-time delivery
• Owning budgets, P&L, forecasting and cost control
• Lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams and managers
• Partnering with commercial teams on growth opportunities and new services
• Strengthening collaboration across the wider laboratory group
• Ensure a continued focus on quality, compliance, data integrity and safety
• Lead audit readiness, inspections, deviation management, and continuous improvement actions
• Identifying strategic investments, innovation and process improvements
• Provide clear reporting and strategic updates to the Senior Leadership Team

About You

You will bring significant leadership experience from a regulated engineering/scientific laboratory (medical device, pharmaceutical manufacturing, CRO, etc), with proven success leading multi-disciplinary teams. Key requirements include:

• Strong operational and strategic leadership capability
• A decisive, collaborative and positive leadership style that ‘brings people with you’
• Strong commercial and financial ownership, including P&L responsibility
• Deep understanding of laboratory quality and compliance
• Excellent stakeholder and client communication skills
• A track record of driving performance, growth, and continuous improvement
• Engineering/Scientific technical credibility with degree-level qualifications (or equivalent experience)

This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys leading people, operations and strategy with energy and enthusiasm. Apply now to learn more about this unique opportunity!

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Kent

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

07-04-2026

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English