Laboratory Manager

Laboratory Manager

Working pattern: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:00

Permanent | Cambridge (fully on-site)

Are you an experienced laboratory professional who enjoys creating an environment where scientists can do their best work? We are looking for a proactive and highly organized Laboratory Manager to support our Antibody Discovery, Protein Engineering, Biology, and Biopharmaceutical Development teams.

In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring laboratory operations run efficiently, safely, and compliantly while acting as a key point of contact for scientists, vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders. Success in this position requires strong stakeholder management skills, the ability to build trusted relationships across multiple functions, and the confidence to escalate issues appropriately to ensure business continuity and uninterrupted scientific delivery.

About the Role

Working closely with research teams, facilities management, suppliers, and service providers, you will ensure laboratory infrastructure, equipment, consumables, and operational processes are fully supported. You will play a critical role in enabling scientific excellence by removing operational barriers and continuously improving laboratory effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Operations

• Serve as the primary point of contact for laboratory users, visitors, suppliers, and contractors.
• Ensure laboratories operate efficiently and remain fully functional at all times.
• Coordinate preventative maintenance activities and resolve facility-related issues with minimal disruption to laboratory operations.
• Support visits from internal stakeholders, external collaborators, auditors, and regulatory bodies.
• Manage laboratory consumables and maintain appropriate inventory levels.
• Deliver laboratory inductions and support onboarding of new laboratory users.
• Coordinate periodic laboratory cleans and workspace organization activities.
• Maintain and continuously improve orientation and onboarding plans for new starters.
• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory processes, efficiency, and user experience.

Equipment Management

• Coordinate installation, servicing, maintenance, qualification, and repair of laboratory equipment.
• Partner with internal technical teams and external service providers to ensure equipment reliability.
• Monitor equipment utilization and identify opportunities to maximize the use of laboratory assets.
• Act as a super-user for designated laboratory instruments where required.
• Support equipment qualification activities, including IQ/OQ/PQ processes.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Support laboratory compliance with health, safety, environmental, and quality requirements.
• Assist with risk assessments, COSHH documentation, and laboratory safety initiatives.
• Participate in laboratory audits and inspections and coordinate follow-up actions.
• Serve as a representative on safety and operations committees.
• Promote a strong culture of safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure relevant health and safety communications are effectively shared with laboratory users.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with scientists, department leaders, suppliers, contractors, and service providers.
• Manage stakeholder expectations across a complex and fast-paced research environment.
• Support cross-functional projects and operational initiatives.
• Coordinate external vendors to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Act as a trusted operational partner to laboratory leadership.
• Provide clear communication and regular updates to stakeholders.
• Identify operational risks and proactively escalate issues to the appropriate teams and leaders to ensure timely resolution.
• Effectively manage competing priorities while balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement & Business Support

• Support laboratory-based projects and operational improvement initiatives.
• Monitor laboratory operational activities and identify efficiency opportunities.
• Support change-control activities where required.
• Contribute to cost-saving initiatives and operational excellence programs.
• Assist with the introduction of new technologies, processes, and laboratory capabilities.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline or equivalent laboratory experience.
• Several years of experience working within a laboratory environment.
• Experience supporting or managing busy, multi-user laboratory spaces.
• Knowledge of laboratory operations, health and safety requirements, and compliance standards.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a matrix environment with multiple stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and drive positive outcomes.
• Experience building collaborative relationships across different functions and organizational levels.
• Comfortable handling challenging situations and escalating issues when required.
• Strong customer-service mindset with a focus on delivering solutions.

Preferred

• Experience working within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or research environments.
• Knowledge of GxP requirements, audit processes, CAPAs, and laboratory quality systems.
• Experience with Lean or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Knowledge of equipment qualification processes, including IQ/OQ/PQ.
• Experience with budget monitoring, procurement, and vendor management.

What You'll Bring

• A proactive and hands-on approach.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to build trusted relationships.
• Confidence in raising concerns and managing escalations professionally and effectively.
• The ability to influence and communicate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent planning, organizational, and prioritization skills.
• A collaborative mindset with a passion for supporting scientific teams.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic research environment.
• A continuous-improvement mindset focused on delivering operational excellence.

Interested? Let`s talk!
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Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science.
 
The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor.
 
We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world. Apply today!

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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