Laboratory Manager
// Role Summary
Join QinetiQ as a Laboratory Manager at our Farnborough site, overseeing the safe and effective operation of multiple laboratories and facilities. This role involves managing equipment, ensuring compliance, and supporting cutting-edge defence technology projects.
// Key Responsibilities
- Manage and maintain safe laboratory operations and facilities.
- Ensure compliance with HSE, security, accreditation, and audit requirements.
- Oversee test and measurement equipment lifecycle management.
- Support procurement, facility improvements, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Requires industry-relevant technical qualifications and laboratory management experience.
- Eligible for SC clearance as a minimum.
// Role Specification
Laboratory Manager - Farnborough
Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we are creating tomorrow by developing cutting-edge defence technology and ground-breaking innovations to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Laboratory Manager at our Farnborough site, where you will have the opportunity to work with advanced technology alongside brilliant minds.
The Role
As a Laboratory Manager, you will be responsible for the creation and maintenance of safe and effective operations across several laboratories and facilities at our Farnborough site. Your day-to-day activities will involve coordinating and deconflicting facilities and equipment with internal and external customers and contractors.
Responsibilities:
- Support the delivery of research and project-based facilities, ensuring efficient delivery, quality, cost control, and adherence to security, governance, and business requirements.
- Maintain compliance with Health & Safety (H&S), security, accreditation, and audit requirements, ensuring risk assessments, COSHH assessments, hazard logs, first aid provisions, and governance documentation are up-to-date.
- Oversee test and measurement equipment across multiple laboratories, including calibration, maintenance, PAT testing, asset tracking, and lifecycle management.
- Manage facility operations, arrange contractors for local works, ensure specialist protective equipment is available and maintained, and oversee specialist facility processes.
- Support procurement activities, raise purchase orders in line with JOSCAR and vendor controls, specify and acquire new equipment, and deliver internal change projects of varying size and complexity.
- Conduct inspections and assurance activities, maintain audit evidence, contribute to performance reviews, manage equipment and waste disposal processes, and drive continuous improvement initiatives across the facility.
Essential Experience:
- Experience working within a laboratory environment managing equipment, systems, or facilities.
- Strong knowledge of H&S, governance, and security requirements, with experience applying internal and external regulations.
- Engineering background with a solid understanding of related disciplines such as electrical, electronic, instrumentation, or chemical sciences.
- Proven ability to interpret regulations, ensure compliance, and provide practical guidance on H&S matters.
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and stakeholders.
- Ability to quickly understand diverse technical environments, assess their impact on capability development, and support ongoing improvement.
Essential Qualifications:
- Industry-relevant technical qualifications such as a recognised Apprenticeship, City and Guilds, BTEC, or Foundation Degree.
We value difference and welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and education, provided you demonstrate the required level of experience and willingness to learn.
This role is 37 hours per week, based at our Farnborough site, with a minimum average site attendance of three days per week. Our Farnborough site is a hub of creativity, research, and innovation, featuring state-of-the-art facilities for high-energy laser technologies, a unique 5m pressurised wind tunnel, and significant R&D projects. Join our talented teams to provide future defences for the UK.
Why Join QinetiQ?
As we grow into new markets, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. Our success is driven by our appetite for innovation and the courage to tackle complex challenges. As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where diverse teams collaborate openly to solve complex problems. We offer an inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued, and realise your full potential. Visit our website to learn more about our culture: www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq
Our Benefits:
- Matched contribution pension scheme with life assurance.
- Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days.
- Options for Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance, and Dental Insurance.
- Employee discount portal offering savings on Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets, and more.
- We proudly support the Armed Forces community, honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and holding a Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
- Volunteering opportunities to support charities and local communities.
Our Recruitment Process:
We strive to make our recruitment process as inclusive as possible, creating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your Recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.
Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting. Applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it. Please note that a number of roles have additional restrictions related to nationality or previous nationalities.
Security Clearance: All applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance as a minimum.