Laboratory Operations Manager
Location: Cambridge, UK
Employment Type: Permanent

Due to an Internal Promotion, We're Hiring! An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and passionate leader to join our team as Laboratory Operations Manager in Cambridge. Following an internal promotion, we are looking for our next Lab Operations Manager to lead laboratory support services across a dynamic and innovative R&D environment. This role is ideal for someone with a strong scientific background, operational leadership experience, and a passion for driving service excellence, digital transformation, and continuous improvement.

About the Role
As the Laboratory Operations Manager, you will lead Lab Support Operations across R&D laboratories, ensuring the delivery of high-quality laboratory support services that enable scientists to focus on groundbreaking research. You will have overall responsibility for operational performance, stakeholder engagement, service innovation, and people leadership while ensuring compliance, safety, and business continuity across multiple laboratory environments. This position requires a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on leadership, with a strong focus on customer experience, operational excellence, and future-proofing laboratory services through innovation and digitalization.

Key Responsibilities
Laboratory Operations & Service Delivery

• Lead Lab Support Operations across R&D laboratories.
• Ensure effective delivery of laboratory support services, stock management, and stores operations.
• Support extended working patterns and evolving business requirements.
• Ensure service continuity and operational excellence across laboratory environments.
• Manage service escalations and drive timely resolution of operational challenges.

Stakeholder & Customer Management

• Act as the primary interface between laboratory users, customers, suppliers, and support functions.
• Lead customer meetings, governance reviews, and operational discussions.
• Build strong relationships with scientific, operational, and leadership stakeholders.
• Provide proactive communication and effective stakeholder management across all levels.
• Promote a customer-focused culture and continuously improve the user experience.

Operational & Financial Management

• Manage operational and financial processes, including cost journaling and cost centre cross-charging activities, building-related operational activities, and evacuation planning and return-to-building processes.
• Ensure resources are effectively managed to meet current and future business needs.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Drive service performance through reporting, metrics, and data analysis.
• Identify trends and opportunities for service enhancements.
• Lead lean initiatives and process improvement projects.
• Evaluate and implement new tools, technologies, and innovative solutions.
• Champion digital transformation and AI-driven initiatives to improve productivity, efficiency, and customer experience.
• Support sustainability and operational excellence programs.

Leadership & People Management

• Provide leadership, coaching, and development for direct reports.
• Create a high-performing and engaged team culture.
• Lead succession planning, talent development, and retention initiatives.
• Ensure clear objectives, accountability, and performance expectations.
• Support workforce planning and recruitment activities.
• Act as deputy for senior leadership when required.

Compliance, Safety & Wellbeing

• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Promote a safe and secure working environment.
• Support associate wellbeing, mental health, and engagement initiatives.
• Actively contribute to first aid and emergency response processes.
• Ensure adherence to company policies, procedures, and laboratory best practices.

What We're Looking For
Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Life Sciences or a related scientific discipline.
• Strong laboratory background with a solid understanding of R&D and laboratory operations.
• Proven experience leading operational teams within a laboratory, scientific, pharmaceutical, or research environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing customer relationships and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong people leadership and team development experience.
• Experience managing KPIs, service metrics, governance reviews, and operational performance.
• Strong resource management skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing abilities.
• Proven ability to lead change and continuous improvement initiatives.

Highly Desirable

• Experience implementing AI solutions to improve operational efficiency and productivity.
• Experience driving digitalisation and technology transformation programs.
• Experience of positive impacts of Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with laboratory relocations, building transitions, or large operational projects.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams within a regulated environment.
• Strong data analytics and reporting capabilities.

Why Join Us?
This is a unique opportunity to lead a critical laboratory support function within a world-class scientific environment. You will play a key role in shaping the future of laboratory operations through innovation, digitalization, and service excellence while leading a talented team dedicated to enabling scientific discovery.

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.

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. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at recruiting@avantorsciences.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.