Laboratory Manager

Job Description: Laboratory Manager
Department: Quality / Laboratory Operations
Reports To: TBC
Location: Louth
Role Summary
Sitting within the site leadership team, the Laboratory Manager oversees all laboratory operations within a food-grade plastic recycling facility. This role ensures that raw materials, in-process materials, and finished recycled plastic products meet strict food safety, regulatory, and customer quality requirements, as appropriate. The manager leads a team of lab technicians, manages testing protocols, maintains compliance with relevant standards (e.g., FDA, EFSA,) and supports continuous improvement within the facility.
Key Responsibilities
Laboratory Operations & Testing
Oversee daily lab activities, ensuring timely and accurate testing of incoming, in-process, and finished recycled plastic materials.
Develop, implement, and maintain laboratory testing methods, SOPs, and work instructions related to food-grade plastic recycling.
Ensure testing complies with food safety requirements, including contamination control, migration testing, physical and chemical analysis, and traceability standards.
Review and validate test results; ensure data integrity and accurate documentation.
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
Act as the specialist focal point for our Customers relating to their specific product requirements.
Ensure lab operations comply with food safety regulations (e.g., FDA/EFSA) requirements for recycled plastics.
Participate in external audits; prepare and maintain required documentation.
Support risk assessments, corrective actions, and preventive measures related to laboratory and production processes.
Ensure proper handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals and test materials in compliance with safety standards.
Leadership & Team Development
Supervise, train, schedule, and mentor laboratory technicians.
Set performance goals, conduct evaluations, and provide ongoing feedback.
Promote a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement within the laboratory.
Equipment & Quality Systems Management
Oversee calibration, maintenance, and proper use of laboratory instruments (e.g., FTIR, GCMS, melt flow index testers, moisture analysers’).
Ensure equipment logs, calibration records, and test documentation meet quality system requirements.
Manage lab inventory, including reference standards, reagents, and supplies.
Continuous Improvement & Technical Support
Identify opportunities to improve testing efficiency, accuracy, and turnaround times.
Collaborate with production and engineering teams to support problem-solving and root-cause investigations.
Provide technical expertise related to plastic material characterisation, contamination risks, and food-grade compliance.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Materials Science, Food Science, Environmental Science, or related field required.
3–5+ years of laboratory experience, preferably in plastics, polymer science, or food-grade materials, in a supervisory or management position.
Skills & Competencies
Strong understanding of plastic recycling processes, polymer properties, and analytical testing techniques.
Knowledge of food safety systems.
Excellent organisational and documentation skills; strong attention to detail.
Effective communication, leadership, and team-building skills.
Ability to troubleshoot laboratory issues and recommend technical solutions.
About the Role
This position is critical to ensuring that recycled plastic products meet stringent quality and food safety requirements. The Laboratory Manager plays a key role in supporting sustainable manufacturing processes while maintaining compliance with industry and regulatory standards