Laboratory Manager

Fantastic company culture
- Various insurance benefits
- Strategy-level leadership role

Our client is an innovative and well-established Waikato-based business who are recognised globally for their specialised dairy ingredients and food products. A New Zealand-owned dairy company, they have been successfully forging their own path for over 100 years and their products are exported to all corners of the world.

We are looking for a Laboratory Manager with an extremely strong and successful background in large scale laboratory management. Reporting to the Technical Services Manager, this position is responsible for day to day and long-term strategic management of this dairy production facility’s test labs (chemistry and microbiology). With 6 direct reports and a total team of around 30 staff covering a 7-day operation, the role will require someone with a strong but supportive leadership style, who is able to identify what motivates their team and use this to provide personal and professional development.

While you won’t need to be an expert in both analytical chemistry and microbiology, ideally you will have strengths in one of these including test implementation and how the labs work to current and future regulatory standards. You’ll also have a proven ability to work cross-functionally with other operations teams and encourage your team to do the same. It goes without saying that you will have strong relationship building, communication and interpersonal skills, and have a sense of instilling urgency to provide good customer service but without compromising on quality of that service.

A background in commercial laboratories where food, dairy or pharmaceutical products are tested would be ideal as would running the laboratories for large scale dairy or food manufacturing facilities.

**Expected traits, qualifications and experience will include**:

- A qualification in science or technology (or similar)
- Minimum of 5 years senior laboratory management within a large commercial or operational laboratory
- 10+ years hands on experience in chemistry and/or microbiology
- Proven ability to gain the trust of your team and strategically develop them
- Outstanding communication and relationship skills
- Strong strategic thinker
- Technical competence with laboratory equipment and IT tools
- Knowledge and experience in appropriate food and dairy regulations
- Excellent time management and organisational skills

This role will be based at our client’s dairy production facility near Morrinsville. The position is full time and permanent working 40 hours a week and attracts a salary band of $120-140K.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a business with a fantastic reputation as an employer, in a work environment that allows you to broaden your product and process knowledge.
- Note: If this vacancy is not exactly what you are seeking, then please contact me in confidence to discuss your individual requirements._