Laboratory Engineering & Operations Manager

Southampton | £30m R&D Innovation Centre | Monday–Friday | Site-based

Could you lead the technical operation that keeps nine specialist laboratories running at the cutting edge of science?

Beautiful Recruitment is working with a global specialist in laboratory facilities management and scientific equipment maintenance to appoint a Laboratory Engineering & Operations Manager at a prestigious £30 million R&D Innovation Centre in Southampton.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Operations Manager, Laboratory Engineering Manager, Laboratory Services Manager, Technical Operations Manager or Scientific Equipment Manager to take responsibility for a complex, highly technical laboratory environment.

The site is home to more than 400 scientists and engineers, working across nine specialist laboratories and technical spaces to deliver world-class research and product development.

You’ll play an important role in keeping this scientific operation running smoothly, ensuring the equipment, engineering support and technical services are available when researchers need them.

And with a diverse range of equipment — from laboratory automation and benchtop systems through to HPLC, GC-MS, mass spectrometry, autoclaves, refrigerators and freezers — there is plenty of variety.

The role

Our client has been appointed to manage the laboratory equipment assets and maintenance services across the Southampton site.

As the Laboratory Engineering & Operations Manager, you’ll have overall responsibility for the delivery of laboratory equipment service and maintenance across all nine laboratories and workspaces.

You’ll lead a team of four, including laboratory equipment engineers, calibration technicians and a laboratory service coordinator.

You’ll work closely with the customer’s Laboratory Managers and wider site teams, ensuring the engineering and equipment service operation consistently delivers a high-quality service.

This is a hands‑on leadership role combining people management, laboratory operations, engineering services, customer relationships and continuous improvement.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll lead and develop the on‑site technical team, creating a collaborative and high‑performing environment.

You’ll oversee planned preventative maintenance, reactive maintenance, calibration, troubleshooting and laboratory equipment servicing, ensuring work is completed efficiently and with minimal disruption to the scientific teams.

You’ll manage third‑party service agreements and coordinate external vendors working on site, making sure service levels, quality and customer expectations are maintained.

You’ll monitor operational performance through KPIs, customer satisfaction and service delivery metrics, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reliability.

You’ll also manage budgets, asset information and operational reporting, using SAP and other CRM or asset management systems to maintain effective control.

Working closely with Laboratory Managers and key stakeholders, you’ll build strong relationships and become a trusted point of contact for laboratory engineering and equipment services.

You’ll also play an important role in recruiting, coaching, mentoring and developing your team, helping to build a skilled and engaged technical workforce.

As the operation continues to develop, you’ll have the opportunity to introduce continuous improvement initiatives and new ways of working that enhance the service delivered across the site.

Who could this role suit?

We’re particularly interested in experienced laboratory and technical leaders who are ready for their next challenge.

You may currently be a:Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Operations Manager, Laboratory Engineering Manager, Laboratory Services Manager, Technical Operations Manager, Scientific Equipment Manager, Laboratory Equipment Service Manager, Life Science Facilities Manager

You could have gained your experience within pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, analytical chemistry, medical devices, scientific equipment, laboratory services, R&D or another highly regulated technical environment.

You don’t necessarily need to have followed one specific career path. We’re looking for someone who understands laboratory operations, can lead technical teams and has experience managing equipment maintenance, engineering services or laboratory assets.

What you’ll need

You’ll ideally have at least five years’ experience in laboratory, laboratory services, engineering operations or technical management, together with experience leading engineers, technicians or other technical staff.

You’ll need strong people management and communication skills, commercial awareness and the ability to manage budgets, suppliers and competing operational priorities.

Experience working within a GLP, pharmaceutical, biotech, analytical, medical device or similar R&D environment would be advantageous, although relevant experience from other technical R&D settings will be considered.

You’ll also need:

• Experience managing laboratory equipment maintenance, service or asset operations.
• Experience coordinating planned preventative maintenance and technical service delivery.
• Strong leadership, coaching and performance management skills.
• Experience managing budgets and operational performance.
• Good working knowledge of Excel and experience using SAP or a similar CRM/asset management system.
• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Quality, Business or another relevant discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• The ability to work on site in Southampton Monday–Friday.

Why this opportunity?

This isn’t simply a role managing laboratory equipment.

You’ll be responsible for the people, performance and technical operation supporting a major R&D environment, working alongside hundreds of scientists and engineers.

You’ll have the opportunity to make a visible difference to how a £30m innovation centre operates while leading a specialist team and developing your career within the life sciences and laboratory services sector.

If you’re an experienced Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Operations Manager, Laboratory Engineering Manager, Laboratory Services Manager, Technical Operations Manager or Scientific Equipment Manager and you’re ready for your next move, we’d love to hear from you

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