Nutritional Laboratory Team Leader

Are You Ready to Make an Impact at RSSL?     Join Our Mission to Transform Lives Through Science, Innovation and Collaboration     At Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL), we lead the way in scientific analysis, research, consultancy, and training. We provide services to the food, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries, as well as our parent company, Mondelez International. We are not just dedicated to delivering world-class scientific solutions and outstanding customer service, we are recognised for it.  We were named Best Performing Professional Services Company of the Year at the One Nucleus Awards and CRO of the Year at the OBN awards.  We were also finalists for multiple recent multiple awards recognising our commitment to skills and rising talent. Purpose: In RSSL we are customer focused, science led and results driven. The RSSL Nutritional laboratory performs a Group 2 nutritional analyses for a variety of food companies . The Nutritional Team Leader role focuses on the maintenance and growth of services to clients and will manage operations and optimise a high-volume nutritional testing laboratory from end-to-end. This role focuses on the management of day-to-day activities, improving lean automated processes for rapid turnaround times, ensuring quality, safety, and compliance, and driving technological integration across all lab functions. You will manage a team of scientific staff (c. 5 FTEs) and will be accountable for ensuring that work is processed in a timely fashion whilst adhering to the prerequisite quality standards expected by RSSL clients and stakeholders. The individual in this position will have a deep understanding of laboratory operations, end to end workflow, automation, LIMS integration, process optimization, and management within a food or similar analytical environment. The position will be primarily based at the Reading although may require attendance of any of the RSSL sites. Primary Accountabilities / Responsibilities: Technical Provide high quality customer service at all times by ensuring effective organisation of workload, integrity of analytical data generated and timely/accurate provision of results. Maintain a high level of competency in the use of the laboratories LIMS & data handling systems  to effectively manage workflow & monitor financial performance. Provide support to senior management to ensure the smooth business and scientific operation of the Laboratory. Optimize the sample flow management process, from sample receipt and booking to storage, analysis, and report release, with a strong focus on automation for lean operations. Flexibility to adjust changing priorities based on business/ stakeholder needs, lab capabilities and resourcing. Manage sample preparation logistics, ensuring efficient workflow and material handling. Collaborate with commercial to identify growth opportunities. Plan, allocate and administer resources to support business growth whilst managing the laboratory budget. Responsible for project delivery including checking analytical data and generation of certificate of analysis. Responsible for Quality and ensuring work is carried out to the highest standard, recorded as required quality standards and reported in a timely and professional manner. Communication & Influence Support Food Sciences Group Leader to ensure achievement of principle accountabilities by selection, direction, motivation and management of staff within the Nutritional Laboratory. Effectively performance manage all direct reports to the required standard.  Apply strong interpersonal and networking skills to build and maintain effective working relationships with customers, partners, suppliers and staff. Liaise with clients, stakeholders, Technical specialist, Commercial and line management to ensure effective communication of proposals and results. Utilise technical and communication skills and actively leverage resources in the generation of new business.