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Laboratory and Quality Manager (6084)
Laboratory and Quality Manager
Faculty/Department
Vet Hub
Salary Scale
£59,966.34 - £67,468.37 per annum (pro rata)
Contract Type
Fixed Term
Duration
Fix term for 2 years in the first instance
Full-time / Part-time
Full-Time
Weekly Hours
36.5
Employment Visa
Sponsorable
Posted Date
26/01/2026
Closing Date
08/02/2026
Ref No
6084
Documents
- VH.26.6084 Disgrifiad Swydd (Word, 1083.27kb)
- VH.26.6084 Job Description (Word, 1086.55kb)
Job Description
The Role
What you’ll do
Who You Are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge And Skills Required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa
The Role
To make an informal enquiry, please contact Dr Amanda Gibson at amg39@aber.ac.uk or Jackie Sayce jqs@aber.ac.uk
Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check, medical surveillance and (where applicable) government security clearance.
Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.
What you’ll do
This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.
VetHub1 is a £4.2m Innovation Cluster providing secure facilities to research Animal and Human Pathogens. The Facility is set in the heart of the Aberystwyth University campus with access to world leading academic expertise and state of the art laboratory equipment. VetHub1 has some of the best Containment Level 3 and Containment Level 2 facilities in the UK. As part of a new initiative, VetHub1 has exciting opportunities available in a new animal disease testing facility. VetHub1 works closely with the Sêr Cymru Centre of Excellence for Bovine TB, together these facilities enable cutting edge research in microbiology, immunology and microbial genetics and facilitate in-depth studies of host-pathogen interactions.
The Laboratory and Quality Manager will act as an integral part of developing and running a new Centre to deliver a service to provide animal disease diagnostic testing from VetHub1. The role holder will work as part of a team within the laboratories to develop tests to meet regional and national demand for a fast, reliable, and high-quality diagnostic service. The Centre will ultimately support animal health surveillance, enhance teaching and research, and provide a public service through early detection and monitoring of emerging diseases. The role holder will support the development, implementation, and maintenance of quality management systems such as ISO17025.
A secondment opportunity is particularly welcomed.
This job description is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.
Planning:
The role holder will be required to:
- Contribute to the planning of the diagnostic service from conception to delivery, including achieving and maintaining UKAS accreditation, working with internal and external collaborators to meet project milestones.
- Review the current laboratory infrastructure (CL2 and CL3) and overseeing procurement of new equipment and infrastructure changes.
- Develop and oversee the implementation and maintenance systems for ISO17025 (and other) to ensure compliance within the laboratory, including data validation.
- Develop and implement quality policies, SOPS, risk assessments, and procedures to embed laboratory processes.
- Recruit and line manage staff as and when required.
Operational:
- Manage the effective operation of the veterinary research facilities on a day-to-day basis.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives, training and promote a culture of quality and safety within the laboratories.
- Train or facilitate the training of staff, new and experienced, in new techniques and ensure staff maintenance of competence.
- Undertake laboratory work, including classical virology, molecular (PCR and sequencing) and serological (virus neutralisation and ELISA) within high containment (ACDP3/SAPO3/Schedule 5) facilities and in ACDP 2 containment laboratories when necessary.
- Take responsibility for managing a UKAS accredited diagnostic service to deliver testing for animal diseases.
- Plan and conduct regular internal audits to assess the effectiveness of the quality management system and implement corrective actions as necessary to maintain UKAS accreditation.
- Be responsible for document control relating to UKAS accreditation
- Coordinate external audits by accreditation and legislative bodies (i.e. UKAS and HSE) and ensure the laboratories are prepared for assessments and inspections.
- Ensure supplier and subcontractor compliance in line with UKAS requirements with assistance from the Technician.
- Planning and conducting ISO 17025 (and other associated) management reviews.
- Establish and monitor quality control charts
- Participate in Proficiency Testing schemes
- Provide guidance on biosafety, good laboratory practice, and quality standards.
- Identify risks, improvements and opportunities, to present to Facility senior management with an aim to improve laboratory and management processes.
- Take responsibility for reviewing and maintaining risk assessments related to accredited tests.
- Reviewing and writing Standard Operating Procedures.
- Analyse and prepare data for accreditation.
- Deliver presentations at meetings (internal and external).
- Investigating non-conformances and identifying effective corrective actions in collaboration with the laboratory staff.
- Supporting investigations and complaint handling.
- Preparing and hosting regular meetings with laboratory staff.
- To support the university strategy and underlining plans, engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop yourself and support the development of others.
- Ensure and promote the personal health, safety and wellbeing of staff and students as well as working to support the University’s environmental sustainability agenda and practices.
- Perform duties in a manner that promotes fairness, fosters trust, and reflects and upholds the University's values.
- Commitment to advancing equality of opportunity and support diversity and inclusion.
- To undertake such other duties which may be reasonably requested and are commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.
- Flexibility for evening and weekend events, national and international travel and activity as required.
- This role requires satisfactory DBS (The Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance.
The above does not represent an exhaustive list of duties associated with this role.
Who You Are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge And Skills Required
Candidates are required to demonstrate how they meet the essential and desirable requirements in their application form.
Essential
- A degree (or equivalent experience) in a biological or biomedical science discipline or equivalent work experience.
- Demonstrable experience of laboratory management, ideally within a diagnostic laboratory environment.
- Experience of working to ISO17025.
- Experience of developing (or contributing to the development of) laboratory quality management systems for ISO accreditation, including risk management and SOP development.
- Experience of or willingness to, work at high containment ACDP Hazard Group 3, SAPO/Schedule 5.
- Previous experience in working with electronic sample and laboratory test management systems (e.g., LIMS); be able to identify issues and solutions and execute action plans that lead to resolution.
- Strong understanding of biosafety regulations and compliance frameworks.
- Experience of providing health & safety advice and support.
- Willingness to undertake security clearance and occupational health surveillance as required.
- Demonstrated ability to promote and maintain a safe, inclusive, and compliant laboratory environment.
- Willingness to undertake security clearance, medical surveillance and have inoculations relevant to the post.
- Demonstrable willingness to deal with out of hours emergencies in the facility.
- Willingness to undertake shift work (on a rota basis, when the Centre is operational and responding to surge or outbreak response), which may include occasional weekend or bank holiday work depending on diagnostic service needs.
- Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually.
Desirable
- In-depth knowledge of infectious diseases and containment practices.
- Postgraduate qualification in infectious diseases, microbiology, or a related biomedical field.
- Experience with regulatory audits and inspections.
- Formal biosafety training or previous role as BSO/Deputy BSO.
- Experience working in CL3 laboratories with ACDP Hazard Group 3 pathogens.
- Provide specialist input on infectious diseases and related laboratory work.
- Knowledge of genetically modified organism (GMO) work and associated compliance requirements.
- Experience mentoring or supporting junior staff and students in a laboratory setting.
- Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B1*
- More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/
How to apply
To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.
Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Benefits
- Flexible working policy
- 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
- Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
- Commitment to Professional Development
- Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
- Staff recognition and reward schemes
- Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
- Staff relocation bursary
- Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
- Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.
Please keep reading
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.
We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Employment Visa
We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.
Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will
not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.
Any Prospective Candidates Coming To Work For AU Under The SWR Will Require a Minimum Of 70 Points, Made Up Of The Following:
Skilled Worker Route Points-Based System
Points
Meets (Yes / No)
Mandatory / Non-tradeable Criteria (50 points)
A job offer from a UK licensed sponsor
20 points
Yes
Job is above the minimum sponsorable skill level
20 points
Yes
Appointed candidate to have appropriate knowledge of the English language*
10 points
Yes
Total = 50 points
Tradeable Criteria (dependent on candidate appointed)
Salary meets minimum threshold
20 points
The candidate holds a PhD in a subject relevant to the job
10 points
The candidate holds a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job
20 points
The advertised role is on the UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL)
20 points
- Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:
- A national of a majority English speaking country
- Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC)
- Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.
For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
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