Health and Safety Manager (Laboratory)

Job Title:Laboratory Manager (Health & Safety)

Location:Porton Down, Salisbury

Salary:£37,769 - £43,815

Working:Onsite

Our client is a leading research organisation dedicated to protecting the UK from highly hazardous materials. They operate high-containment chemistry and microbiology laboratories, conducting critical research to enhance national security. The organisation collaborates closely with scientists, facilities management providers, and regulatory bodies to ensure a safe, secure, and resilient working environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure that designated chemistry/biology laboratories and associated facilities are safe to operate and comply with policies, procedures, and relevant regulations.
• Plan and allocate laboratory studies, ensuring they are fit for purpose and meet regulatory standards.
• Develop and implement safe systems of work, including risk assessments and regulatory compliance measures.
• Maintain and oversee laboratory equipment, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
• Identify and mitigate hazards and risks associated with laboratory activities.
• Verify that all users are competent and that planned work aligns with the operational parameters of the facility.
• Liaise with the Facilities Manager regarding changes to work activities that exceed the defined operational scope.
• Suspend activities if safety concerns arise and escalate issues per emergency procedures.
• Act as the primary point of contact for facility management teams, ensuring maintenance contracts are upheld and inspections are completed.
• Oversee health, safety, environmental, and security compliance within the workplace.
• Manage access controls, visitor safety, and contractor supervision.
• Provide out-of-hours advice and emergency on-call support as required.
• Collaborate with other Workplace Managers and Facilities Managers to ensure seamless operational coverage.
• Ensure waste management procedures align with environmental regulations.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• Relevant qualification (e.g., Chemistry/Life Science degree, HND) or equivalent experience.
• Leadership skills to manage workplace operations and implement safe systems of work.
• Experience in hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk management.
• Strong understanding of regulatory compliance in high-containment laboratories.
• Experience supporting regulatory audits and inspections.
• Ability to manage contractor activities and laboratory asset maintenance.
• Experience in health & safety management, including compliance with legislative requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.
• Willingness to obtain a relevant safety qualification (NEBOSH/IOSH) and complete all required training.

Desirable:

• Experience planning and executing emergency response exercises.
• IOSH Technical Membership.

Microbiological Roles:

• Extensive experience managing health & safety in high-containment ACDP level 3 or 4 environments.
• Strong background in hazard management and regulatory compliance in microbiology laboratories.

Chemistry Roles:

• Experience managing health, safety, and environmental aspects in a chemical laboratory setting.
• Background in providing health & safety guidance in high-hazard environments.

Keywords:Laboratory Management, Workplace Safety, Risk Assessment, Regulatory Compliance, Hazard Management, Health & Safety, Facility Management, Emergency Response, High-Containment Laboratories, Chemistry, Microbiology.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a market-leading organisation in an exciting role with excellent career opportunities for further growth.

Electus Recruitment Solutions provides specialist engineering and technical recruitment solutions to a number of high technology industries. We thank you for your interest in this vacancy. If you don't hear from us within 7 working days, please presume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. You are, of course free to resubmit your CV/details in the future and we shall assess your suitability at that time.

Due to the nature of work undertaken at our client's site, incumbents of these positions are required to meet special nationality rules, and therefore, these vacancies are only open to sole British Citizens. Applicants who meet these criteria will also be required to undergo security clearance vetting to SC level.

This is a permanent position.