Trace Elements Section Head

The operations teamwork may be subjected to strict accreditation so needs to be carried out competently adhering to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 and any other required method accreditations.
Maintain good communication channels with all staff within the department at all times is an essential part of this role. It is necessary to work closely with the Technical Department, QA Department, Customer Services and the Laboratory Operations Manager to support with training, equipment maintenance and Health & Safety.
Responsible for the timely completion of the routine analytical work and ensuring that it is carried out to the required standards, working efficiently and effectively to minimise waste and time used.
JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES
People

• Lead the team by coaching, counselling, motivating, and managing performance as needed; planning, monitoring and appraising job results; directing and maintaining activities designed to achieve and maintain high employee morale; fostering intra- and inter-department cooperation.


• Manage the recruitment, engagement and ongoing development of the individuals in the team.


• Ensure Cawood policies are adhered to and when necessary, conduct HR meetings.


• Manage and oversee thorough training of a team of analysts and technicians.


• Mentoring and training of direct reports.


• Ensuring training needs of the laboratory are identified and resolved in a timely manner to enable staff to perform their designated tasks efficiently and safely.


• Ensure all training records are always accurate and up to date.


• Support senior management and communicate changes and developments within the department and providing resource when required.


• Plan workloads and manage the workload of staff across Laboratory Analytical departments so all to optimise test TAT.


• Conduct and ensure Laboratory Risks Assessments are carried out.


Operations

• Managing resource requirements for safe and efficient daily laboratory operations. Allocate staff to suitable areas so that all processes are completed within agreed time scales, to all quality criteria and in the most cost-effective manner.


• Manage and ensure maintenance of all the operations, procedures, policies, and equipment within the Section to the highest standards and conform to all UKAS requirements


• Provide analytical support to the department solving technical problems that could be instrumental or methodology related.


• Ensure effective organisation, integrity of analytical data and provision of results


• Managing analytical testing to support routine operations.


• Assist in the Technical Team in the development and validation of new methods following internal protocols.


• Improve the operations efficiency, make good use of IT to achieve high efficiency.


• Support the development, implementation and optimal use of the Company's Laboratory Information Management System and ensure its efficient usage at all levels of the laboratory to improve productivity and profitability.


• Improve the technical and scientific aspects of the business units by ensuring the appropriate development and application of new techniques and business processes.


• Read and comply with Company rules, procedures, agreements, and any notices displayed by the Company throughout your location.


• Developing and maintaining an overview of all methods, instrumentation, and documentation in the business.


• Managing the maintenance of the procedures, policies, and equipment on site.


• Manage the Interpretation of complex data and implement corrective action for any actual, or anticipated deviations from key objectives or timelines.


• Attend Technical meetings as required.


• Ensure all non-conforming work investigations (including QC failures and rechecks) are completed in a timely manner with suitable corrective and preventative actions


• To work with Compliance / Technical Support to ensure appropriate procedures and documentation is in place for all work processes.


• Ensure that EBOS is embedded in all process activities (Visual Management, Problem Solving, Kaizen, and Delivering Results).


Customer

• Support the General Manager to ensure that the relations with the clients are good and efficient.


• Maintain customer satisfaction, including of internal customers.


• Attendance at Customer meetings as required.


Communication

• Liaising with Customer Services, Business Development and Technical Services where required. This would include communicating any operational issues in a timely fashion and occasionally directly with clients to provide feedback and relay anomalies with analytical data and methods.


• Liaise with Technical support to set up new methods, manage and improve established methods


• Communicate with compliance in the documentation of non-conforming work and quality control discrepancies


• Communicate with the Laboratory Operations Manager, GM and HR on the recruitment, and management of staff.


• Communicate with engineers and service providers to ensure the upkeep and longevity of instrumentation.


• Participate in regular Quality meetings and communicate technical information on methods with both internal and external auditors


• Create strong communication and management processes and routines to ensure staff are aware of the business performance.


Quality, Environmental and Safety

• Managing control of chemicals and consumables purchasing across the site


• Guarantee and control that all relevant legal and Health & Safety requirements are being abided to, in the labs under direct or indirect responsibility, that the accreditations are being maintained and regularly expanded and that all employees act according to Cawood values.


• Work to the highest standards of safety and quality by ensuring that appropriate COSHHs, risk assessments and SOPs are understood and followed.


• Maintain a clean, tidy and safe working environment.


• To complete assigned quality actions in a timely manner, and thoroughly investigate QC failures and atypical results.


CORE COMPETENCIES
Leadership

• Inspire teams through your own behaviour within a culture that encourages transparency and trust.


• Motivate & encourage your teams to realise their potential.


• Celebrate success - analyse & learn when things go wrong.
  
  This role is located in NRM, within the Cawood Scientific Agriculture Division. NRM, part of the Cawood Scientific Group, are the UK's largest independent provider of agronomic and environmental waste analysis for land-based industries. We offer water, soil, manures, fertilisers and plant tissue analysis to farmers, growers and agronomists for improved farm productivity, as well as land-based environmental services including composted waste, anaerobic digestate, effluents and industrial renewables.
  
  Provide your team with the access and knowledge required to do their job.


• Collaborate with your team on decisions that impact them.


• Support your team with the confidence to make their own decisions.


Management

• People, process, performance, standards, and communication.


• Understand, adopt, and demonstrate core values through your own work and behaviour.


Development

• Strive to develop your team's performance & skills through learning and development.


• Build depth throughout your team - encourage progression within and prepare for the future.


Continuous Improvement

• Create a culture of continuous improvement, striving to improve the team's understanding of industry requirements and guidance.


• Encourage innovative thinking and collaboration to realise increased positive outcomes for colleagues and the group.