Lab Team Leader

Laboratory Team Leader

Food manufacturing · Coleraine, Northern Ireland

The role

We're looking for an experienced Laboratory Team Leader to be the quality gatekeeper on a fast-paced food manufacturing site. You'll lead by example, ensuring every product leaving the factory meets food safety and customer specifications - and you'll coach and support the wider team to do the same.

Key responsibilities

• Act as the primary Quality contact on the production floor during operational hours
• Own the hold order process - assess samples and make timely release or reject decisions
• Investigate non-conformances and complaints using Intelex, feeding into accurate RFT reporting
• Analyse laboratory samples, escalating any out-of-spec results appropriately
• Maintain and update SOPs and the team training matrix
• Lead Tier 1 team huddles and support Tier 2 meetings as required
• Prepare, calibrate, and swab equipment in line with EMP standards
• Support customer audits and help train new team members
• Manage lab consumables stock and ensure all components are submitted for testing via Lab portals

Working Pattern

Following an initial training period on day shift, this role moves to a rotating 12-hour shift pattern, approximately 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Weekend working is not required.

What We're Looking For