Supervisor, Laboratory Operations I

Position Summary

The Supervisor, Laboratory Operations I is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the laboratory, focusing on achieving on-time-delivery, quality compliance and Customer satisfaction through cultivating a high performing and engaged team environment.

The Supervisor, Laboratory Operations I has direct line management responsibility for the Associate Laboratory Technicians, Laboratory Technicians and Senior Laboratory Technicians, communicating pertinent information, proactively addressing issues, and assessing performance.

The Supervisor, Laboratory Operations I also oversees the laboratory scheduling function, making decisions on capacity, work prioritisation, and resource planning.

Duties

• Actively lead and organise laboratory testing staff, allocating workloads as required to achieve the targets set by the daily, weekly and monthly schedule.
• Ensure efficient resource allocation of people and equipment. This includes utilising recruitment, contingency planning and overtime to meet delivery requirements while upholding quality and safety standards.
• Oversee the performance management process for laboratory testing staff. This includes setting annual targets, development plans, appraisals, disciplinary meetings, investigations, and return-to-work meetings.
• Plan, develop and anticipate future challenges, providing solutions as needed to maintain agreed timelines
• Lead daily PIT meetings, setting the agenda, ensuring attendance, and keeping the team informed on targets and updates. Also ensuring that all SQDC board graphics are kept up to date.
• Maintain a visible and active presence actively coaching and developing laboratory testing staff to successfully achieve the demands of their own roles and responsibilities whilst achieving agreed targets.
• Take direct responsibility for the training needs of all laboratory testing staff, strategically determining new training needs, maintaining documentation and ensuring individuals are fully trained as per their job specifications
• Provide feedback weekly to Operations Manager consisting of production figures, performance, recognised issues, and suggested improvements
• Collaborate effectively with a number of key stakeholders including Customer Service, Commercial, Quality and the Manager, Laboratory Operations, ensuring pertinent information is communicated in relation to Laboratory production
• Promote continuous improvement by championing 5S initiatives, leading kaizen events, and supporting the CI Manager

Duties - cont'd

• Assist with the approval of Customer test paperwork whilst also ensuring laboratory testing staff produce accurate and error-free documentation to guarantee right first time
• Lead Continuous Improvement efforts within the Laboratory; promoting the ideas process, SQDC, 5S, Problem Solving and Kaizen methodologies to maintain a culture of continuous improvement
• Drive operational and financial improvements through the consistent challenge of process, procedure, and standard work.
• Ensure a safe work environment by continuously monitoring and auditing lab areas, promptly addressing and documenting unsafe conditions through the Navigator system. Act as a safety champion, leading by example and fostering a culture of safety through promoting safe behaviors, enforcing compliance, and developing improved safety standards within the lab.
• Collaborate with the commercial team to find practical solutions for challenging customer requests
• Deputise as needed for the Operations Manager

General Laboratory Duties

• To ensure all laboratory work is carried out in compliance with local Safety, Health and Welfare regulations and all relevant statutory provisions in conjunction with the laboratory staff and under the direction of the laboratory senior management team.
• Ensure personal protective clothing equipment is worn in accordance with the Health & Safety policy and continuously monitor work area for unsafe conditions and take immediate action to correct unsafe conditions
• To ensure all work in the laboratory is carried out in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice, ISO13485 (Current Revision), ISO17025 (Current Revision) accreditation requirements, internal procedures and in conjunction with the laboratory staff and under the direction of the laboratory senior management team.
• To deal with all STERIS, Customer, and internal parties' information with strict confidentiality at all times and in a professional manner

Education Degree

Bachelor's Degree

Required Experience

• Experience in a leadership role with people management responsibility.
• Experience working in a highly regulated environment.
• Experience of working in a laboratory in the service sector or other fast paced manufacturing environment.
• Prior exposure to managing health and safety requirements
• Experience directly interfacing with Customers
• Experience of demand and capacity planning.
• Experience simultaneously balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge of ISO 17025 and GMP requirements pertaining to laboratory operations
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing Principles (5S, SQDC, Kaizen, 7 Wastes)
• Proven Leadership ability
• Strong Customer facing skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills including cooperation and teamwork
• Excellent IT skills and knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent organisational skills and time management skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Meticulous attention to detail.

STERIS is a leading global provider of products and services that support patient care with an emphasis on infection prevention. WE HELP OUR CUSTOMERS CREATE A HEALTHIER AND SAFER WORLD by providing innovative healthcare and life sciences products and services around the globe. For more information, visit www.steris.com.

STERIS strives to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.