Team Leader Food Sciences Chromatography (9m FTC)

Food Sciences Team Leader

Join Our Mission to Transform Lives Through Science, Innovation and Collaboration

At Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL), we lead the way in scientific analysis, research, consultancy, and training. We provide services to the food, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries, as well as our parent company, Mondelez International. RSSL is dedicated to delivering world-class scientific solutions and outstanding customer service.

Recognised for our excellence, we were awarded CRO of the Year at the 2023 OBN Awards, adding to our previous accolades Employer of the Year, Enlightened Employer and Women in Business. If you are passionate about driving innovation and making a real impact, RSSL is the place for you!

Purpose: In RSSL we are customer-focused, science led and results driven. The RSSL Food Sciences laboratory performs a wide range of analytical analyses for a variety of food and healthcare companies and supports Mondelez research and innovation.

The role of Food Sciences Team Leader will support the maintenance and growth of services to internal clients. Play a key role in ensuring that projects are performed, supervised and reported effectively and accurately within agreed timescales and to appropriate quality standards. This role will manage the day-to-day activities of the team ensuring strong partnering to MDLZ categories. You will manage a team of scientific staff and this role will require client contact and administrative support for laboratory management.

The individual in this position has demonstrated the necessary technical knowledge and business acumen to support the strategic direction for business growth. Additionally, the individual has strong people management skills to influence, manage and motivate a diverse group of scientists comprising different disciplines and capabilities.

Primary Accountabilities / Responsibilities:

Technical

• Provide high quality customer service at all times by ensuring effective organisation of assigned workload, integrity of analytical data generated and timely/accurate provision of results.
• Provide support to senior management to ensure the smooth business and scientific operation of the Laboratory. Effective project management of assigned business process implementation.
• Build and maintain strong MDLZ Stakeholder relations and ensure client expectations are met/exceeded.
• Flexibility to adjust changing priorities based on business/ stakeholder needs, lab capabilities and resourcing.
• Collaborate with MDLZ stakeholders, commercial and relevant technical staff
• Client contact and administrative support for laboratory management, including generation of quotations/proposals

Communication & Influence

• Support Laboratory Manager to ensure achievement of principle accountabilities by selection, direction, motivation and management of staff within the team. Effectively performance manage all direct reports to the required standard.
• Apply strong interpersonal and networking skills to build and maintain effective working relationships with customers, partners, suppliers and staff.
• Liaise with clients, stakeholders, Technical specialist, Commercial and line management to ensure effective communication of proposals and results.

Leadership and supervision

• Ensure performance & development reviews, including objective setting and personal development plans are carried out in accordance with company procedure.
• Ensure all staff are trained in departmental methods and techniques and be accountable for maintaining a compliant training programme.
• Demonstrate strong organisational skills and a keen eye for detail.

QEHS

• Work to the highest standards of safety and quality by ensuring that appropriate COSHHs, risk assessments and SOPs are understood and followed.
• To complete assigned quality actions on a timely manner, including review and approval of UKAS quality actions
• Write and approve SOPs and Test Methods
• Understand and provide technical regulatory leadership in client and UKAS audits
• To maintain a clean, tidy and safe working environment.
• To understand and work to the requirements of UKAS.
• Ensure training records are accurate.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Language Requirements:

• Educated to Degree or PhD in a relevant scientific discipline or equivalent relevant experience in a laboratory.
• Good understanding of chromatographic techniques
• Scientific understanding and ability to independently conduct chemical analysis in relevant area
• Accountable, honest, hardworking and able to work efficiently in a team
• Flexible and adaptable to meet customer/business requirements. Well organised and capable of working on multiple activities concurrently. Meticulous attention to detail
• Good verbal and written skills with the ability to communicate with client's and colleagues
• Self motivated, enthusiastic and quick to learn.
• Able to organise own work and others to maximise output
• Computer literate in standard MS office applications
• Ability to deliver projects/work within tight timescales and ability to motivate and mentor junior scientific staff
• Technical credibility to develop good working relationships with internal and external clients
• Ability to problem solve and plan resources to maintain workflow in delivery of projects
• Experience of working with chromatographic systems and software
• Experience of working in a regulated environment.
• Analytical Project management
• English fluency (written and spoken)

More about this role

In return for your commitment, drive and enthusiasm, we offer an attractive benefits package within a highly successful international business that offers financial rewards and resources, including:

• Opportunities to learn and develop
• Performance Related Bonus scheme
• Contributory pension (between 8% to 11% employer contribution)
• Life assurance
• 27 days holiday allowance (possibility to buy 5 extra days) + bank holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• A flexible benefits programme (Gym discounts, private health insurance, restaurant discounts, etc)

No Relocation support available