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Job Description

Job Title: Production Laboratory Team Lead
Position Location: East Grinstead
Number of Direct Reports: 20

Background:

When you’re part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, you’ll do challenging work, and be part of a team that values performance, quality and innovation. As part of a successful, growing global organization you will be encouraged to perform at your best. With revenues of $20 billion and the largest investment in R&D in the industry, we give our people the resources and opportunities to make significant contributions to the world.

The Microbiology Division East Grinstead site is the sole manufacturer of SensititreTM AST plates. These are 96 well microtitre plates containing dried antimicrobial agents in various dilutions; used for identification and susceptibility testing of clinical bacterial isolates. Results may be read manually or automatically using the associated SensititreTM instrumentation range.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Operations manager the Production Laboratory Team Lead manages the Production Laboratory and formulation activities, assuming responsibility to ensure products are processed with the highest level of quality and GMP compliance. Delivery in a safe and timely manner that matches customer expectations while meeting all cost commitments is key. The role leads a 7-days per week team of c20 staff, developing an inspiring culture, with a population consisting of laboratory shift leads, senior technicians, lab technicians and support personnel.
The position is responsible for work centre performance including safety, quality, delivery, cost, and efficiency. This role provides leadership and mentorship to ensure that product scheduling, material, equipment and resource availability, and change control are effective in supplying to the site’s customer focused and financial goals. The role will support and encourage the PPI (Practical Process Improvement) Business System within the Production Laboratory, acting as a lean manufacturing champion responsible for RFT, Productivity and eliminating waste whilst improving departmental performance against key metrics.

Responsibilities:

• Drives a safety-first culture, leading by example and setting standards for process and engagement. Creates and maintains a safe work environment, and a high level of safety awareness among associates.
• Role model leader for the Laboratory team with a professional approach and demonstrates all our 'Leadership proficiencies' in all situations.
• Leads performance discussions and assessments, and other employee relations activities.
• Prioritises and supervises personnel and equipment resource planning throughout the department, to ensure customer demand is met.
• Deputise for operations management when required. Be accountable for production quality output timely and in-full.
• Support the troubleshooting of issues in a calm and professional manner and provide clear, concise and appropriate feedback to the business.
• Perform intermediate and finished product batch record review prior to production release, ensuring production and quality protocols are maintained.
• Undertake the upskilling of all team members to optimise team efficiency. Mentor and develop direct reports: Listen, support, engage and encourage employee suggestions and input to achieve excellent results while driving a culture of accountability.
• Further duties and responsibilities as required by the business and within the capabilities of the post holder.
• Providing expertise and problem-solving capability to the team to achieve targets and lead times.

Minimum requirements/qualifications:

• Experience in regulated industry is desirable in an operations position preferably within the medical device or pharmaceutical industry.
• Batch manufacturing experience in a technical or scientific field is ideal, as is GMP experience and a familiarity with a high-throughput, output driven manufacturing setting.
• A role model leader, taking accountability for decisions, team output and departmental performance. Experience in a management or supervisory position desirable.
• Proactive approach, with a desire to coach and lead others to meet both team and individual targets in a fast-paced environment.
• Good collaboration and communication skills; with the ability to lead, train and support others. Comfortable interacting with all levels of the business.
• A continuous process improvement approach with the ability to effectively lead change. Knowledge and experience in Lean techniques. Proficient in process auditing.
• A calm rational approach and ability to act significantly and appropriately when responding to production critical troubleshooting.

This role is offered on a 1 in 3 weekend rotating shift pattern at an average 38 hours per week.