This role is located in the United Kingdom at our business unit, Chemtech Environmental, within the Cawood Scientific Environment Division. Chemtech Environmental, part of Cawood Scientific, is one of the UK's largest independent chemical analysis testing labs. Based in County Durham, we are able to service the testing needs of customers from all over the UK and Ireland. We also hold a soil importing licence so are happy to discuss International testing projects. Learn more about Chemtech Environmental by clicking here Job Description: The Technical Manager position will require you to have spent time in UKAS accredited lab that has a commercial focus, you will have honed your critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. You will be able to identify areas for improvement in processes and pose actions with attention to detail that is second to none. Deadlines are your driving force but you always have a keen eye on meeting standards. Responsibilities of the Technical Manager: Communicate with other departments Be a role model and set an example to all staff Facilitate and manage method development activities in conjunction with the Quality Team Champion Health & Safety throughout the laboratory and actively promote good Health & Safety practice Carry out risk assessments within the laboratory and ensure staff comply with their requirements Identify opportunities for improvement in Health & Safety Ensure the requirements of the Quality Manual and UKAS Accreditation Standards are met on a day-to-day basis Control and monitor the quality policy within the laboratory Attend Quality meetings to report on quality matters within the laboratory Identify opportunities for improvement in analysis Liaise with the Quality Manager on all aspects of UKAS accreditation and to facilitate EtS applications Plan, undertake and/or supervise and produce reports for validation activities Devise with the Quality Team a regulatory strategy for expanding the laboratories scope of accreditation Undertake Method audits Carry out technical review of methods and procedures Facilitate NWR investigations and root cause analysis Provide technical support for the Reporting Team with complaints / query investigations Inventory all items of equipment & label accordingly Plan internal and external equipment calibrations Ensure daily checks by staff within laboratory section are carried out Maintain equipment & calibration records Carry out equipment trouble shooting and maintenance Ensure internal AQC is adequate Maintain and review internal AQC charts including significance testing and lead investigations for significant changes in bias/precisions Liaise with the Quality Manager for PT participation to reflect the type and scope of work undertaken Co-ordinate PT analysis within the laboratory in conjunction with the Quality Team to ensure that analysis is carried out in a timely fashion Liaise with the Quality Team in reviewing PT performance, provide feedback to analysts and facilitate PT failure investigations Develop and produce training plans for laboratory staff Co-ordinate and carry out staff training and ensure training records are maintained within laboratory section Carry out ongoing competence reviews Requirements of a Technical Manager: Ability to work independently using good judgement, and as a team player Resourceful, reliable and self-motivated Strong work ethic Excellent communication skills including verbal and listening Focused attention to detail Adept at time management and able to work with deadlines Flexible, accommodating and positive approach Cawood is the UK’s leading scientific group, recognised for its technical capability and value-added service to customers. We provide laboratory analysis to the agriculture, food and environmental sectors, as well as contract research to GLP standards to support the development of agrochemicals, biocides and other chemicals. Our field services team offers measurement and monitoring for water, construction and ecology across the UK. Cawood is the largest independent provider of analytical laboratory testing and sampling services for the land-based industries in the UK. With 15 sites around the country specialising in different types of analysis, we are always looking for skilled and talented individuals to join our teams. Our values of PRIDE underpin our approach: Partnership, Responsiveness, Innovation, Decency and Expertise. You can read about our values and how they make a difference to our people and our customers here. Our people make Cawood what it is. No matter how technically advanced and sophisticated our equipment, it is our people who keep our customers satisfied. Accuracy across a high number of tests and continually looking for ways to innovate and improve are key to our future. This is an exciting time to join Cawood. The business is growing and there are plenty of opportunities for people who want to work hard, have fun and be part of our success. We spend a lot of our lives at work, so it’s important to us to make Cawood a place our people enjoy working. Cawood is a flexible employer, offering flextime, overtime and time off in lieu to help colleagues manage their work in a way that suits them as well as the business. We believe in working together to find the best outcome for all and we foster a culture of friendliness and family within our teams. Why do people enjoy working at Cawood? Here’s what our colleagues say: “The people we work with are fun and supportive, even during the more difficult days” “The flexibility that is offered, especially when you have worked in other laboratory environments” “The GOAL, the growth plans and opportunities for development in a range of skills” “The new leadership team and their ambition to invest in people” This year’s People Plan builds upon this fun, flexible and family feel to make Cawood one of the best places to work. Russell Vaughan Russell joined Cawood shortly after leaving university in our Mambo-Tox laboratory and has worked on the majority of our studies, from basic lab experiments to full-sized field studies. He has been integral to new method development over his many years with the company, and is a key contributor to our reputation for clear, accurate reporting that can go straight into a dossier. After taking time out to complete his PhD in plant molecular biology, he returned to the business in 2005 and now leads our team of study directors at Mambo-Tox. Russell enjoys working at Cawood because of our excellent team of people and our mission to support agriculture in meeting the needs of society whilst reducing its environmental impact. Sean Stevenson Sean joined Cawood as a biochemistry graduate to work in the NRM soil analysis laboratory. Over the last 19 years he has worked his way up through sales and business development roles and is now Divisional Managing Director for Cawood Agriculture. Sean is responsible for creating commercial strategies which support and accelerate our growth. Having worked at all the different levels in the company, Sean is a firm believer in making the business a place where people can thrive. At the heart of Cawood is NRM, the UK’s leading agricultural laboratory, founded in 1990. The Cawood group was formed in 2006 with the acquisition of the animal feed testing business, Sciantec. Since then, we have grown rapidly through our strong relationships with customers, our ongoing investment in people and equipment, and the acquisition of businesses that complement or expand our services. This development has allowed us to increase our range of services and extend our reach into global markets. In 2021, Cawood was acquired by US corporation Ensign-Bickford Industries (EBI), becoming a member of its Agriculture and Environmental Diagnostics Group. Watch the video below to learn more about EBI.