Head of Laboratory at Natural State

Responsibilities:

Laboratory Operations & Quality Management

• Manage daily operations of the lab, ensuring optimal workflow, safety, and compliance with quality standards (e.g., ISO/GLP where applicable).
• Co-develop and implement a strategy for the lab
• Oversee and implement analytical methodologies in spectroscopy, eDNA, invertebrate, and soil biodiversity analysis.
• Ensure rigorous quality control and assurance procedures across all lab activities.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), lab protocols, and health & safety documentation.
• Oversee data management standards and digital pipelines to ensure traceability, reproducibility, and integration with broader analytical frameworks
• Lead the development of a comprehensive QA/QC framework covering sample handling, analysis, equipment calibration, and reporting.

Commercialisation & Service Provision

• Co-develop and implement the lab’s commercialisation strategy, establishing fee-for-service models for internal departments and external partners.
• Define service pricing structures, forecast revenue, and manage lab P&L in alignment with organizational goals.
• Build and manage relationships with external clients and partners, ensuring delivery of timely, accurate, and cost-effective analytical results.
• Monitor and report on lab performance metrics (e.g., turnaround times, cost per sample, client satisfaction).
• Explore and develop partnerships with other service providers to compliment the NS lab’s capabilities, leveraging advances in AI and machine learning to optimise analysis and outputs.

Capacity Building & Team Leadership

• Supervise and mentor a multidisciplinary team of lab technicians, analysts, students, and interns.
• Identify skills gaps and provide professional development opportunities to build a high-performing lab team.
• Develop and deliver regular training sessions on lab conduct and health and safety standards, ensuring a culture of scientific integrity within the lab.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and performance evaluation processes for lab personnel.

Research & Development Support

• Collaborate with internal research teams and the Impact Monitoring department to design and support field sampling campaigns and analytical studies.
• Contribute to the development and validation of new analytical techniques and tools.
• Actively contribute to the development of the strategic framework for scaling lab operations.

Resource & Infrastructure Management

• Manage lab inventory, procurement, and maintenance of analytical instruments (e.g., spectrometers, sequencing equipment, microscopes).
• Oversee the calibration, troubleshooting, and upgrading of lab equipment.

Requirements:

• MSc or PhD in Environmental Science, Ecology, Molecular Biology, Analytical Chemistry, Soil Science, or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in laboratory management or senior lab role, preferably in an environmental or ecological context.
• Proven experience in at least one of the following: spectroscopy, molecular biology/genetics or soil biodiversity.
• Demonstrated ability to manage laboratory budgets, resources, and teams.
• Experience delivering scientific services on a commercial basis or within contract research environments.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks and standards for lab accreditation.
• Strong project management skills and client communication experience.
• Experience mentoring junior staff and students