Senior Laboratory Assistant

​Position Description:

• The role of Senior Laboratory Assistant ensures that the laboratories to which they are assigned operate efficiently and effectively, enabling the laboratory analysts to have everything they need to deliver work to the clients safely, to a high level of quality and on time.

• The Senior Laboratory Assistant books in the tests required, checks project content and availability of chemical consumables at the start of the project lifecycle, administers reagent & sample disposal and supports the general laboratory housekeeping as required.

Behaviours and Competencies

• Safety Consciousness: Prioritise safety by consistently wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), adhering to safety guidelines, raising safety observations and encouraging others to do the same.

• Communication Skills: Maintain clear and effective communication with team members, reporting any issues or discrepancies promptly and documenting all activities accurately.

• Team Collaboration: Work well with others, helping when needed, sharing knowledge, and contributing to a positive team environment.

• Problem-Solving Abilities:  Demonstrate the ability to think critically and solve simple problems, especially when unexpected situations arise.

• Organisational Skills: Keep the work area clean and organised, ensuring glassware (if applicable) and consumables are properly stored and labelled.

• Reliability and Trust: Take ownership of your tasks, completing them with high reliability and meeting deadlines consistently, building trust with team members.

• Adaptability and Flexibility: Flexible and able to adapt to new ways of working, and changes in the laboratory environment.

• Continuous Learning: Stay up to date with the latest safety practices and QSOP updates, seeking out opportunities for professional learning and development.

• Attention to Detail: Follow protocols and procedures to ensure accuracy and safety in every task.

• Compliance with Regulations: Ensure all activities comply with relevant SOP’s and protocols, demonstrating integrity and professionalism

Knowledge: including education, qualifications and training

• Educated to A-level / HNC level (or equivalent) and / or have appropriate industry experience to be able to fulfil role requirements.     

• Good understanding of basic lab equipment

Skills/Leadership Competencies

• Accountable, honest, hardworking and able to work efficiently in a team

• Flexible and adaptable to meet customer/business requirements.

• Meticulous attention to detail and an ability to follow written instructions.

• Good written and verbal communication skills.

• Self motivated, enthusiastic and quick to learn.

• Well organized and capable of working on multiple activities concurrently.

• Computer literate in standard MS office applications

Technical

• The responsibilities are listed below but are not exhaustive. Additional tasks may be required to fulfil the requirements of the Senior Laboratory Assistant role:

• (25%) Efficiently and proactively book in tests, create project folder and scan documents on all incoming projects in the laboratory database system

• (25%) Perform independent front-end checking (FEC) on projects not booked in by self, ensuring all required materials are in stock or ordered and correctly storing supplied materials within the laboratory.

• Handle all samples, reagents and standards in accordance to all H&S protocols and risk assessments, as well as corresponding MSDS’s.

• (WR) Clarify any omissions to required technical details during project submission directly with clients by e-mail or telephone.

• Provide high quality customer service at all times by ensuring effective organisation of assigned workload and tasks, integrity of analytical data generated and timely/accurate provision of data/results.

• (25%) Support the lab assistant with washing and putting away glassware, replenish glassware from stores or raise purchase requests (PR’s) to ensure a steady supply.

• (5%) Monitor expiry / disposal dates of reagents and samples and administer disposal activities as required.

• Be competent in the use of generic and specific software packages required for the role: Laboratory’s LIMS system and Q-Pulse.

• (WR) Perform laboratory administration and housekeeping duties as directed.

• (WR) Work in different laboratories as well as support CSA if required. Provide regular feedback to Senior Lab Administrator regarding CSA right first time booked in projects for continuous improvement practices 

• (WR) Cross-Training for Lab Coverage: Get trained to cover responsibilities at same level in all laboratories linked with admin team’s site, ensuring team versatility and comprehensive support capabilities.

• (20%) Safety/Quality(reading and acknowledging distributed documents)/Completing compulsory MDLZ training courses/Personal Development.

(A) Always

(WR) When Required

(%) Average Time Percentage Expected to Spend on Accountability

Quality and EHS

• Ensure a thorough understanding of the tasks to be executed before initiating the assigned activity.

• Complete EHS training including the reading & acknowledgment of all required safety SOP, COSHH documents and risk assessments, seeking clarity from the EHS representative or line manager as required.

• Work in a safe manner to ensure self and others are not harmed in execution of any laboratory activities.

• Maintain good housekeeping of all areas in which work is performed.

• Complete all quality training as required through training with the QAU team.

• Complete assigned quality actions accurately and in a timely manner.

• Read, acknowledge & abide by all distributed SOPs and QSOPs, including strict adherence to all aspects of SOP-66, SOP-488, QSOP-10, QSOP-13, QSOP-15, QSOP-22, QSOP-30, QSOP-45, QSOP-72, QSOP-76, QSOP-80, QSOP-83, QSOP-103, QSOP-106, QSOP-110, QSOP-126, QSOP-138 & QSOP-149 as applicable to role.

• Support the investigations of any CAPA’s (OOS’s / DEV’s etc.) with required information in a timely manner.

• Understand and work to the requirements of GMP and UKAS.

• Ensure training records are accurate and up to date.