Deputy Laboratory Operations Manager

Job Description

Location: Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK
Working Pattern: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, 5 days per week on-site

At Fugro, we unlock insights from the Earth to help our clients design, build and operate their assets safely, sustainably and efficiently. As Deputy Laboratory Operations Manager, you'll play a key leadership role in one of the UK's leading geotechnical laboratories, helping to deliver high-quality testing services that support major infrastructure, renewable energy and environmental projects worldwide. Reporting to the Laboratory Operations Manager, you'll lead teams, optimise laboratory performance and ensure resources, workflows and priorities are aligned to meet client expectations. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced operational leader who is passionate about developing people, improving processes and creating a safe, inclusive and high-performing workplace.

Your role and responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day leadership of laboratory operations, ensuring testing services are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest quality standards.
• Lead, coach and develop Team Leads and operational support teams, fostering a collaborative culture focused on performance, learning and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate operational priorities, capacity planning and resource allocation to ensure client requirements and business objectives are successfully delivered.
• Act as a key link between laboratory operations, programme management, technical authorities, quality teams and other stakeholders to ensure smooth service delivery.
• Drive operational excellence through the analysis of performance metrics, identification of improvement opportunities and implementation of sustainable solutions.
• Ensure compliance with quality, accreditation, regulatory and safety requirements, maintaining audit readiness and supporting continuous quality improvement.
• Provide leadership continuity in the absence of the Laboratory Operations Manager, making informed operational decisions and managing risks effectively.

What you'll need to thrive in this role

Essential:

• Degree-level qualification and higher, or equivalent professional experience, in Engineering Geology, Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Proven experience leading operational delivery within a regulated laboratory or similar technical environment, ideally with knowledge of ISO 17025 quality systems.
• Experience managing and developing teams, including workforce planning, performance management and capability development.
• Strong operational leadership, service delivery, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance safety, quality, delivery and cost considerations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across diverse teams and functions.

Desirable:

• Experience in geotechnical soil and rock testing environments.
• Experience working with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Professional membership, chartership or progress towards chartership with a relevant engineering or geological institution.

About Us

Who we are 
Do you want to join our Geo-data revolution? Fugro’s global reach and unique know-how will put the world at your fingertips. Our love of exploration and technical expertise help us to provide our clients with invaluable insights. We source and make sense of the most relevant Geo-data for their needs, so they can design, build and operate their assets more safely, sustainably and efficiently. But we’re always looking for new talent to take the next step with us. For bright minds who enjoy meaningful work and want to push our pioneering spirit further. For individuals who can take the initiative but work well within a team. 

What we offer 

Fugro provides a positive work environment as well as projects that will satisfy the most curious minds. We also offer great opportunities to stretch and develop yourself. By giving you the freedom to grow faster, we think you’ll be able to do what you do best, better. Which should help us to find fresh ways to get to know the earth better. We encourage you to be yourself at Fugro. So, bring your energy and enthusiasm, your keen eye and can-do attitude. But bring your questions and opinions too. Because to be the world’s leading Geo-data specialist, we need the strength in depth that comes from a diverse, driven team. 

 
Our view on diversity, equity and inclusion 

At Fugro, our people are our superpower. Their variety of viewpoints, experiences, knowledge and talents give us collective strength. Distinctive beliefs and diverse backgrounds are therefore welcome, but discrimination, harassment, inappropriate behaviour and unfair treatment are not. Everybody is to be well-supported and treated fairly. And everyone must be valued and have their voice heard. Crucially, we believe that getting this right brings a sense of belonging, of safety and acceptance, that makes us feel more connected to Fugro’s purpose ‘together we create a safe and liveable world’ – and to each other. 

Benefits of joining our team

• Extensive career & training opportunities both nationally and internationally.
• Contributory pension scheme
• Private medical insurance
• Health cash plan
• Group life assurance
• Group income protection
• Electric car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts platform
• The Fugro Card (pre-paid virtual visa card, which earns cash back automatically when money is spent at any participating retailers)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Long service awards
• Fugro values awards
• Employee referral bonus scheme

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Disclaimer for recruitment agencies:

Fugro does not accept any unsolicited applications from recruitment agencies. Acquisition to Fugro Recruitment or any Fugro employee is not appreciated.