Assistant Lab Manager

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Lab Manager to join the John Innes Centre.

About the John Innes Centre:

JIC is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. Our vision is to deliver solutions to global challenges and help secure a safer, healthier and more sustainable future. We are entering an exciting phase of development, with major improvements planned for our science buildings. This role will be central to maintaining operational continuity while supporting the progression of significant organisational change.

The role:

Working alongside the Lab Manager team, you will contribute to the planned operational management of existing science buildings and act as a key interface between researchers and support functions. The postholder will also support the development of new science buildings. As the programme evolves, the role is expected to develop, and applicants must be adaptable and responsive to changing priorities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Shared line management of the Lab Support Team, ensuring efficient and effective operations.
• Supporting the planning, review and oversight of infrastructure and refurbishment projects.
• Leading and delivering environmental sustainability initiatives across JIC.
• Assisting Building Safety Officers and the NBIP HSEQA team with safety compliance, training, SOP and risk‑assessment preparation, incident review and follow‑up actions.
• Supporting equipment procurement, deployment, maintenance and lifecycle management.
• Conducting compliance testing and audit activities.

The ideal candidate will:

•  Hold a BSc (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline.
•  Have experience working within a scientific research environment.
•  Possess working knowledge of Health & Safety legislation, including biological and chemical safety.
•  Have experience in a laboratory environment and demonstrate strong IT skills.
•  Bring research‑environment experience, including supervising, training or mentoring colleagues, and planning and project‑management abilities.
•  Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and engage effectively with staff at all levels.

Our employees enjoy access to a diverse range of specialist training opportunities. Click here to find out more.

Additional information:

This role does not meet the full salary requirements set by UKVI to allow for visa sponsorship.  However, some individuals may still be eligible for visa sponsorship depending on their personal circumstances.  If you require visa sponsorship, please click here to find out if you qualify before applying. Please note, the occupation code for this role is not on the immigration salary list.

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website via the 'Apply' button above or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1006121.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity.  As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

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