We’re Refresco – the world’s largest independent bottler of soft drinks and fruit juices, serving major brands and retailers across Europe and North America. At our flagship Bridgwater site, we produce millions of litres of beverages each week, and we’re looking for a Lab Manager to lead our on-site laboratory to the highest industry standards.
This is not your average quality role. It’s a unique opportunity to shape, influence, and drive quality systems and lab operations on a massive scale, while ensuring compliance, performance, and continuous improvement.
Position Overview
Lab Manager – Permanent
Location: Refresco – Bridgwater
Working Hours: Monday – Friday, 38 hours per week
Benefits
- 10% annual bonus
- An enhanced holiday allowance of 28 days plus bank holidays
- Purchase extra holiday (up to 3 days per year)
- Life assurance
- Access to a 24/7 virtual GP for you and your family
- Access to our brand new employee benefits platform offering discounts, cashback rewards, and access to more optional benefits
- Access to Grocery Aid – for free financial, personal, health and wellbeing support
Key Responsibilities
- Managing a team of 10 quality analysts to support the factory’s testing requirements, ensuring the highest quality standards are met.
- Oversee the smooth running of daily lab operations, ensuring timely, compliant testing in line with LabCRED (ISO17025-based) standards.
- Champion quality and continuous improvement by managing QMS activities (CAPAs, audits, NCs) and driving a strong quality culture.
- Lead equipment calibration, servicing, and validation methods while ensuring prompt repairs and minimal disruption.
- Manage the lab budget, procurement, and stock control to ensure full lab and factory support.
- Ensure all testing, documentation, and raw material checks meet regulatory and customer standards.
- Develop and maintain training plans, SOPs, risk assessments, and clear data reporting for internal and external stakeholders.
- Foster a positive, proactive team environment focused on safety, innovation, and efficiency.
Qualifications
We’re looking for someone with at least two years of experience in a quality-focused food production role or three years in a laboratory environment. You’ll bring a positive, can‑do attitude, strong problem‑solving skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced setting. Naturally curious and eager to learn, you’ll enjoy improving processes and exploring new ways of working. You’ll also be someone who brings people together, builds strong team relationships, and lives the Refresco values in everything you do.
Ultimately, we encourage everyone to role model our core values of agility, responsibility, passion, excellence, and entrepreneurship as we believe these are what has made Refresco successful so far.
Find out more about the Refresco Values here: https://www.refresco.co.uk/uk/about/our-values
Equal Opportunity
Refresco believes that equal opportunity for all is fundamental to our company’s values and all our applicants can expect fairness and transparency in our recruitment process.
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