Laboratory Manager

Role: Laboratory Manager 

Directorate: School of Engineering and Physical Sciences 

Grade and Salary: Grade 7 - £37,694 - £47,389 per annum (pro rata)

Contract Type: Part Time (0.5FTE/ 17.5 hours per week) Open Ended

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days (pro rata)

Detailed Description

An experienced Laboratory Manager is required to manage a suite of laboratories and a new Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering (IB3) Tissue Culture Facility. 

The successful applicant will manage and support IB3 core facilities providing capabilities in cell culture, centrifugation and autoclaving along with associated specialist laboratory equipment. The applicant will also be responsible for consumable management and ordering, health and safety administration of several wet labs, equipment use and the administration/recharging facility use. 

The Laboratory Manager will be responsible for a number of laboratories including the operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment, managing the workflow of multiple users, setting up booking systems, minor repair and liaising with external maintenance companies. The post holder will be responsible for the training of PhD students, Research Associates and external users of the facility in lab techniques and procedures. 

At times, the laboratory manager will be required to support the technical services (line) management with Health and Safety, compliance and maintenance operations across the school. 

You should:  

• Be educated to degree level in the biological sciences 
• Have relevant research laboratory administration experience 
• Be proficient in a wide range of laboratory techniques including cell culture 

Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Colin Rickman (C.Rickman@hw.ac.uk) or Dr Koenraad Collart (K.M.P.Collart@hw.ac.uk

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

• Laboratory management and support of IB3 core facilities including consumable ordering, health and safety administration, equipment use, and, administration/ recharging of facilities use etc. 
• Supplying a service of tissue culture to members of the IB3 research institute and associated members of ESRIC including primary cell culture and cell-line maintenance, molecular biology (PCR, sub-cloning, recombinant protein expression and purification). 
• Operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment including minor repair and liaising with external maintenance companies. 
• Training of staff, PhD students, Research Associates and external users in lab techniques and procedures. 
• Managing the workflow of multiple users in the IB3 lab facility, arranging rotas and bookings. 
• Assisting Technical Services Management with school (H&S) compliance, maintenance and housekeeping operations. 

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post.  Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Education, Qualifications & Experience 

Essential

1. Educated to BSc degree level in a Biological Science or equivalent, or substantial relevant experience. 
2. Experience of laboratory management 
3. Experience of tissue culture and molecular biological techniques. 

Desirable 

1. Hold a PHD in a related field

 How to Apply

Please must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV 

Applications can be submitted until midnight on Thursday 20th August 2026

Shortlisting is expected to be completed by 27 Aug, with interviews commencing early September.

Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Colin Rickman (C.Rickman@hw.ac.uk ) or Dr Koenraad Collart (K.M.P.Collart@hw.ac.uk)

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community. 

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ . 

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options. 

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University. 

About Heriot Watt University 

Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business and industry. 

Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.