Operations Support Manager

THE ROLE

As Operations Support Manager (Equipment, Materials and Logistics), you will be responsible for the management and coordinated delivery of Rouken Bio's Equipment Management and Inventory & Logistics functions. Your teams provide the equipment, materials, sample and logistics support required for scientific operations to deliver customer work safely, compliantly and on time.

• Manage the Equipment Management and Inventory & Logistics functions as two specialist teams within one coordinated operational-support portfolio.
• Plan and allocate workload across the teams, balancing routine activity, maintenance and qualification windows, projects and unplanned issues.
• Work with Study Managers, Scientific/Operational leaders and the Facilities Manager to anticipate demand, identify constraints and prevent avoidable disruption to customer delivery.
• Use performance data, KPI, trends and recurring issues to drive improvements and provide clear updates on risks, service performance and required decisions.
• Own the effectiveness of systems and processes used across the portfolio, including relevant LIMS, inventory, equipment and procurement workflows.
• Ensure new processes are properly designed, documented, trained and embedded rather than relying on informal workarounds.
• Support expansion and site-development projects where equipment moves, new equipment, storeroom capacity, logistics routes, material flows or operational support requirements are affected.
• Take ownership of delegated Operational Support projects and ensure actions, risks and decisions are managed to completion.

• Hold management accountability for the laboratory-equipment lifecycle, ensuring maintenance and qualification schedules are current, risk-based and aligned with operational requirements, with technical work assigned to suitably trained team members.
• Take overall responsibility for the Equipment Monitoring System as a critical part of equipment infrastructure. Ensure the system and associated documentation is up to date and fit for purpose, identify and implement improvements.
• Oversee supplier and engineer performance for equipment service, calibration and repair and intervene where turnaround, quality, cost or reliability is not acceptable.
• Ensure adherence to equipment management and qualification practices and make recommendations on service-contract strategy, supplier choice and cost within agreed authority.
• Coordinate equipment purchasing and installation requirements with Operations, Facilities, Procurement/Finance and Quality, ensuring space, utilities, qualification and operational impacts are considered before commitment.

• Ensure minimum-stock approaches, ordering routines and inventory controls are effective, proportionate and adjusted in response to demand, waste, lead times and supply risk.
• Maintain effective relationships with key suppliers and procurement partners, reviewing service, pricing, supply risk and recurring issues and taking action where performance is not acceptable.
• Support financial audits through inventory controls and routine store audit.

• Ensure customer sample receipt, booking, storage, movement, discard and outbound-shipment processes are appropriately resourced, prioritised and completed in line with current procedures.
• Ensure imported and exported materials and samples are managed in line with applicable licences, customs requirements and current legislation, using approved couriers and appropriate specialist advice where required.
• Ensure import-licence and shipment controls remain current and that upcoming or unusual requirements are identified early enough…