Assistant Lab Manager

Salary: £36,540 - £40,600 per annum depending on qualifications and experience

Contract: Permanent, fulltime

Location: John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK

Closing date: 17 June 2026

Reference: 1006121

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Lab Manager to join the John Innes Centre (JIC), supporting the world‑class science delivered across our institute.

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, the successful candidate will contribute to the planned operational management of existing science buildings and act as a key interface between researchers and support functions (including Health & Safety, Facilities, contractors and suppliers). 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.

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. 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 click the 'apply' button.

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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