Berry Recruitment are currently looking for a Laboratory Technician to join our client's team in Milton Keynes. This opportunity has the chance to go permanent for the right candidate!

Job Title: Laboratory Technician
Location: Milton Keynes
Start Date: ASAP
Current Contract Length: Initial 3 months with the chance to go permanent for the right person
Working Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm
Salary: £14.36 per hour, permanent equivalent is £28,000 p/a

Purpose:

To carry out skilled laboratory work to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient analysis of water, wastewater, waste solids, and other environmental samples, supporting our client's commitment to regulatory excellence, operational effectiveness, and sustainability.

Responsibilities:

• Safety and Compliance: Operate to the highest safety standards in line with ISO 17025 principles, COSHH regulations, and company procedures. Maintain accurate records of sampling, testing, calibration, and monitoring activities.
• Testing and Analysis: Conduct chemical, Biological, and physical testing on a range of environmental samples including residual waste, wastewater, anaerobic digestion sludges, compost, surface water, and incinerator residues (e.g., IBA and APCr).
• Anaerobic digestion (AD) tests: Basic analytical tests will be undertaken in house to include: pH, ammoniacal nitrogen, total solids, volatile solids, FOS/TAC, VFA's. Monitoring the performance of the biology, and providing actionable insights to the operation.
• Advanced Thermal treatment (ATT) tests: Boiler chemistry analytical tests will be undertaken to include: boiler steam cycle water pH, conductivity, silica, phosphate, dissolved oxygen content, water hardness, free and total chlorine, iron and dissolved solids content. Syngas sampling.
• The Technician will also be responsible for organising, collating and reporting of all external analyses for both the AD and ATT Facilities.
• Interpretation of results: Outputs from testing and analysis will be assessed by the Technician and any results that are deemed to be out of range will be reported and likely causation discussed immediately to the Compliance Manager, Operations Managers and Shift Team Leaders(STL's).
• Monitoring and Reporting: Provide timely, accurate reports on sample analysis to the Compliance Manager, Operations Managers and STL's supporting both environmental permit compliance and operational decision-making.
• Equipment Management: Calibrate and maintain laboratory equipment, ensuring all tools and instruments are safe, operational, and fit for purpose.
• Quality Assurance: Perform quality control checks, prepare and test performance evaluation samples, and contribute to internal audit processes.
• Hazardous Waste Management: Manage hazardous waste samples in accordance with Duty of Care and maintain thorough records.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve processes, support investigations into lab-related operational issues, and recommend solutions.
• Training and Support: Support operator and team development by delivering training on sampling techniques, laboratory procedures, and use of specialist equipment.
• Consumables Management: Maintain stock levels of consumables, prepare media for testing, and manage orders efficiently.
• Environmental Stewardship: Actively contribute to our client's sustainability goals through safe waste management practices and by identifying ways to reduce environmental impact.

Qualifications Required:

• Degree in Chemistry, Microbiology, or a related scientific discipline
• Level 4 NVQ Certificate/Diploma in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities or equivalent (desirable)

Skills

• Strong analytical and technical laboratory skills
• Proficient in technical report writing and presentation
• Competent in calibrating and maintaining laboratory equipment
• Excellent record-keeping skills with attention to detail
• Good IT literacy, particularly in Microsoft Excel
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal

Experience

• Experience in laboratory testing in an environmental, waste, or industrial setting
• Knowledge of ISO 17025 practices (desirable)
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks related to environmental monitoring

If this role sounds of interest, please apply now! All applications are reviewed daily.

Please note that no terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person's gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation. Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and ability to perform the duties of the job.