Inventory and Laboratory Operations Lead

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

Do you have expertise in operational management, particularly in shipping and logistics?

Have you got the desire to improve health and lives?

Charles River Laboratories are excited to be recruiting for an Inventory and Laboratory Operations Lead to join our High Peak site on a full-time, permanent basis. This is an onsite role, with daily travel to our High Peak site expected. 

The Inventory and Laboratory Operations Lead will play a critical part in ensuring that all operational and scientific activities across the site occur as needed for the team to deliver on client projects. This role would suit someone who has relevant experience in a similar logistics/warehousing or operational role within life sciences who is keen to work as part of an established and busy environment. Any additional training (internal and external) will be provided in the role. 

Job Description

What you’ll be doing:
• Manages inventory levels through analysis, forecasting, and replenishment system operation. Maintains, monitors, and updates product availability. 
• Plans, implements and controls the efficient flow and storage of goods, services, and related information. 
• Identifies, investigates, and resolves issues impacting product availability, delivery, and inventory accuracy. 
• Resolves unacceptable situations with customers and addresses problems between shipping locations, carriers, receiving departments, inventory analysts, and buyers to ensure planned arrival of product. 
• Acts as liaison between customers, sales, customer service, and carriers to ensure clear communication and alignment of expectations. 
• Produces all regulatory paperwork to accompany shipment of samples including but not limited to export authorisations, statements, commercial invoices and other documents required by consignees’ customs and non-customs regulatory authorities. 
• Ensures timely and accurate delivery of products in accordance with business and customer requirements. 
• Analyses demand trends and identifies shifts that may impact inventory levels and service performance, providing recommendations accordingly. 
• Site administration activities as required.
• Acts as a contact for facilities, and equipment and machinery maintenance. 
• Contributes to continuous improvement initiatives to enhance inventory control and operational efficiency.
• Maintains compliance with company processes, quality standards, and relevant regulations. 

Role Requirements: 
• Minimum of A Levels (or equivalent) in Maths and English. Any additional qualifications in Life Sciences are welcome. A degree is not necessary for this role.  
• Demonstrable, industry led experience in other logistics/inventory/shipping focused or operational roles in other pharma/biotech/scientific companies is essential.  
• Any additional experience of working with tariff laws and regulations for shipping to/from the UK would be highly advantageous. 
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, able to liaise effectively with internal and external stakeholders to a high standard, whilst representing Charles River Laboratories. 
• Able to build and maintain strong working relationships across the site and with external partners, supporting with the delivery of client projects
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office Suite and other database softwares, able to navigate electronic systems comfortably (training will be provided). 
• Must be able to travel to the High Peak site daily. 
• Candidates must have full Right to Work in the UK and not require visa sponsorship now or in the future as we are not able to provide this for this role. 

The salary range for the role is £32,000 - £40,000/annum + bonus + benefits. Please note that the salary varies within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location .

What we Offer You

• A very comprehensive benefits package from day one, including a large pension contribution, private medical for you (and can add family members), private dental care, critical illness cover, bonus and more!
• Global opportunities and strong career progression.
• The chance to work on several varied projects and liaise globally and nationally with other business areas.
• To be able make a difference to health and wellbeing of people.
• To continue your own career growth.
• Flexible and hybrid working.
• Parental leave.
• Group Life Assurance and Group Income Protection.
• Remote GP access 24/7.
• Well-being support and initiatives.
• Cycle to work scheme.

About Safety Assessment
Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state-of-the-art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market. Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.

About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

At Charles River Laboratories, we recognize and recruit all talent. We are a company committed to fostering a sense of belonging and work daily in this direction.