This Dairy Laboratory Manager job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as Lab Manager, QC Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Supervisor or Quality Control Laboratory Manager. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.
| Job title | Dairy Laboratory Manager |
| Also known as | Lab Manager, QC Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Supervisor, Quality Control Laboratory Manager |
| Department | Dairy quality and laboratory |
| Reports to | Quality Manager |
| Direct reports | Laboratory team leader, analysts and technicians |
What does a Dairy Laboratory Manager do?
Runs the site laboratory so that raw materials, in-process samples and finished dairy products are tested accurately and on time against specification. Leads the laboratory team, controls positive release and supports the Quality Manager in keeping the site compliant with food safety and quality standards.
Dairy Laboratory Manager duties and responsibilities
Testing and product release
- Set sampling plans and testing schedules for milk, cream, whey, ingredients, packaging and finished products
- Run chemical, physical and microbiological testing using approved, validated methods
- Positively release raw milk and finished products against specification before use or dispatch
- Organise sensory grading of products against customer requirements
- Issue certificates of analysis to customers
- Send results promptly to production, planning and procurement so they can act on them
Methods and equipment
- Validate test methods and take part in proficiency testing schemes
- Keep all laboratory instruments calibrated, maintained and fit for purpose
- Arrange external testing with accredited laboratories, including pathogen testing for infant formula, and review the results
- Use statistical quality control to spot trends and drift in results
Food safety and non-conformance
- Carry out risk analysis so testing focuses on the highest hazards, such as Salmonella, Listeria and Cronobacter sakazakii
- Monitor results at critical control points and alert production when limits are breached
- Raise and manage non-conformance reports for out-of-specification material
- Investigate customer complaints and internal failures, find root causes and agree corrective and preventive actions
- Recommend how non-conforming product should be reworked, diverted or disposed of
Suppliers and quality systems
- Audit suppliers and help maintain the approved supplier list
- Agree raw material and packaging specifications with suppliers and purchasing
- Run trials to approve new materials before use
- Keep laboratory procedures and records in line with ISO 9001 and ISO 22000
- Deputise for the Quality Manager when needed and join the management rota for weekend cover
Team and budget
- Recruit, train and develop laboratory staff and plan rotas to cover production hours
- Manage the laboratory budget, including staff, consumables and outside testing
- Promote safe working with chemicals, glassware and microbiological hazards
- Report laboratory performance weekly and monthly and contribute to management review
Dairy Laboratory Manager qualifications and experience
Essential
- Degree in food science, dairy science, chemistry, microbiology or a related subject
- Substantial practical experience in a food or dairy laboratory
- Experience of chemical and microbiological testing of dairy products
- Experience leading a laboratory team
- Sound understanding of dairy processing and product composition
- Working knowledge of HACCP, ISO 9001 and ISO 22000
Desirable
- Experience of infant formula or milk powder testing
- Experience of ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory accreditation
- Sensory evaluation training
- Supplier auditing qualification or experience
Skills and attributes
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Statistical analysis of results
- Root cause analysis
- Team leadership and training
- Clear written and verbal communication, including with customers
- Planning and prioritising under production pressure
How success is measured
- Results delivered within agreed turnaround times
- Proficiency test performance
- Quality-related customer complaints and returns
- Non-conformances closed on time
- Laboratory spend against budget
- Laboratory accidents and incidents
Working conditions and safety
Site-based laboratory role with PPE, hygiene and chemical safety rules in force. Includes a share of the site management weekend rota.
- Follow health and safety rules and safe systems of work, and wear the correct PPE
- Follow food safety, hygiene, HACCP and quality procedures at all times
- Report hazards, accidents, near misses and concerns promptly
Dairy Laboratory Manager interview questions
Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy Laboratory Manager role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.
- How do you validate a new test method before it is used for product release?
What a good answer shows: Covers accuracy, precision, specificity, detection limits, comparison with reference methods and proficiency testing. - How would you use statistical quality control to spot drift in laboratory results?
What a good answer shows: Uses control charts, reference samples and trend rules to catch drift early and act before results become unreliable. - How do you keep laboratory instruments calibrated and fit for purpose?
What a good answer shows: Uses scheduled calibration, daily checks with reference materials and maintenance records, and acts clearly when checks fail. - What do you check before issuing a certificate of analysis to a customer?
What a good answer shows: Confirms all tests are complete, valid and within specification, and that the certificate matches the customer's requirements. - Production is pressing you to release product before micro results are complete. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Holds firm on positive release, explains the risk, looks for faster valid options and escalates if needed. - A proficiency test shows your protein results are biased. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Investigates method, calibration, reagents and training, corrects the cause and reviews recent results that may be affected. - How would you design a pathogen sampling plan for a powder plant making infant formula?
What a good answer shows: Bases sampling on risk, covering product and environment for organisms such as Salmonella and Cronobacter, with clear action limits. - How do you control chemical and microbiological hazards in the laboratory?
What a good answer shows: Uses risk assessments, PPE, safe storage, waste controls and training, and keeps pathogen work properly contained. - How do you keep a laboratory team accurate and motivated when the testing workload peaks?
What a good answer shows: Plans rotas and priorities, cross-trains staff, protects quality checks and talks openly about pressure and support. - How do you plan laboratory rotas to cover all production hours fairly?
What a good answer shows: Matches skills to shifts, cross-trains staff, plans for absence and shares unsocial hours fairly.
Hiring a Dairy Laboratory Manager? Advertise your vacancy on Dairy Jobs and reach a combined network of over 250,000 dairy professionals worldwide, or ask our team about recruitment support. Looking for a Dairy Laboratory Manager job? Browse live dairy jobs or create a free job alert.
Related dairy job descriptions
- Dairy Technical Manager
- Dairy Quality Assurance Manager
- Dairy QA Systems Technician
- Dairy Quality Control Technician
- All dairy job descriptions
Frequently asked questions
Runs the site laboratory so that raw materials, in-process samples and finished dairy products are tested accurately and on time against specification. Leads the laboratory team, controls positive release and supports the Quality Manager in keeping the site compliant with food safety and quality standards.
Employers usually look for: degree in food science, dairy science, chemistry, microbiology or a related subject; substantial practical experience in a food or dairy laboratory; experience of chemical and microbiological testing of dairy products.
A Dairy Laboratory Manager usually reports to the Quality Manager. Direct reports typically include laboratory team leader, analysts and technicians.
Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.
© 2026 Dairy Jobs (Specialist Recruiters Ltd). You may adapt this job description for your own vacancies. Please do not republish it.