Associate Director - Toxicology

Associate Director - Scientific Operations Location: Northwest England (site-based role with occasional travel) Full time and permanent position About the Role We are seeking an experienced senior leader to join a highly regulated scientific organisation. This is a diverse and challenging opportunity with responsibility for operational delivery, strategic development, quality improvement, innovation, and people leadership across multiple technical teams. Key Responsibilities Provide visible leadership, direction and support across operational and technical teams. Contribute to the development and delivery of strategic plans, continuous improvement initiatives and organisational objectives. Identify and implement emerging technologies, automation and digital solutions to improve service delivery and efficiency. Ensure compliance with relevant quality standards, regulatory requirements and governance frameworks. Develop, manage and monitor departmental budgets and support investment planning through robust business cases. Collaborate with internal functions to deliver effective operational and business solutions. Candidate Profile Exceptional leadership, people management and project delivery skills. Strategic thinker with the ability to balance operational demands and long-term objectives. Commercial awareness and experience delivering measurable business outcomes. Strong attention to detail with a quality-driven mindset. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills. Experience managing technical projects and budgets within a regulated environment. Essential Experience & Qualifications A minimum of 10 years of experience within a scientific, healthcare, pharmaceutical, clinical, laboratory or similarly regulated sector. Experience operating in a senior leadership or management position. Degree-level qualification in a scientific discipline or equivalent professional experience, and a strong understanding of toxicology and trace chemical analysis Strong understanding of complex analytical or technical processes. Experience working within recognised quality management systems and international standards. Data analysis, automation or digital systems experience would be advantageous