Operational Excellence Senior Coordinator

Operations Senior Coordinator 

R&D Port Sunlight & Liverpool Laboratories 
Fulltime | Onsite 

Job Purpose 

The Operations Senior Coordinator plays a key hands-on role in ensuring our R&D laboratories and pilot plants run safely, smoothly, and efficiently. You will oversee the day to day functioning of our scientific labs and pilot plant, making sure equipment, materials, and operational resources are available and ready when needed. 

Working closely with laboratory users, programme teams, and third party partners, you will help maintain high operational standards while identifying opportunities to improve workflows and enhance the user experience. 

The successful candidate will be proactive and hands on, bringing strong attention to detail, clear communication, and a calm, practical approach to problem-solving. They will work with discipline and reliability while helping to drive meaningful improvements that support an efficient and positive laboratory environment. 

Objectives of the role

Lead daily laboratory and pilot plant operations 

• Oversee day to day functioning of labs and pilot plants, ensuring operational readiness. 

• Work with laboratory users to ensure equipment, materials, and resources are in place to support planned scientific work. 

• Act as a key interface between Unilever and third party partners involved in operational services and logistics. 

• Ensure laboratory equipment is booked, prepared, and ready when needed so scientific work can run smoothly. 

Ensure high operational standards and compliance 

• Set and maintain Unilever’s operational standards for laboratory and pilot plant environments. 

• Oversee stock management of raw materials, consumables, PPE, substrates, prototypes, and other experimental materials.  

• Deliver training and refreshers on operational excellence systems and protocols.  

• Liaise with Health and Safety team to maintain standards and implement continual improvements 

Enable digital, data-driven operations 

• Use data tools (e.g., Excel, LIMS, Power BI/Tableau) to extract insights and support operational decision-making.  

• Champion digital ways of working to enhance connectivity, workflow efficiency, and data management. 

Drive operational improvements and workflow optimisation 

• Streamline operational processes to improve speed, consistency, and user experience, spotting inefficiencies, frustrations, or repeated problems 

• Ensure operational KPIs set by site leadership are met 

Essential qualifications & experience 

• Degree (or equivalent) in Science or Engineering. 

• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience working in laboratory and/or pilot plant environments. 

• Strong organisational, time management and project coordination skills. 

• Excellent communication skills with confidence engaging diverse stakeholders. 

• Comfortable operating in a flexible, fast changing environment and making practical decisions quickly. 

• IT/digital skills including data extraction, manipulation and visualisation; familiarity with Excel, LIMS, Power BI or Tableau.