Sampling Quality Manager

Job Introduction

Sampling Quality Manager – England/Wales

At Last Mile Asset Management, part of the Last Mile Group, we’re proud to deliver innovative, high-quality solutions across the multi-utility sector. We are looking for experienced quality / sampling professional to join our growing team working as a Sampling Quality Manager across the UK on a remote position with expected travel throughout the UK to work on site and further potential travel to our UK Offices in Glasgow, Warrington, Stonehouse or London.

This position works under our Last Mile Asset Management division and operates on behalf of Last Mile Water Ltd, a regulated water and wastewater company, and you will play a key role in supporting drinking water quality compliance and accreditation activities.

As a Sampling Quality Manager at Last Mile Asset Management, you’ll have experience in ISO/IEC 17025, drinking water quality or laboratory quality systems, with further experience developing and managing quality frameworks, conducting audits, driving continuous improvement and working within a regulated environment. It is beneficial to have experience of UKAS accreditation, managing sampling or field-based teams, and knowledge of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations and DWTS requirements.

What’s in it for you as a Sampling Quality Manager?

Here at Last Mile, we pride ourselves in providing a great range of benefits including a fantastic amount of annual leave:

• 25 days holiday, increasing after 2 years by 1 day each year up to 30 days, plus 9 public holidays
• Holiday buy scheme
• Discretionary bonus
• EV and ULEV salary sacrifice scheme (subject to minimum length of service)
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Up to 7% employer pension contribution
• Life assurance (x4 annual basic salary)
• Refer a friend incentive
• Wagestream
• Employee assistance programme
• Car allowance
• Flexible start and finish times for eligible roles*
• Private medical insurance*
• Company sick pay*

*Some of our benefits are only applicable when you have successfully completed your probation period*

Your responsibilities as a Sampling Quality Manager:

• Build the Quality Management System (QMS) – design, implement and manage a new sampling quality management system aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 and DWTS requirements.
• Achieve UKAS Accreditation – lead the organisation through the accreditation process, including preparation, application, assessment and ongoing compliance, with accreditation targeted within two years.
• Regulatory & Stakeholder Liaison – act as the primary point of contact for UKAS, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) and other relevant stakeholders on sampling quality matters.
• Competency & Compliance Management – establish training, competency assessment and proficiency testing programmes to ensure compliance with industry and regulatory standards.
• Develop an Internal Sampling Team – support the recruitment, mobilisation and management of a dedicated Water Quality Sampling team.
• Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement – lead audits, investigations, corrective actions and continual improvement initiatives to ensure the business remains audit-ready and compliant.
• Strategic Leadership – create and embed a quality-focused culture that supports regulatory compliance, customer confidence and business growth.

Experience / Knowledge:

• Significant experience within drinking water quality, laboratory quality systems, environmental monitoring or a related regulated industry.
• Strong understanding of Drinking Water Testing Specification (DWTS) requirements.
• Knowledge of Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations and regulatory drinking water sampling requirements.
• Experience developing, implementing or managing accredited quality management systems.
• Experience managing internal and external audits and addressing non-conformances.
• Experience developing competency assessment and authorisation processes.
• Strong organisational, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and lead the development of new processes and systems.

Have you got the drive to go to the Last Mile as a Sampling Quality Manager? Apply now!

We aim to keep candidates informed throughout the process and encourage you to apply promptly as we may close the vacancy early if sufficient applications are received.

About us:

Last Mile is one of the largest last-mile multi-utility businesses in the UK.  

We understand construction and we know utilities. We design, build, own, and manage the ‘last mile’ of essential utilities infrastructure.

With a proven history of delivering multi-utility connections across Great Britain, we provide a full suite of utility infrastructure, including clean heat networks, electricity, gas, water, wastewater and fibre.

With a strong track record, deep industry knowledge and solid investor backing, we take a forward-thinking approach to the complex economic, social and environmental challenges of today, to innovate for a better tomorrow. 

Through Last Mile and our asset adoption business Last Mile Asset Management, we provide a ‘one-stop shop’ for new utility connections.

We’re proud to be both a Great Place to Work® certified business and a Living Wage Employer, reflecting our commitment to supporting and valuing our people.

For further enquiries, contact recruitment@lastmile.co.uk or visit our website at www.lastmile.co.uk 

At Last Mile, we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We consider all applications solely on the basis of skills and experience and actively encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.