Meet the team

What skills do you need to be an effective Operations Manager?

As an operations manager there are so many skills required and the majority (if not all) are as important as each other. Below are some skills I believe are critical to ensure I am performing to the best of my ability:

• Strong communication – I need to liaise with various departments and several staff members/clients to ensure that goals are aligned, and projects are progressing well.

• Leadership – Line managing the operational team, it is important I am helping improve their skills/knowledge and ensure they are providing the best work for our clients. Organisations are nothing without their employees and I want to make sure all team members are happy at work and motivated to get the job done to the highest level of quality and in a timely manner.

• Exceptional organisation skills – Overseeing all operations requires me to plan meticulously so that several projects can run in parallel, and nothing is sacrificed.

• Awareness of both internal requirements and external requirements – It is important I have an overarching view of the processes and can remove any roadblocks that may arise. By focusing on this, we can complete tasks in a timely manner and meet tight customer deadlines. Being aware of all customer requirements ensures that we can understand their needs and provide the best service possible.

• Continuous improvement – Working in such a highly regulated industry, I am required to have an in-depth understanding of the standards we work to and ensuring we are constantly looking to improve the service we offer whilst adhering to all regulatory requirements.

• Flexibility and adaptability – With what the world has been through the past couple years I am sure everyone has had to be flexible and adaptable at some-point, but it is a constant requirement as an operations manager. There can often be unexpected changes or requirement to reprioritise workload and therefore I must be able to adapt quickly and ensure this happens seamlessly.

What influenced your choice of career?

Honestly – The TV show CSI. From my first introduction to science, I absolutely loved biology and felt I had a natural ability in the subject. I then saw the TV show and thought instantly “I want to work as a forensic scientist processing DNA”. I studied Forensic Biology at university and after graduating, joined the Laboratory Service Industry and loved it from day 1 so never left!

What do you like most about your job?

I love so much about my job. The constant challenges and the personal growth obtained through them, the fact I can assist in growing the team, how I get to work with every department meaning I get to know everyone in the company, and just the constant need to be better. I always want to be improving;  myself, processes and outcomes…  so this job is perfect for me.

Why did you choose to work at Biofortuna?

I have worked with both Nick Ash and Nick Leaves before and have first hand experience of seeing how successfully they can grow a company. Biofortuna is in an exciting place right now and I did not want to miss out on helping this company grow.

What do you like to do away from work?

When not at work, I can often be found training/playing rugby union, and if not training or playing rugby, I enjoy watching it. I also enjoy reading, listening to music and spending time with friends and family.

Welcome to the Biofortuna team Sarah.