Company:
Our client is an established animal health diagnostics laboratory operating as part of a leading international animal health and biotechnology group headquartered in continental Europe. The business provides year-round, ISO 17025-accredited diagnostic support to veterinary practices, livestock producers, equine clients, and the companion animal sector, playing a critical role in supporting animal health outcomes across Ireland's agricultural sector.
The Irish operation represents a strategically important component of the group's wider European network of diagnostic centers, combining strong local market knowledge with access to international scientific expertise. Supported by specialist laboratories across multiple countries, the business delivers scientifically robust, best-practice diagnostic solutions while maintaining long-term relationships across the Irish market. With clear ambition to further grow its presence in Ireland, the organisation is investing in leadership, commercial capability, and long-term market development.
Opportunity:
As Managing Director, you will take full leadership responsibility for the Irish business, with accountability for strategy, commercial performance, operations, and people. This is a senior leadership role with genuine ownership of growth, profitability, and market positioning, operating within the support and infrastructure of a well-established international group.
Reporting directly to group leadership, you will play a key role in shaping the future direction of the Irish operation. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on operational and commercial oversight, requiring a leader who can balance scientific credibility with strong business execution. It offers real autonomy, direct access to decision-makers at group level, and the opportunity to make a visible, lasting impact on the business.
Responsibilities
:
* Define and execute the strategic direction of the Irish laboratory in line with group objectives, with a clear focus on growth, performance, and long-term market positioning.
* Lead, develop, and motivate the local management and laboratory team, creating a professional, collaborative, and high-performance working culture.
* Take full responsibility for profit and loss, ensuring financial targets are achieved while maintaining strong cost control and operational discipline.
* Oversee operational processes from sample receipt through to reporting and invoicing, ensuring systems and workflows are scalable to support future growth.
* Ensure all laboratory operations meet regulatory, quality, and accreditation requirements, including ISO 17025 standards.
* Drive commercial development by strengthening existing customer relationships and identifying new national and international business opportunities.
* Act as the senior representative of the business in the Irish market, building trusted, long-term partnerships with farmers, veterinarians, cooperatives, and industry stakeholders.
* Lead and deliver key projects related to service expansion, process improvement, and innovation, from concept through to implementation.
* Maintain close alignment with group leadership, actively contributing to broader group initiatives, collaboration, and knowledge sharing across the wider laboratory network.
Candidate Requirements
:
* Minimum 5 years' experience in a senior leadership role with commercial and people management responsibility within life sciences, animal health, diagnostics, or a related regulated environment.
* Proven track record of managing and growing a business, division, or operation with full financial accountability.
* Strong leadership capability, with experience building, developing, and leading professional and technical teams.
* Solid network in animal health, veterinary practices, livestock production and the life sciences.
* Experience operating within ISO-accredited laboratories or similarly regulated environments.
* Commercially minded, with the ability to identify opportunities, develop customer relationships, and convert strategy into tangible results.
* Confident and credible communicator, able to represent the business effectively with customers, partners, and senior stakeholders.
* Academic background: You have preferably a degree in veterinary medicine or agricultural sciences, life sciences, molecular biology or a comparable academic education.
* Fluent in English, written and spoken.
Remuneration:
An attractive senior executive remuneration package is on offer, comprising a competitive base salary and performance-related bonus. The role offers long-term career development within a respected international animal health group, along with the autonomy, responsibility, and visibility expected at Managing Director level.
If you're interested, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at or feel free to text or call Greg O'Hanlon on, for further detail. To apply, kindly submit your CV and cover letter in Word format, outlining your qualifications and relevant experience.