Staff Profile: Customer Focused and Solutions Driven - Meet Joe Varey

Name: Joe Varey
Role: Senior Client Services Manager - Foods
Length of service at Hill Labs: On and off for 7 years 

Can you describe your current role and responsibilities at Hill Labs? 

I work closely with our customers to understand their needs and tailor our services to meet their requirements. I bridge the gap between the customer and the lab, ensuring everything works smoothly together! 

What inspired you to pursue this career? 

I have always been interested in innovation and science. I came across Hill Labs by chance though, applying for a lab role back in 2018. I quickly saw Client Services as my preferred career path within the company, and I worked hard to secure myself a spot within the team I'm currently with now. 

What skills do you find most essential for your job? 

I think the most valuable skill in my role is the ability to multitask. I work with a lot of different customers and a range of different workstreams in the lab. Being able to keep track of multiple “balls in the air” is essential. The ability to work with and understand ever-changing customer needs is a must-have too. The challenge of working at a company in growth mode is that things are always changing! 

Can you briefly describe the area of science or testing you specialise in?

I work with our Food testing services, meaning that I help customers with a range of different testing solutions. The main industries that we work with are Honey, Horticulture, Food Manufacturing, Dairy (to name a few!) 

How do you stay up to date with the latest advancements in your field? 

I am fortunate to work with a huge amount of very talented people at Hill Labs and also a huge range of talented people out in the industries we service. I am lucky to attend conferences and industry days where I can catch up with our customers face to face, ensuring that we understand where things are going and how we can stay up to speed with ever changing rules and regulations.  

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to enter the technical field? 

You can learn on the job! Most of the skills required to succeed in this job have been learnt at Hills. I think that the right person can progress very quickly in this field with the right attitude and a hard working mentality. Curiosity is key, be ready and willing to learn! 

What kind of impact do you think your work has on the community and/or industry? 

Turnaround time and quality are very important to our customers. We pride ourselves in being quick and accurate with our testing, which helps our customers make decisions quickly – something that they often need to do in a fast-paced industry like Honey. 

What’s the most challenging part of your job and the most rewarding? 

The most challenging part is keeping up to speed with the vast array of tests that we offer. When that phone rings it really could be any number of different things! 

The most rewarding part is seeing and hearing the feedback from our customers when we pull off some miraculous feats when it comes to turnaround time. Time is money to our customers, and we appreciate that speed and accuracy mean a lot. When we can get results out to a customer before they expect them, it brings a smile to their face. 

How do you keep learning and growing in your field? 

We have some brilliant people working at Hill Labs who are a great resource to learn from. A great part of working at this company is being able to utilise the amazing network of talented individuals doing great things in their respective sectors each and every day. I think continuously growing in your role is a vital part of having a rewarding and successful career, so having the chance to learn each and every day is great. 

How does Hill Labs support your learning and career progression? 

We are fortunate at Hill Labs to have a great Learning & Development team who give us access to lots of tools to grow, both as individuals and towards our career goals. I have made the most of a mentoring programme and I am looking forward to seeing what is next for me in this area.