SIMON ROGERS

Responsibility for operations within the company; including management of Home Office SLA agreements, 3rdparty providers, high profile projects, facilities management, security (IL3) / BSI accreditation, and training and development.

Introduced transformation program delivering such benefits:

• Increased performance from 20% to 100% against the HO SLA agreement.
• Decreased operating costs through efficiency gains and staff reductions.
• Delivery of projects below financial budgets.
• Introduction of cross-functional training to for more robust customer delivery.
• Responsibility for operations within the company; including management of Home Office SLA agreements, 3rd party providers, high profile projects, facilities management, security (IL3) / BSI accreditation, and training and development
• Introduced transformation program delivering such benefits:
• Increased performance from 20% to 100% against the HO SLA agreement
• Decreased operating costs through efficiency gains and staff reductions
• Delivery of projects below financial budgets
• Introduction of cross-functional training to for more robust customer delivery.

• Directed wide range of critical operations for £10M programme on the creation of a National DNA Database in the United Arab Emirates, managing 7-member team of specialists, liaising with client, and delivering key decisions with client on behalf of company
• Served as both Project Manager and DNA Operational Manager, providing hands-on leadership throughout project lifecycle, including project, financial, and resource planning
• Provided workflow coordination and prioritisation, ensured project fulfilled client needs, maintained work schedule, and continually assessed project achievement, benefit realisation, and risk levels
• Ensured delivery of all project documentation, provided expert consultancy on laboratory design and specifications, and managed third party building contractor
• Collaborated closely with lead scientist throughout development of forensic procedures, conducted procurement efforts to purchase new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and infrastructure for new IT database centre, managed release of software applications from the UK, and coordinated system integration with IT team
• Conducted resource management of ‘Component Testing' of software applications and forensic protocols, worked with client and lead scientist to test the laboratory by processing DNA samples, planned and coordinated training programme for 45 UAE staff, and coordinated UAE and FSS staff for delivery of 7000 DNA samples throughout validation of programme KPI's on performance, quality and capacity
• Delivered project 20% faster than scheduled and achieved 56% profit margin, exceeding project financial target of 50%
• Coordinated design and development of the building, technical build of the laboratories, and purchase/installation of robotic systems, managing numerous 3rd party suppliers
• Managed development and validation of robotic processes of multiple robotic systems
• Spearheaded procurement efforts and implementation/validation of IT database system.

• Orchestrated management of 2 departments, including Drugs Casework Unit and Drugs Analytical Unit, and managed 24-member staff
• Ensured drug cases and analytical work were delivered on-time to UK Police Forces, maintained high quality staff output through hands-on training and coaching, and ensured both departments retained UKAS accreditation and achieved ISO17025
• Produced development plans and objectives for employees, delivered all department and business targets, conducted performance reviews, defined resource and skill requirement for each department, and developed Health & Safety plan/training for the team, involving risk assessments and data hazard sheets
• Decreased casework delivery time 83%, from 40 days to 7 days, by spearheading introduction of Business Quality Model to eliminate inefficient processes and boost overall productivity
• Reduced department operating cost by renegotiating instrument support and consumable contracts, and by reducing staffing headcount through efficiency initiatives
• Established streamlined National Drugs Analytical Unit (NDAU) in collaboration with Drugs Business Lead, delivering project 2 months ahead of schedule, reducing costs by £7 per sample, and earning company lucrative new business in next 2 competitive bids
• Led Cannabis Potency Project on behalf of Home Office, conducting wide-ranging analysis of 5000 cannabis samples in shortened time frame, defining timelines and producing data reporting requirement, sample delivery schedule and costs.

• Recruited to overhaul underperforming department, consulting with each staff member to review all processes, and introducing modelling system to identify performance deficiencies
• Replaced inefficient interpretation software, collaborating with R&D software division, spearheading project to introduce new software, and seconded staff from separate, overstaffed department to be cross-trained in the new processes
• Reduced case turnaround times 83%, from 81 to 14 days, and cleared out backlog in 2 months
• Boosted success rates and performance quality within the team via validation of new interpretation guidelines.

• Delivered strategic plan to upgrade a broad array of systems from manual to automation in collaboration with London DNA Manager, including required financial costings and resources, and managing 12-member cross-functional team
• Coordinated project progress, produced all project documentation, and established project board consisting of Senior Users, Technical and User Assurance Coordinator
• Supported project delivery, provided guidance and prioritisation of project work, and ensured implementation date/schedules aligned with programme plan
• Consistently assessed project achievement and benefit realisation through reviews, managed risk levels, initiated formal change requests, and developed and coached delivery team across project lifecycle
• Delivered project on time and under budget, achieving UKAS ISO17025 accreditation
• Increased unit capacity, introduced more efficient and cost effective process, and generated overhead savings through headcount reductions.

• Recruited to rapidly establish high-performing team to process DNA samples within 8 hours to provide fast prosecution of suspects
• Set up cross-functional project team—including staff from Quality, R&D, Operations, Estates, Procurement, Finance, and IT—communicating closely with team to generate innovative new ideas, identifying cost of service, and coordinating workflow to drive on-time project delivery
• Facilitated 30% reduction in crime rate by processing 5000 samples, earned company £500K in profit in 6 weeks, and delivered project on time and under budget.

• Selected to spearhead project implementing UK's first Crime-Stain Automation Casework Laboratory in Huntingdon, collaborating with DNA Unit Managers to transform the department, and boosting DNA samples processing by 300%
• Produced project and financial plan for project delivery, and cultivated productive and cooperative environment by delivering presentations and consulting with staff throughout change management process
• Created and implemented intensive staff training program, produced post-implementation review to ensure realisation of intended benefits, managed purchase/delivery of equipment, and communicated with R&D managers throughout development and testing of robotic protocols
• Ensured development of Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) advanced on schedule, and managed IT infrastructure and power upgrade
• Delivered project on time and under budget, earning accreditation from UKAS and BSI to load profiles to NDNAD, and performed post-implementation review at 6 months
• Reduced unit operating costs by up to 25% through numerous process improvement initiatives.

• Facilitated implementation of first DNA Reference Automation Line in the UK in collaboration with Project Manager, managing validation team and executing ‘Component' and ‘System' validation of robotics and software systems
• Determined server and network storage requirements, achieved accreditation by UKAS, coordinated equipment purchases and delivery, and produced Health & Safety plans and documentation
• Orchestrated recruitment of 35 new employees following accreditation, determining skills requirements and producing training programme
• Established service contracts with third party robotic and software suppliers to enable 24hr support, initiated shift patterns with HR to increase unit capacity, managed casework delivery to all 43 police forces, produced development plans for all staff, and handled performance reviews
• Additional experience at Forensic Science Service includes: DNA Automation Team Leader Trident Court, and Assistant Forensic Scientist Priory House / Trainer.