Bio-sample Operations Manager

About Our Future Health

Our aim is to recruit up to five million adult volunteers from across the UK to create one of the most detailed pictures we’ve ever had of people’s health. People taking part will be asked to provide information about their health and lifestyles and a small sample of their blood.

Our goal is to transform the prevention, detection and treatment of conditions such as dementia, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. So future generations can live in good health for longer. 

We are looking for people to join us on this transformational journey. If you are looking for a new challenge and are looking to work in an environment where what you do can have a measurable positive impact on society then we are keen to speak with you. Let’s prevent disease together.

Your background:

In your career you will have developed substantial experience in delivering or monitoring health research within a healthcare setting. You’ll have extensive experience in managing the full biological sample (bio-sample) lifecycle from collection all the way through to final repository. You’re someone that is curious and naturally drawn to a challenge and will be excited by the fact that what we are building is the UK’s largest health research programme. You’ll have belief in your own expertise coupled with the self-awareness and emotional intelligence required to work in a cross-functional team.

We’re looking for people that are not afraid to speak up in a constructive way and work with similarly passionate individuals that want to make a difference.

The role:

As Bio-sample Operations Manager, you will work within our study operations team and plan, coordinate and oversee all operational activities required to manage the lifecycle of samples. This includes; collection, processing, analysis, data receipt and final repository of all samples collected for Our Future Health. This post is crucial to our programme of work and you will be the key contact for all bio-samples within the organisation.

The study operations team is responsible for the overall set up and management of all operational aspects of the Our Future Health programme which includes the recruitment of 5 million volunteers and the collection of their data and bio-samples in line with the overall programme budget and timelines. A quick overview of what you will be doing within this role is as follows:

• Managing all aspects of the bio-sample journey from the point of extraction through to storage (including but not limited to local laboratory, transport, processing labs and assay lab) as per required timelines.
  
• Monitoring effectiveness of sample handling at all points of the journey to ensure consistently high quality samples are obtained.
• Creating quality control documentation relating to bio-samples (including; handling, transport, storage) ready for dissemination both internally and externally.
• Managing the quality management activities and providing support in risk mitigation and planning corrective/preventive actions and guidance for improvement.
• Reviewing non-compliance & deviation reports for accuracy and creating CAPA plans as required.

You will work with and be supported by a hugely talented and diverse team that are drawn together by a shared ambition to create products that will have a genuinely positive impact on the world. To achieve this, we support a culture where your voice is heard and people are empowered to take ownership of their part of the programme, collaborating with their peers to support our wider mission.

Requirements

To succeed in this role, you will need to be able to demonstrate some of the following:

• Life sciences degree or equivalent experience.
• Working knowledge of the UK clinical research environment, including appropriate sample collection, handling and storage regulations & guidelines.
• Proven experience working within a laboratory setting, including processing and/or analysis of samples.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Previous experience of devising and implementing quality assurance and quality control procedures related to collection, handing and shipping of bio samples for research.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A high level of numeracy, analytical, and interpretive skills.
• An understanding of population research and cohort studies.

Benefits

What can we offer you?

• £55,000 - £65,000 per annum basic salary
• Generous company pension package with employer contributions of up to 12%
• 30 days annual holiday allowance 
• We have a lovely new office in Holborn, Central London. You will also have the flexibility of a hybrid working schedule.

Working with us

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures. It is vital that a diverse range of people participate in Our Future Health so we can help make discoveries that benefit everyone. We believe that a diverse workforce will help us to achieve that goal.