Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Biological Specimen Coordinator within the Breast Research Team at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. The post holder will have oversight at Chelsea location.
We are looking for enthusiastic and self-motivated team members to work on our new and existing tissue studies contributing to the ground-breaking research run out of this unit.
Continuous professional development is encouraged. Working as a highly valued member of the MDT, we support further study opportunities.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for:
1. Working independently on a daily basis but as an integral part of a busy research department and be responsible for supervision and collection of patient samples for ongoing studies.
2. Collecting archival and new tissue samples, processing and labelling samples, managing the collection and storage of samples in the appropriate conditions (fridges/freezers at -70oC/liquid nitrogen)
3. Receiving samples in-house and travelling off site for retrieval of relevant material
4. Co-ordinating the dispatch of samples to other centres where required.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
5. To ensure the timely and efficient collection of tissue and fluid samples
6. To send and retrieve samples from external Biobank facilities
7. Distribute samples to research groups, laboratories, commercial and academic sponsors
8. To ensure samples are packed, labelled and handled appropriately, according to IATA specification.
9. Ensure the dispatch and retrieval of samples ambient or frozen (using dry ice) as requested via external courier services
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
10. Educated to A-level or equivalent
Desirable criteria
11. Biomedical Science degree or equivalent experience
12. Technical qualification in pathology/histopathology
Experience
Essential criteria
13. Demonstrable laboratory experience in the techniques listed in the job description
14. Experience of working in a laboratory environment (preferably within a clinical/ hospital setting
15. Experience of database management
Skills Abilities/knowledge
Desirable criteria
16. Venepuncture and/or cannulation skills
The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.
Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.
Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff
At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.
The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.