Please note that this job is open only to current members of staff of Cardiff University who are eligible for redeployment. Internal Applicants Only - Biobank Specialist College of Biomedical and Life Sciences The Cardiff University Biobank is an established facility within the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences (BLS) that supports research by facilitating access to biosamples for the internal and external research community. We offer high quality human biosamples for research undertaken for patient benefit to academic and commercial organisations and have established collections from a number of different disease areas and healthy volunteers. We welcome approaches to initiate new collections not already established within the facility. The facility adheres to all ethical and regulatory requirements (including those covering human tissue, data and ethics) and relevant quality standards in biobanking; CUB is certified to ISO 9001:2015 for our quality management system. We have an exciting opportunity for a Biobank Specialist to join our team. This is a new position, and we are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated and flexible individual who will be the spokesperson for CUB, leading on setting up new collections and collaborative activities and contributing to CUB’s strategic development. As the Biobank Specialist, you will liaise closely with academic and clinical colleagues providing advice and guidance on biobanking in general and more specifically the services offered by CUB. You will promote the benefits of working with CUB and develop an understanding of how CUB can adapt to meet the needs of researchers and action these changes, including drafting amendments to CUB’s ethical approval where necessary. Working closely with the BLS Facilities Quality and Biobank Lead, Biobank Academic Lead and the Biobank Governance and Strategic Advisor, you will also help drive strategy, ensuring CUB continues to provide a beneficial service to researchers and contributing to the continuous improvement of the facility. You will be educated to degree level in a biomedical or biological sciences, or another directly relevant discipline and ideally have post graduate research experience in the biomedical field. Experience of biobanking is essential to this role This position full-time, 35 hours per week and open-ended. Salary: £40,247- £45,163 per annum (Grade 6) Closing date: Wednesday, 1 January 2025 External applications are currently not being considered for this post. If the decision is made to open the post to external candidates, the strapline at the top will be removed and you will be given ample time to apply – please check back periodically for details. Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements. Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. Job Purpose Support the Cardiff University Biobank with expertise in biobanking and establishing new sample collections, carrying out supporting work, providing advice, guidance and support, and leading projects within this area. Key Duties Provide professional advice and guidance on Cardiff University Biobank processes and procedures to internal and external customers that will have institute wide impacts, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood Take responsibility for resolving issues independently within the Cardiff University Biobank where they fall within set role objectives Take the lead on establishing new prospective collections. This will involve assembling and supervising teams to plan and deliver these projects over both the short and long term. The role holder will need to liaise with clinical staff, consent staff and collection staff and take responsibility for driving the project. As part of this they will be required to develop robust procedures and processes in consultations with the stakeholders before a project is approved Assist in donor recruitment for the facility. This will include taking non-invasive samples (e.g. swabs, spit, urine, faeces) and blood from donors as required. The role holder will have to undertake training as a phlebotomist as part of the position. Investigate and analyse specific issues within the Cardiff University Biobank, creating recommendation reports, supported by advances within the field of biobanking Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to achieve biobanking objectives Plan and deliver specific small-scale projects, co-ordinating and supervising project teams created as needed Ensure that specialist advice, guidance and direction of the Cardiff University Biobank is delivered to the institution, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements and contributing to the strategic development of the Cardiff University Biobank Develop and deliver training within the Cardiff University Biobank Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department Instruct and guide other employees across the University with regard to working with the Cardiff University Biobank General Duties Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role Your application will be assessed against the following essential and desirable criteria for the role. Please copy and paste this section into a new document and give clear examples of how you can evidence meeting each criteria by writing under each one. You can draw on elements from any aspect of your life (e.g. work, home, education/qualifications or community life) as long as you focus on their relevance to the role. Please save your supporting statement in a separate document with the title [YOURNAME-BR NUMBER-JOB TITLE] and attach it to your application in the recruitment system, available here. Essential Criteria Qualifications and Education Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience Knowledge, Skills and Experience Substantial experience of working in biomedical research and biobanking Able to demonstrate professional knowledge within biobanking to give advice and guidance to internal and external customers Proven experience in developing new processes and procedures Customer Service, Communication and Team Working Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to long term developments Planning, Analysis and Problem solving Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose both practical and innovative solutions Evidence of demonstrable knowledge of key advances within biobanking Evidence of ability to undertake and deliver specific projects and supervise short term project teams Desirable criteria Postgraduate/Professional qualification in a biomedical field Experience of working in a Higher Education environment Fluency in Welsh, written and oral