Internal Applicants Only - Biobank Officer

Internal Applicants Only - Biobank Officer 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 Officer to join our team. We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated and flexible individual who will help deliver CUB services, from assisting with the set up and delivery of new collections to servicing existing collections, sample management and quality assurance activities. The Biobank Officer position is a fulfilling and varied one. As one of two Biobank Officers, you will liaise closely with academic and clinical colleagues and CUB teammates to co-ordinate the collection, processing and release of biosamples from CUB. You will take responsibility for the processing and storage of biosamples, for supporting biosample collections and providing advice on these both within the university and externally and you will play a crucial role in setting up new collections within the biobank. Working closely with the Biobank Specialist and CUB Operations Manager, you will ensure CUB continues to provide a beneficial service to researchers and contribute to the continuous improvement of the facility., Support the Cardiff University Biobank with sample collection processes, carrying out supporting work, providing advice, guidance and support, and leading projects within this area.,

• Provide professional advice and guidance on Cardiff University Biobank Sample Collection processes and procedures to internal and external customers, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood.
• Assist the Biobank Specialist in the setting up of new collections in the biobank
• Investigate and analyse specific issues related to collections in the biobank, creating summary and recommendation reports.
• Assist in donor recruitment for the facility. This will include taking consent and collecting 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.
• Ensure that the provision of the Cardiff University Biobank sample management, processing and quality assurance is delivered to the institution, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements, including undertaking laboratory maintenance duties and being a point of contact for the facilities temperature monitoring system which includes responding to any alarms and alerts in a timely manner, which could include out of hours responses.
• Collaborate with others in order to make recommendations for developments of established processes and procedures.
• Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University's Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required.
• Take responsibility for liaising with personnel from current and future sample collections to ensure smooth interactions between the collections and CUB. The role holder will take responsibility for co-ordinating CUB's activity with each of the collections they oversee, having to balance and prioritise a dynamic workload as necessary.
• Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to achieve biobank objectives
• Supervise specific project teams on an occasional basis to accomplish key objectives
• Develop and deliver training within nominated areas, which may include consent and sample management training, to CUB team members, stakeholders and customers as required, proactively changing the delivery according to requirements and following established guidelines
• Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department
• Instruct and guide other employees across the University regarding the Cardiff University Biobank documented procedures as required
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
  
  The successful candidate will have substantial experience of working in a biobank and/or biomedical research environment, experience of handling biosamples, proven experience of interacting with different stakeholders and a proven ability to communicate complex information successfully., Qualifications and Education
1. Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience Knowledge, Skills and Experience 2. Substantial experience of working within a biobank and/or biomedical research environment 3. Experience of handling and working with biosamples 4. Able to demonstrate professional knowledge within specialist discipline to give advice and guidance to internal and external customers 5. Ability to set up and follow biosample-related procedures and make improvements as appropriate Customer Service, Communication and Team Working 6. Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people 7. Evidence of ability to explore customers' needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered Planning, Analysis and Problem solving 8. Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identifying and proposing practical solutions and resolving problems with range of potential outcomes 9. Evidence of ability to work unsupervised to deadlines, planning and setting priorities for own work and that of others and monitoring progress. Other 10. A willingness to undertake further training and development., 1. Postgraduate/Professional qualification 2. Experience of working in a Higher Education environment 3. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral

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.

Due to the sample handling nature of this role, there will be limited opportunity to work from home. This position full-time, 35 hours per week and open-ended. Salary: £33,232 - £35,880 per annum (Grade 5). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.