COMPANY OVERVIEW:

Sampled is a fully integrated laboratory and biorepository with industry-leading storage, sample management, multiomics, cellular services, and custom clinical kitting. Founded in 1999 as RUCDR at Rutgers University, Sampled operates facilities in the US and UK and is CAP accredited and CLIA licensed. Sampled is committed to providing the highest quality sample storage, processing, and analysis services that enable researchers to make new discoveries and advance human health. When combined with state-of-the-art biobanking facilities, these capabilities provide comprehensive scientific solutions that speed time to quality data.

Sampled is committed to building a sustainable, inclusive and diverse culture where team members enjoy equal opportunities in a safe, supportive and empowering environment. Sampled believes that as an organisation we have a duty to be actively engaged in supporting not just the clients and industries we serve but the communities where we live and work. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Head of Laboratory Services, this position will direct and oversee daily operations for clinical molecular laboratories where various qPCR, microarray, sequencing genotyping, and multiomics services will be performed. They will lead a variety of laboratory activities including personnel training, laboratory procedures, quality control and quality compliance.  There will be a focus on staff training & development, and planning and coordinating work across multiple laboratory teams to meet deadlines and goals. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Maintain working knowledge of all phases of operations and work closely with the Head of Laboratory Services and other team leaders to define and implement operational strategy, structure, and processes across entire laboratory departments. 

Develop and implement laboratory standard procedures and policies to ensure laboratory safety and quality of laboratory work. Establish, implement, and develop quality control metrics, measurements and monitoring systems including laboratory management information system (LIMS) and dashboard to monitor operational productivities and improve laboratory quality performance. 

Train laboratory leaders and staff and provide instructions and guidance to team members for their professional development and growth based on organizational mission and vision and business needs. Monitor staff competency to fulfill laboratory and regulatory requirements. Establish and implement corrective plans for laboratory personnel to improve their performance and competency if necessary.  

Be an effective leader, ensuring support for the wellbeing and motivation of laboratory staff, with a focus on communication to ensure clarity of understanding of roles and responsibilities, opportunities for growth and progression with the organization. 

Effectively and efficiently create and manage teams/projects/staffing schedules according to business needs. Periodically evaluate staffing and scheduling to maintain a balance to achieve quality of work and efficiency of staffing.

Maintain and improve equipment quality program across the entire laboratory. Identify potential risks, for example of a machine malfunction, and take corrective action proactively. Establish a documentation system in defined file repository to ensure quality and evidence of quality compliance in place for each defined essential instrument.

Manage reagent and consumable inventory to ensure adequate supply for laboratory operations. Work closely with various vendors to maintain cost effectiveness of reagents and consumables. Establish and implement reagent and consumables inventory program to guide laboratory purchasing and storage.

Work closely with facility providers to ensure safe and appropriate laboratory premises where working conditions create an environment in which employees feel comfortable to work.  Actively encourages a health and safety culture.  Perform regular housekeeping and health and safety audits.  Carry out appropriate risk assessments for laboratory procedures.

Partner with quality assurance team and other teams to ensure laboratory staff comply with CLIA/CAP, GLP and State requirements. Ensure laboratory successfully participates in the required CAP/CLIA proficiency program, and that appropriate corrective actions are taken if applicable. Review and respond to escalated incidents and quality events in a timely manner. Provide laboratories or relevant parties with straightforward solutions or deliverables to prevent recurrences.  

Continually look to improve departmental processes and delivery of services to streamline communications and improve effectiveness and efficiencies where necessary. Professionally and directly engage in difficult topics and lead productive conversations about how laboratory operations can be improved.

Effectively communicate with direct reports and wider team about laboratory operational progress and issues in a timely manner, provide constructive feedback, and encourage suggestions, and target-focused resolutions.  

Be a champion of the Sampled Values: Strive to delight our clients, Move innovation forward, Accelerate your business, Rise together as a team, Transcend what is possible.  Support and follow the Sampled Executive Team’s decisions and strategy and execute appropriate actions in a positive and constructive way.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in relevant science major. Ph. D in science or molecular biology is favorable.
• 6+ years’ (Bachelor) or 4+ years’ (Ph.D.) experience in a laboratory operational management role with an understanding of the fundamentals of training and implementation processes.
• Experience in laboratory bench work including but not limited to nucleic acid extraction, PCR, qPCR, NGS genotyping using various platforms etc with strong focus on laboratory daily operations. Laboratory automation and experience in developing LIMS preferred. Experience in new technologies such as 10x single cell assays or / and Olink biomarker detection is a plus.
• Strong planning skills with demonstrated ability to set priorities aligning with Sampled goals. Strong organizational skills including ability to plan and organize workload of self and the team to ensure all deadlines are met or exceeded in a fast-paced client-driven environment.
• Demonstrates capability to identify processing procedure gaps, or weakness of quality control data points for procedural or workflows and provides solutions for improvements. Demonstrated ability to improve processes or procedures to increase efficiency and profitability.
• Capable of communicating with team members on both technical or complex topics, to laboratory and non-technical audiences.  Confident to transparently communicate and escalate issues in a timely manner.   
• Able to motivate and inspire team members, with confidence and sensitivity. Effectively apply interpersonal skills to be able to interact with a range of people including customers, vendors, colleagues, prospects, in a broad range of circumstances. Demonstrates patience, emotional stability, flexibility, and a strong sense of integrity and trust. Capable in handling or managing conflicts effectively. Able to lead and manage change.
• Good level of commercial acumen.  Ability to assist in budgeting, cost evaluation and forming cost models for other functioning teams.
• Motivated to learn new laboratory skills, new technologies and evolve in competencies in different areas. Willing to share their own experiences 

COMPENSATION PACKAGE:

Base annual salary in the range $110,000 to $160,000 depending on skills and experience

Competitive employee benefits

Sampled is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/Disabled/Veteran)