Job Description 

As a Technical Support Officer at a CRO, your work will primarily involve supporting the execution of client projects to ensure efficient, robust and high-quality service to our clients. You will work with many of the top and up-and-coming pharmaceutical companies. The minimum project pipeline you will contribute to entails FFPE processing, sectioning and staining (H&E and/or IHC) at no less than 300 blocks of tissue per week as part of the delivery of the Skimune® assay. Requirements will be detailed from a signed project scope with a mixture of fixed and fluid deliverables. You will additionally co-plan and execute sourcing and ordering of required items and assist in work execution according to protocols and SOPs where suitable. At every step, you will work collaboratively with highly driven, goal- and process-oriented colleagues as part of the scientific team.  

The minimum maintenance tasks you will perform are to ensure that all laboratory drawers are stocked, equipment cleaned on a regular schedule, deliveries and maintenance jobs managed, and other checklist items completed. 

Essential Requirements:- 

Technical skills required for this work include general understanding and good working memory of FFPE and histological processing, human tissue culture, and adaptability to different computer technologies. Soft skills required for this work include compliance with quality control systems (e.g. ISO9001), strong attention to detail, strong initiative in the assigned and peripheral tasks, and the ability to maintain high productivity and accuracy.  

Key Role & Responsibilities 

• Histopathology with tissue sectioning and staining responsibilities  

• Ensuring all processes are in line with current company quality and safety guidelines 

• Support the Scientific Manager to ensure that laboratory safety regulations and necessary precautions and requirements are met.  

• Ensure that laboratories and equipment are kept clean and tidy, including checking equipment for safety and advising staff of safety aspects of particular experiments. 

• Support the management of ordering system  

• Ensuring all work is performed to ISO9001 and all work is completed in accordance with these standards 

• Continue maintenance of the ISO9001 standard including participation in internal audits 

• Optimisation and development of cell culture methods in collaboration with the Scientific Manager & other scientific staff. 

• Preparation of skin tissue and blood samples from surgical sources for setting up Skimune® assays 

• Supervising cell culture including training and induction where appropriate 

• Support the management of frozen cell stocks and cell bank archives 

• Carry out any other duties as may be reasonably required by the line manager.  

• Work with attention to detail and to high standard when delivering client studies 

• Maintain documents and records accurately 

• Report records of breakages and health & safety issues to the Scientific Manager and filing, catalogue systems and price lists are kept up to date. 

• Time management skills 

• Able to perform multifunctional roles 

• Support the arrangement of safe disposal of chemical, biological and radio-active waste observing appropriate safety and environmental considerations. 

• Support the control of stock and annual stock check and the development and maintenance of a computerised stock control system. 

• Support the Scientific Manager in ensuring that statutory records of poisons, inflammable liquids, alcohol and radio-active materials are maintained and that all materials are correctly labelled. 

• To ensure that statutory checks on electrical equipment are carried out when required and to maintain general equipment in good order. 

• Show a flexibility approach to working hours and be willing to work out of hours when required 

• Apply continuous improvement throughout