Laboratory Manager

Job Description: Laboratory Manager

Company Description
NeoPhore is a UK-based biotech company targeting the DNA mismatch repair (“MMR”) pathway to discover the next generation of small molecule cancer immunotherapies. NeoPhore collaborates closely with many academic and commercial organisations, including scientific founders Professor Alberto Bardelli and Dr Giovanni Germano at the University of Milan, Italy, and Dr Luis Diaz at MSKCC, New York.

NeoPhore currently has 13 full time employees including a dedicated internal Cancer Cell Biology (CCB) laboratory based at City St George’s University, in South London led by NeoPhore’s Principal Scientist, Biology. As the work undertaken at St George’s has continued to progress and develop at pace, an opportunity has arisen for a dedicated and enthusiastic Laboratory Manager to join our team and support the team with the smooth running of the laboratory.

Objectives and Responsibilities of this Role
NeoPhore’s Laboratory Manager will be responsible for the operational support of the Company’s Cancer Cell Biology laboratory based at City St George’s University, London. The efficient running of the laboratory will in turn drive the Company’s scientific advances. The successful candidate will ensure the smooth running of the laboratory by organising communal lab & tissue culture areas, as well as office areas. They will be accountable for Health & Safety compliance, repositories (LN2 and fridges/freezers), for general ordering and maintaining laboratory stocks (consumables and reagents) at required levels:
• Anticipate, troubleshoot, and resolve problems within the laboratory and office settings
• Responsible for ensuring the laboratory is fully Health and Safety compliant at all times
• Health and Safety management for the company, alongside the Health and Safety committee
• Oversee the overall use of the laboratory to ensure that all laboratory users comply with systems of good practice and maintain a high level of housekeeping
• Act as a point of reference to others with regards to all laboratory administration and facilities-related issues
• Act as a point of reference for all logistics, ensuring compliance with safety requirements (e.g. shipments), and operational tasks such as for 3rd party facility management companies and equipment servicing providers
• Responsible for lab accreditation (such as CL-2) and licensing (such as HTA)
• Managing the purchases and receipts of orders for the laboratory, ensuring adherence to Company policies (including through establishing a procurement platform such as Amicci)
• Ensure preventative maintenance is carried out on all equipment
• Responsible for the cell and sample banking – ensure all biological materials are deposited and maintained in repositories, with full traceability at all times
• Ensure the smooth running of the laboratory by organising/updating the laboratory documentation (such as SOPs, risk assessments, etc.) including and accountable for the ELN back-up
• Manage staff induction including training existing staff in new procedures within remit
• Provide timely and relevant updates to the Principal Scientist, Biology
• Support the cancer research / drug discovery effort by performing cell culture and some basic biochemistry/molecular biology methods
• Exceptional work outside of normal hours in responses to laboratory/site emergencies

Previous experience required for this Role
• Experience leading in a laboratory environment from a logistical and/or operational standpoint
• Experience working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders. Ability to juggle several complex tasks at once
• Diligent and pro-active in organising the lab maintenance (lab duties, orders, cell banking, …)
• High level of administrative skills and ability to maintain accurate record keeping.
• Computer literate with knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• Evidence of quality output/impact from a lab-based experimental project (e.g. written report, figures in a scientific manuscript, completed experiments or protocols that helped move a project forward)
• Experienced in establishing and managing an HTA license, and/or a procurement platform, and/or accreditation for Containment Level 2 (CL-2) laboratory would be advantageous.

Qualifications
• B.Sc. or Master’s degree in a biological or biomedical subject or equivalent experience
• NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (or equivalent) would be advantageous.

About the Candidate
• Self-motivated, rigorous, diligent and meticulous individual
• Outstanding organisation and communication skills with evidence for successful time-management and ability to work towards tight deadlines
• Excellent inter-personal skills for building and maintaining good working relationships both within the NeoPhore team and with external parties. Very approachable, collaborative and attentive approach to stakeholder management.
• Active listening skills that enable effective implementation of plans agreed in team discussions and with line manager
• Natural ability for anticipating and troubleshooting potential issues with evidence for independent and practical contribution to problem solving
• Strong team player
• Trained and independent in basic cell culture/biochemistry/molecular biology lab-based methodologies (e.g. Western blots, PCR, …) would be advantageous
• The ideal candidate will demonstrate evidence of flexible, collaborative and attentive approach to supporting the team. Being proactive and responsible at all times is essential for this position.

Appointment Details:
Permanent full-time. Office and laboratory-based position located in the internal facilities at City St George’s University, based in South-London, Tooting Broadway, London, UK; reporting to the Principal Scientist - Biology. Compensation package to be agreed according to experience, including competitive salary as well as benefits.