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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Management
1. Manage the flow and organisation of work coming through the labs, ensuring that work is carried out in a timely and efficient manner, in accordance with the laboratory manual and to the appropriate standards and regulations for research and the use of human tissue.
2. Using the departmental database (CRF Manager®), oversee the weekly laboratory schedule and coordinate the work of laboratory staff and service users to ensure the most economical use of resources, space and equipment.
3. Liaise with colleagues to ensure standardised lab checks are completed.
4. Oversee the booking of couriers and dry ice.
5. Contribute to the investigation of complaints pertaining to the CRF lab and report the findings to the CRF Management Team.
6. Plan and prioritise own workload making adjustments to plans according to unforeseen circumstances.
7. Appropriately and fairly delegate duties, tasks and responsibilities to Medical Lab Assistant(s) (MLA) and other members of the team.
8. Ensure the efficient use of laboratory consumables, chemicals and agents by monitoring stock levels (being aware of rotation, storage requirements, batch numbers and expiry dates) and being responsible for the ordering and preparation of consumables and reagents required for the laboratory. This will include the management of generic laboratory supplies and study specific laboratory/sample kits etc.
9. Purchase generic laboratory consumables.
10. Ensure all sample records are adequately stored and accessible by members of the research teams.
11. Track laboratory usage.
12. Ensure personal and laboratory compliance with national and local guidance regarding commercial confidentiality.
13. Ensure the laboratories are clean and tidy at all times and maintained to the required standard.

Equipment
1. Be responsible for the safe and effective use of laboratory equipment
2. Ensure fitness-for-purpose checks are performed on a regular basis on existing and newly purchased equipment.
3. Ensure Laboratory equipment, freezers and fridges are organised according to local policy and that they are maintained according to daily/weekly/monthly checks.
4. Proactively identify and manage issues relating to breakdown/unavailability of laboratory equipment, carry out corrective actions independently as appropriate and develop contingency plans as necessary.
5. Liaise with the Trust Estates and Facilities and Biomedical Engineering department regarding acceptance, installation and testing of laboratory equipment.
6. Take responsibility for ensuring Laboratory equipment repair, servicing and calibration occur within the set timeframe and documentary evidence of these visits is supplied and filed.
7. Be responsible for ensuring maintenance contracts and warranties are in place for laboratory equipment.
8. Participate in the evaluation of new equipment and service contracts.

Temperature controlled storage and monitoring
1. Ensure IMP, stock drugs, reagents, lab kits and samples are stored and/or shipped at appropriate temperatures as directed by manufacturer or sponsor.
2. Track storage of all temperature controlled items and report any out-of-range temperatures according to local SOPs and sponsor requirements.
3. Manage the continuous temperature monitoring system for all temperature controlled storage including drug preparation rooms and fridges and freezers for samples and medicinal products.

People management
1. Motivate, encourage and mentor lower banded Laboratory staff and Laboratory users.

2. Provide professional leadership for staff working within the Laboratories.
3. Provide the day-to-day supervision of Medical Laboratory Assistant(s) (MLA).
4. Provide appropriate induction, mentoring, supervision and input into the ongoing professional and personal development for team members.
5. Review and sign off on leave requests from direct reports always ensuring sufficient service provision during times of personal and staff leave.
6. Cover for staff shortages as far as is reasonable, in order to maintain the service.
7. Contribute to the recruitment of staff as required.
8. Oversee the training and development needs of lower banded Laboratory staff.
9. Ensure regulatory and Trust mandatory training is up to date for all direct reports.
10. Manage and undertake objective setting and annual performance development reviews (PDR) for direct reports.
11. Contribute to a working environment which encourages staff to identify concerns and speak up.

Corporate responsibilities
1. Contribute to the effective corporate leadership and management of the team
2. Help create a culture for the team underpinned by an ethos of continuous improvement.
3. Promote the BRC through own actions and visibility in the NIHR BRC and with key internal and external partners.
4. Work collaboratively with colleagues across the BRC and wider GSTFT and KCL to facilitate the achievement of objectives and shared learning.

Technical
1. Ensure that specimens and forms are adequately labelled before being accepted into the laboratory and to resolve problems arising from incorrectly or inadequately labelled specimens and forms.
2. Ensure personal, staff and laboratory users appropriate handling, use and disposal of patient/participant tissue in accordance with the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) guidelines.
3. Carry out sample receiving, preparation, processing, coding, logging and shipping, as set out in the study protocol and laboratory manual, adhering to current ICH Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP) guidelines and the Human Tissue Act.
4. Maintain concentration when performing complex sample processing, including multiple aliquot requirements to ensure the right sample is pipetted into the right numbered tubes and processing is completed within the sponsor specified time limits.
5. Be responsible for the appropriate and safe transport of research samples as dictated by each study.
6. Take responsibility for sample preparation accuracy for all samples processed in the laboratory.
7. Work with the Management Team to develop new laboratory services and expand the type of samples that can be processed in the Laboratory.

Study/trial feasibility and set up
1. Understand all new research protocols and lab manuals, identifying any aspects that may require additional feasibility testing or additional training for laboratory and research staff.
2. Provide advice regarding sample management pathways and internal/inter-departmental transport requirements.
3. Create study-specific SOPs and Work Instructions where required.
4. Consult sponsor and Quality Assurance team prior to implementation of locally created study documents.
5. Document the review of laboratory activities within the established on-boarding and study set up processes.
6. Contribute to the costing of all studies.
7. Ensure laboratory staff attendance at all Site Initiation Visits (SIV) for studies.

Health and Safety
1. Be responsible for providing new Laboratory users an Induction Programme, providing advice on safe waste disposal and decontamination, enhanced personal protection, and contamination management.
2. Work in a safe manner with regard to the safety of self and others, complying with appropriate Codes of Conduct and local safety rules.
3. Ensure safe handling and storage of hazardous materials in accordance with COSHH regulations.
4. Complete risk assessments of activity carried out in the sample laboratory adhering to Trust procedures and, where necessary, seek guidance from Trust Biological Safety Office (BSO)/Health and Safety team
5. Oversee the safe and compliant handling of human biological samples (including relevant material) using appropriate containment procedures. This may include working with limited risk Hazard Group 3 material such as samples positive for, COVID-19, HIV or Hepatitis B.
6. Disseminate and ensure compliance with study-specific risk management plans.
7. Be responsible for maintaining and updating the laboratory Health and Safety policies as required.
8. Be responsible for ensuring all staff using the laboratory have read and signed the appropriate policies and SOPs and completed the relevant lab training.
9. Be responsible for ensuring sufficient provision of PPE for all  laboratory users.
10. Report any accidents/incidents or ill health and failings in premises, equipment or personal protective equipment.

11. Work in accordance with good clinical laboratory practices and local safety and quality initiatives.
12. Oversee the removal of clinical waste.
13. Notify management team of any changes required to waste management processes.
14. Deal with spillage of samples/chemicals in a safe and appropriate manner when necessary.