Laboratory Scientist with DNA

The Company is a well-established, award-winning company, based in Warrington, offering DNA, drugs and alcohol and healthcare testing services to the legal community, members of the public and companies across the UK and internationally. We are looking for a Laboratory Scientist to join our DNA and Health team.

Job purpose: The role of the Laboratory Scientist is to receive and log in casework samples, carry out laboratory testing and perform data analysis. The role holder will be responsible for helping to ensure that the team meet their KPIs and departmental targets by ensuring that samples are processed quickly, efficiently and to a high standard so that reports meet their turnaround time for the customers.

Role responsibilities include:

• Receipt and vetting of biological samples e.g. buccal swabs, blood, and nails submitted to the laboratory for analysis
• Using Salesforce to log all samples into the laboratory and update case files
• Meticulous record keeping ensuring the continuity of samples throughout the laboratory testing process
• Performing all laboratory processes to completion following appropriate standard operating procedures
• Analysing data to ensure acceptance criteria has been met and using data to produce customer reports
• Ensuring Health and Safety standards are adhered to
• Maintaining and cleaning laboratory equipment on a regular basis and ensuring that problems with equipment are reported and recorded correctly
• General administrative tasks e.g., scanning, filing, taking payments etc.
• Answering email and telephone enquiries and giving advice, information and instructions
• Liaising with other departments e.g., Customer Services, Partners, Finance, Logistics
• Calibration and maintenance of laboratory equipment with excellent record keeping
• Maintaining levels of stock and laboratory consumables, where required, and informing relevant team members when goods need to be ordered
• Cleaning all areas of the laboratories following the appropriate cleaning procedures
• Helping to ensure that all KPIs are met
• Ensuring compliance with Health and Safety requirements, GDPR, ISO 17025, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 in addition to all departmental procedures, policies, and protocols within the QMS/EMS
• Reporting of quality/environmental nonconformances/incidents, or trends toward these, to line manager and QHSE manager.

Person Specification:

• Knowledge of DNA testing processes
• Laboratory skills – pipetting, sample handling, following SOPs
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Organised, ability to manage own workload effectively
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Outlook and Excel
• Effective oral and written communicator
• Ability to work in a team or alone when required
• Flexibility and adaptability in approach to tasks and requests
• Willingness to learn, develop new skills and embrace change
• Experience working in a laboratory-based ISO 17025 environment is desirable
• Applicants must hold a BSc in Forensic Science, Genetics, Biology, or a closely related scientific discipline.

Additional Requirements: In order to meet the laboratory requirements, all staff must have a flexible approach to the working week. All Laboratory Scientists are expected to work additional hours when required to meet the needs of our customers. Laboratory Scientists must be effective communicators and able to work in a team or independently if required. Laboratory Scientists must be able to identify their limitations and voice their requirements for further training to their Line Manager. Laboratory Scientists must dress appropriately to ensure that when visitors tour the laboratory complex the correct image is maintained.

Benefits:

• Pay £23,810 per year
• 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays increasing to 26 days holiday
• On-going training and development
• Company pension
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• EAP
• Company maternity pay
• Company paternity pay
• Sick pay

If you are interested in finding out more, please apply.