Technical Manager

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Job description

We are seeking a laboratory lead for our newly established Single Cell Omics Platform at the Centre for Inflammation Biology and Cancer Immunology (CIBCI) at Guy\’s Campus, King\’s College London (KCL).

We are building a new platform and team to apply state-of-the-art single cell transcriptomics for various projects within the School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences and the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine. The post-holder will be based at CIBCI, Guy\’s Campus (KCL). The omics approaches will be supported by flow cytometry-based approaches for, for example, data validation.

We are looking for someone who will serve as a technical lead of this new laboratory. The post holder will be required to establish the platform in coordination with the small group of principal investigators (PIs) leading on this initiative. As such, we are seeking someone who strives for excellence, has high standards of scientific research conduct, excellent communication skills and who has experience in single cell (preferably) or state-of-the art transcriptomics technologies. The post holder will liaise and manage the day-to-day running of the platform and oversee the multiple projects that will be undertaken within the laboratory. They will communicate with multiple parties (principal investigators, suppliers) and, in regular consultation with the relevant PIs (see above) oversee the overall running of the laboratory and the prioritisation of its activities. We want the appointed individual to be the \’go to\’ person for those who require single cell omics experiments.

Experience in specialised techniques such as library preparation and sequencing are essential; knowledge of flow cytometry and cell sorting is desirable, although training will be provided as necessary. Experience in supervision is essential; experience in managing a team is desirable. The post-holder will also have direct or indirect experience with bioinformatics support and will be the person who integrates the needs and requirements of each project, connects the right parties with each other, and is able to tailor pipelines depending on the demands of each project. The successful candidate should be flexible, rigorous, self-motivated, and work independently, but also with the ability to work with and lead a team. Thus, good interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work enthusiastically and effectively as part of a team are essential.

The position encompasses a breadth of activities, including:

• To supervise the lab team performing day to day work.

• To act as a key liaison between principal investigators (PIs) and the SCO platform.

• To aid in experimental design and budget requirements of principal investigators that want to use the SCO platform.

• To provide specialist advice to researchers, establish and maintain collaborative working relationships. Participate at relevant operational meetings.

• Where appropriate, the post-holder should provide training on specialised laboratory skills to junior staff and students.

• To manage the budget of the SCO platform effectively and in compliance with audits

• To supervise potential students that come in the facility.

• To respect and demonstrate the key principles of scientific integrity, probity, and professionalism.

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 2 years

This is a full-time post – 100%

Key responsibilities

The post holder will be a member of the School\’s professional services team, providing high quality specialist managerial support to the School and specific support to its education/ research activities. Working closely with their academic leads, the post holder will:

• Lead and manage a complex technical service with a broad customer base, with responsibility for budgets, staff and operations.

• Work closely with other Technical Managers to set the standards for the delivery for the area of responsibility. Provide advanced technical expertise and management of a diverse team and resources and proficient use of procedures that require considerable skill and a thorough understanding of the underlying technical/scientific theory and recent advances.

• Lead and act as a subject expert for a technical service area or organisational activity, representing this area of expertise at university and external meetings, and deputising for line manager(s) as required.

• Manage service/facility budgets and expenditure, supporting budget forecasting to maximise cost recovery and the sustainability of the service.

• Build the business case for upgrading facilities, or new facilities.

• Manage and oversee the functioning of the SCO platform and its supporting infrastructure.

• Provide recognised specialist technical and theoretical expertise gained through experience and/or formal qualifications.

• Have a solid understanding of the underlying technical/scientific theory and associated regulations for the specialist area, keeping informed about developments in the field.

• Design the implementation of novel pipelines with appropriate quality controls and traceability for audit purposes.

• Liaise with service users to understand their requirements and priorities, supporting service users throughout the project life cycle, including advice on project design and planning to limit waste and to set achievable timelines and accurate costs.

• Engage in Continuing Professional Development and training initiatives, in line with the Technician Commitment and Research Concordat for a minimum of 10 days pro rata per year.

• Promote career/ organisational development initiatives such as the Technical Commitment that aim to strengthen the skills and expertise of professional services staff.

• Collaborate with teams across the School/ Faculty/ university, forming a strong network across the university and with external users/suppliers

• Perform internal audits

• Manage/ supervise the installation, monitoring and maintenance of equipment, systems and software, with control over small budgets, stocks/stores equipment and supplies

• Communicate, both orally and in writing, complex information in a clear and precise fashion, synthesising and presenting complex information in a clear and precise manner

• Use well-developed analytical skills to identify trends and patterns, to problem-solve and inform timely and considered decisions that have an impact of up to a year and occasionally being required to resolve predictable, longer term problems

• Manage own workload and that of the SCO laboratory team, pattern of work and resources, advising and providing feedback and identifying training and development needs. Be responsive to changing priorities and an evolving environment/context, maximising the efficiency of the technical support

• Provide advice/ guidance and, where appropriate, training to colleagues on specialist techniques, regulations and university policies/ processes

• To remain up to date with the relevant scientific, technical and methodological literature.

• To regularly participate in group meetings and present work to a wider internal and external audience.

• To respect and demonstrate the key principles of scientific integrity, probity, and professionalism

• Facilitate an inclusive culture and ethos working in partnership with academic, research, other professional services staff and colleagues external to King\’s College

The post holder will report to the academic leads for the SCO platform; Profs Adrian Hayday, Toby Lawrence and Dr Rocio Martinez-Nunez.

The detail on tasks and responsibilities of the post will be provided in the job work plan, which will form the basis of the discussion during the post holder\’s probationary review and subsequent PDR discussion.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1. Hold a PhD or Considerable and comparable knowledge and skills gained through work experience in molecular biology, immunology, bioinformatics or a related discipline

2. Have extensive experience with an in-depth knowledge of specialist technical and scientific practices, methods and procedures applicable to transcriptomics, underpinned by a good understanding of relevant technical/scientific and biological theory

3. Ability to supervise others and manage workloads in a team

4. Experience in managing budgets

5. Excellent communication skills, orally and in writing, along with strong interpersonal and influencing/behavioural skills

6. Evidence of an active commitment to career development

7. Ability and experience in training and teaching individuals in methodologies and techniques

8. Ability and experience in experimental design, team and project management

9. Proactive and responsive to internal contacts in immediate area and across King\’s and outside the university (e.g. suppliers, colleagues in other HE institutions) in order to build relationships

10. A commitment to an excellent student experience and concern for staff and student wellbeing, along with a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

11. Experience with single cell omics methodologies

12. Experience with flow cytometry

Desirable criteria

13. Experience with accreditation processes

14. Experience with bioinformatics analysis pipelines

15. Experience with Good Clinical Practice protocols and regulations

Further information

The post holder is a member of the School\’s professional services team, providing high quality technical support to the School and specific support to its education/ research activities. Working closely with their line manager(s) and lead academic.

The detail on tasks and responsibilities of the post will be provided in the job work plan, which will form the basis of the discussion during the post holder\’s probationary review and subsequent PDR discussion.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview.

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