Laboratory Assistant in Sutton

Join our expanding Clinical Research Laboratory team! An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, organised and highly motivated Laboratory Assistant to join the West Wing Clinical Research Centre (WWCRC) Laboratory. As our clinical research portfolio continues to grow, we are expanding our team to support an increasing number of commercial and academic clinical trials. The WWCRC Laboratory is a busy pre‑analytical clinical research laboratory that supports sample collection, processing, storage and shipment for a large portfolio of clinical research studies. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual who enjoys working in a fast‑paced laboratory environment where accuracy, organisation and attention to detail are essential.

The successful candidate will support clinical trials across 10 Clinical Research Teams (CRTs), providing laboratory support throughout the lifecycle of each study. The role requires close collaboration with research nurses, trial coordinators, investigators and external partners to ensure that all laboratory activities are performed to the highest standard.

Main duties of the job:

• Work in accordance with the philosophy, policies, and requirements of the WWCRC, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Royal Marsden hospital (RMH).
• Maintain a high level of knowledge of the current legislation surrounding clinical trial conduct, including Good Clinical Practice, UK Statutory Instrument for Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations and the EU Clinical trials directives.
• Work closely with the Clinical Research Team Consultants, Fellows, Senior Trial Coordinators, Data Managers, WWCRC Matron, Sister and nursing staff to continuously improve unit procedures and the quality of clinical trial coordination.
• Fulfil an ambassadorial role for the unit and trust when liaising and negotiating trial services with pharmaceutical companies, research networks, auditors, and other frequent visitors from collaborative research sites.
• Support the Clinical Trial Management Group (TSM) in evaluating the feasibility of new clinical trial protocols with liaison from team members/leaders of the WWCRC, to be able to produce Instruction worksheet (SDW).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• Feed back any comments on the new laboratory manuals to the TSM/CRT, with particular reference to challenges posed by logistics.
• Ensure that all protocol amendments have been circulated and read by the WWCRC team, and any required changes in laboratory documentation are updated to reflect the amendment.
• Collaborate with Clinical Research Team representatives to support the set up and management of each trial, acting as the main point of contact for the WWCRC and completing checks to determine if studies meet agreed targets.
• Organise and support study review meetings with clinical research team as required for the smooth progression of each study.
• Play a supportive role in contributing to and maintaining a cohesive study site function within the unit, contributing to best practice within the team.
• Bring any issues and/or resolutions currently affecting the WWCRC to the attention of the WWCRC Matron, Sister or Research facilitator.

Person specification:

Education and Knowledge:

• University Degree in a scientific discipline or Higher TEC/HNDHNC/C&G or similar qualification.
• Experience in processing samples, storing and shipping.
• Knowledge of GCP, GLP, IATA & HTA.

Experience:

• Experience of reading and disseminating a protocol.
• Experience of working with Excel spreadsheets.
• Experience of working within a team and the ability to network.
• Preparing for audits and inspection.

Skills / Abilities / Knowledge:

• Excellent organisational skills.
• Evidence of ability to work on own initiative.
• Proven ability to organise own work in a busy work environment and time‐critical situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal as well as written format.
• Proficient in the use of IT software.

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff:

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune‑compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease. The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the utmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient‑facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the normal course of their duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.