Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, February 20 2024, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Job Purpose
The position holder will oversee all the biobank work operations across the three sites with support from the Head of clinical laboratories and Biobank. The Post holder shall ensure compliance of the biobank establishment and management with the relevant policies, procedures, and protocols.

Roles & Responsibilities
Principal duties;
• The Head of the Biobank shall ensure compliance with the relevant policies, procedures, and protocols. He/she shall ensure that the Biobank protocols and procedures have been subjected to approval by UNCST. Have amendments to the policies and procedures subject to ethical review and approval;
• Have in place in liaison with the researcher, mechanisms for re-consenting when there are changes that affect the scope of the consent or a consent waiver in circumstances where re-consenting is not possible;
• The Head of the biobank shall have in place mechanisms enabling public access to Biobank-related documents, governance, management, and oversight documents. This information should include:
• Ethical and Regulatory approval records; o Roles and responsibilities as stipulated in the governance, management, and oversight structures;
• Application procedures for access, review, and authorizations; o Summary of the biological materials and associated biodata except where there is biosecurity reasons;
• Key elements of the applicable laws, ethical, regulatory guidelines, policies, and procedures; and
• Annual reports of compliance with laws, ethical, and regulatory guidelines, policies, and procedures
• He/ She shall ensure that stakeholders, including the general community and researchers, are consulted to formulate criteria for prioritizing applications for access to the samples;
• The Head of the Biobank is responsible for biobanking communication pertaining to biobank research and developments;
• Partnerships and collaborations;
• Develop projects aligned to transition of a functional biobank;
• Initiate capital development for continual development of the biobank;
• Marketing the biobank to increase visibility and utilization of the samples;
• Development of all the relevant standard operating procedures for the biobank;
• Ensure information is publicly available on the research projects for which samples and data are accessed, and the results of these projects; and,
• Provides monthly reports on the performance of the biobank to the Head of clinical laboratories and Biobank and Unit management meeting.

Financial Management;
• Accountability for and close monitoring of the department’s expenditure and recoveries;
• Costing tool, delivery on time and charging on time; and,
• Working with procurement to ensure value for money is achieved when procuring laboratory reagents and supplies.

Line Management Responsibilities;
The post holder is responsible for managing a dynamic multi-disciplinary team including one senior laboratory technologist, five laboratory technologists, one data manager and interns across the three Unit sites. The post holder shall;-
• Provide a conducive work environment;
• Clearly communicate staff expectations;
• Monitor staff performance regularly ;
• Ensure personnel have the appropriate professional qualifications that meet recognized standards, are underpinned by experience, skills, up-to-date knowledge, education, and training, and are assigned responsibilities commensurate with their capabilities;
• Develop and implement periodic employee training programs. Training should form an integral part of the biobank certification system. The technical staff of the biobank shall be responsible for the implementation of policies and procedures; and,
• All staff are compliant with GCLP, ISO 20387, ISBER, BQS, CTRNet certification, IATA standards and are trained every two years.

LSHTM Integration;
• Participate in & follow Biobank/UVRI/LSHTM procedures & policies;
• Undertake any other duties within the grade that may arise due to LSHTM integration;
• Engage in the harmonization of workflow procedures within the Unit & London; and,
• Utilise new opportunities that result from the transfer to improve my career, quality of work and operational efficiency, etc.

Environment;
• Advocate for the responsible and efficient use of resources;
• Participate in approaches for the reduction of adverse environmental impact due to lab operations; and,
• Develop strategies for energy efficiciency and carbon emission to the over goal of LSHTM carbon zero by 2030.

Person Specification
• MSc in Biobanking or management-related course;
• Ph.D. in science-related subject;
• Bio banking training or certification;
• Experience with GCLP & IATA;
• Should possess at least 5 years’ experience in a busy clinical/research biobank;
• Experience in a biomedical laboratory and working to GCLP standards;
• Previous experience in working in a laboratory Clinical Trials environment;
• Extensive practical experience across the major medical laboratory disciplines;
• Interacting with different departments;
• Analysing a wide range of samples for and on behalf of the Unit;
• Managing and supporting different teams;
• Linkage with external regulatory agencies;
• Working in a research environment;
• Demonstrable experience in administration and resource management;
• Knowledge of ISO 20387, UNCST on Biobanking services, GCP/GCLP or other regulatory environments in the workplace;
• Knowledge of safety regulations;
• Ability to show initiative, problem-solve and make independent decisions;
• Provision of high-quality training and supervision to staff and students;
• Lead quality assurance programs;
• Technical expertise and leadership;
• Independent assay development & troubleshooting of new procedures;
• Excellent organisational skills;
• Good communication skills in English;
• Ability to take the initiative and solve problems;
• Excellent interpersonal and teamworking skills with the ability to work with staff at all levels; and,
• Capability to work well with colleagues from other departments.




Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months:

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

Job application procedure

Follow the link below to fill a form and submit your application documentation:
https://redcap.link/Head_Biobank 

Filling the form more than once will lead to automatic disqualification. High level of integrity while filling the form is required and will be considered during shortlisting.
Combine all your application documentation i.e. cover letter, CV & certified copies of academic documents into one PDF document. Deadline for application is 27th February 2024, 5:00pm. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview. This position is open to Ugandan nationals only. Strictly follow the application procedure as failure to do so will lead to automatic disqualification. Only online applications through the link provided will be accepted. You will receive a notification in your email if your application and documentation have been successfully received.

N.B: You will be required to present certified copies of your academic documentation before employment.

The applications should be addressed to:
The Head of Human Resources,
MRC/ UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit,
P.O. Box, 49, Entebbe, Uganda.


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