For 70 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.
As part of the UK Government’s National Testing Strategy for COVID-19, a new testing centre has been established in Cambridge through a collaboration between AstraZeneca, GSK and the University of Cambridge. The COVID-19 Cambridge Testing Centre, located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, opened in April, and is making a significant contribution to the national testing effort. The high-throughput testing laboratory was purpose designed and is equipped with state-of-the art automation and innovative scientific processes.
The Cambridge COVID-19 Testing Centre is required to continue its testing operation into 2021. To support this continued operation, Charles River has been asked to join the collaboration and we are now seeking to recruit over 200 scientists to support the continued lab operation across a range of roles. Staff in the laboratory will be required to work a shift pattern, that enables continuous operation of the centre 18 hours per day; this may increase to 24 hours per day with a third shift pattern introduced in the future should demand necessitate.
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We are seeking Lab Team Leaders for this project in Cambridge.
The role is based on a 9-month Fixed Term Contract with competitive salary packages and set shifts.
Pattern 1: Tuesday – Friday (6.15am – 3.15pm or 3pm – 12am)
Pattern 2: Saturday – Monday (6.15am – 3.15pm or 3pm – 12am)
Scientists will work in teams, preparing samples with validated COVID-19 method. Roles require:
• Work in BSL2 laboratory (Biosafety Level 2)
• Work with human biological specimens.
• Work with samples which may contain SARS-Cov-2.
• Working and communicating across a fast-paced cross organisational team.
• Following SOPs.
Responsibilities:
These will be lab-based involved in running assays with accountability of a team of scientists. Leaders will work to balance load and keep the workflows smooth and manage resource. They will be the primary point of contact in the lab and involved in issue resolution. They will assume ‘superuser’ responsibiltiies to train and for laboratory automation and IT systems and be responsible
Further Responsibilities include:
• Delegating workloads at the start of a shift, sharing updates with the team
• Overseeing other Scientists, ensuring work is completed at the required standard
• Training new starters
• Assume superuser roles for specific laboratory automation and/or IT systems
• Report to the Shift Director with updates, escalate any serious issues
Requirements:
• Educated to degree level within a biological discipline or present with equivalent industry experience
• Proven track record in performing a variety of assays, in a clinical setting with experience in handling human biological samples
• Line management experience, can delegate workload and track activity levels
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to problem solve
• Significant experience with large-/small-scale benchtop liquid handling automation (eg Biomek systems, multidrops)
• Significant experience in RNA extraction and PCR analysis at 96/384 well plate.
About Discovery
Discovery from Charles River is industry-proven in the successful development of novel therapies, with over 350 patents and 80 preclinical drug candidates delivered to our sponsors in the past 17 years. Backed by more than 650 scientists, our comprehensive, integrated portfolio employs the latest technology and platforms to provide chemistry, biology, and pharmacology services that support clients from the earliest stages of hit identification all the way through to IND. Our client-focused, collaborative approach creates true partnerships that anticipate challenges, overcome obstacles, and move us forward together on the journey of getting new drugs to market.
About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.
With over 17,000 employees within 90 facilities in 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world. And in 2019, revenue increased to $2.62 billion.
At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly supported the development of ~85% of the drugs approved by the FDA in 2019.