We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Biomedical Scientist to join the expanding KHP Cancer Biobank with a direct involvement in diagnostics, clinical trials and research. The main duty of the postholder is day-to-day responsibility for the Head and Neck Cancer Biobank and to support its continuing development in response to clinical change and researcher requirements.

Working alongside clinical and diagnostic colleagues in Head and Neck Pathology, the post holder will co-ordinate and participate in collection of samples for incorporation into the Cancer Biobank. Samples must be processed and stored in such a way that they are suitable for a full range of experimental techniques including genomics, transcriptomic and proteomic studies.

The BMS will be responsible for timely supply of samples and associated clinical data to projects approved by the Biobank Access Committee. This includes maintaining accurate records and the ability to prioritise activities to meet agreed timelines.

The Biobank BMS is primarily responsible for Head and Neck, but may also be required to participate in other Cancer Biobank activities, including dissection oof other large specimens for banking purposes. The post will involve supervision and training of Biobank technical staff, students and visitors.

The post holder will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the Head and Neck Cancer Biobank. This is a varied role and includes technical, management and teamwork skills. Some key elements of the role include liaising with other Trust personnel for the timely collection of samples, undertaking H&N tissue sampling and preparing samples for research studies, maintaining accurate records for all samples received and distributed and be able to prioritise work to maximise sample integrity and to meet defined timelines.

The post holder is expected to use skills and judgement to evaluate processes and recommend change to reflect new knowledge or developments in the field.

Teamwork and clear communication are an essential part of this role. The post holder will be joining a team of more than 17 dedicated biobank staff and will have line management responsibilities for H&N technicians.

King’s Health Partners Cancer Biobank has supported translational cancer research at a national level since the 1970’s. During that time, the Biobank has accrued samples from more than 44,000 patients and supplied significant numbers of samples to researchers worldwide. Samples have all have been acquired under documented procedures and linked to prospectively collected and verified clinical data. The KHP Cancer Biobank collects surplus fresh, frozen and/or fixed paraffin material from almost all solid tumours resected at Guy’s & St Thomas NHS Trust. In addition to these surplus tissues, the Biobank also collects and processes tissue biopsies, blood, urine, saliva and stool samples.

The Biobank supports a significant number of programmes and projects led by King’s College London (KCL) School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences. This includes an extensive cancer organoid generation programme and working with academic and commercial partners. The Biobank specialist skills and facilities are increasingly utilised for translational cancer research and clinical trial purposes. This is now also expanding into advanced therapies.

1. Technical Specialism

• Have advanced technical expertise in tissue sample handling with a thorough understanding of the underlying technical and scientific theory, and proficient with the use of complex procedures requiring considerable skill.
• Keep specialist knowledge and expertise current, through engagement with relevant professional activities and training opportunities
• Lead innovation in the specialist field, wherever possible, adopting new approaches and adapting these to the local research needs.
• Gain a good understanding of researcher requirements to refine the service to align with changing priorities and needs
• Provide advice to researchers on the specialist area, identifying technical approaches that directly meet their needs.
• Provide training on the technical area of specialism to staff and students as appropriate, ensuring the content is understandable to a non-expert audience.

2. Management & Organisational Skills

• Be responsible for managing specialised Head and Neck biobanking facilities.
• Line manages the Head and Neck biobank technicians; monitoring performance and compliance to regulations; advising and giving feedback to individuals; identifying training opportunities and development that will help colleagues expand their knowledge/ skills and keep up to date with new developments in the field
• Manage facilities associated with the Head and Neck Biobank, cost recovery and operations, ensuring efficient use of resources and monitoring adherence quality and other performance standards
• Monitor and maintain technical equipment, systems and software, with control over stocks/ stores equipment and supplies.
• Develop ways of generating income streams and enhance the reputation of the Trust.
• Lead and manage change, implementing best practice to ensure that change is adopted.
• Manage workload, patterns of work and resources, prioritising and allocating these to achieve objectives within the Head and Neck Biobank.
• Implement solutions with due regard to wider context and initiatives within and beyond the Trust.
• Provide data requested by Trust and KCL teams for inclusion in appropriate submissions and annual reporting processes.
• Attend committee, multi-disciplinary team meetings and networks as required, within and beyond the Trust, to ensure the Cancer Biobank is appropriately represented and reported, facilitating the exchange of information and best practice.

3. Problem solving

• Use well-developed critical evaluation and problem-solving capabilities to review and select appropriate techniques, procedures and methods for the task.
• Take timely and considered decisions within defined parameters and offer advice to colleagues to help them make decisions.
• Use judgement to make decisions using knowledge, expertise and experience, where complete information is absent and be accountable for these decisions.
• Lead in resolution of problems that are predictable but do not occur very frequently – applying initiative and creativity to finding solutions to complex problems.
• Occasionally apply expertise to resolve longer term, complex problems and to generate innovative ideas.

4. Teamwork and Communication

• Mediates and develops positive working relationships with staff, students and key partners within and beyond the Trust and KCL (e.g. suppliers, colleagues in other HE institutions and NHS Trusts) in order to work collaboratively in a timely and effective manner
• Regularly communicate highly complex, specialist concepts and information, both orally and in writing, in a clear fashion, where necessary to be understandable to a non-expert audience
• Create an ethos of inclusion, collaboration and collegiality, establishing effective communications and relationships, and encouraging staff to work in partnership with colleagues across the Trust and KCL, to eliminate potential barriers and develop best practice.
• Support the welfare of staff and students.

5. Health and Safety

• Implement and monitor compliance with regulations, guidance and legislation governing area of work and responsibility.
• Be responsible for implementing and monitoring safe working practices, managing the impact of the environment on the work or safety of users where normally the degree of risk or level of hazard is obvious, and where necessary, adapt the working environment, or the work as necessary.
• Ensure the security of buildings/ plant/ machinery in own area.

6. Education & Professional Development

• Take responsibility for identifying personal training and educational needs within the context of the service and those identified during the appraisal process.
• Contribute to updating, developing and implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Undertake an Individual Performance Review annually with your line manager.
• Maintain a record to reflect any training carried out pertaining to the post and ensure direct reports maintain training files.

7. Other duties

• Implement and monitor compliance with regulations governing the handling of human samples and data, including Human Tissue Act 2004 and Data Protection Act 2018.
• Contribute to Trust and KCL cancer-related initiatives.