Job Summary
Location: London
Reporting to: Executive Director, Translational Research
Orchard Therapeutics, a Kyowa Kirin company, is a global gene therapy leader focused on transforming the lives of patients with rare disorders through innovative gene therapies based on gene-modified hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Orchard has its global headquarters in London, England, and its U.S. headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. This role is based in the heart of London in the Research facility of our Hammersmith headquarters.
The Senior Research & Operations Technician will be responsible for two main activities within the Translational Research team: oversight and management of core Lentiviral vector and Cell & Gene therapy analytical methods, and provision of operational laboratory management to support the wider Translational Research & Development teams. The role requires deep expertise in molecular biology and analytical methods, preferably with experience of Lentiviral vector production and working within the cell & gene therapy field, in order to lead and support staff responsible for the provision of core technical LVV production & analytical services. Candidates should also have experience of research laboratory management, with previous responsibility for the implementation of quality and safety practices in a research setting. The Senior Research Operations element of the role will provide guidance, training and mentorship to colleagues within the department on policies, procedures and best practices for an organized and effective working environment to support and optimise productivity for the research.
The Senior Research & Operations Technician will work closely with Translational Research Leadership, Facility Management and Global Technical Operations Leadership to develop and implement policies and procedures within Orchard’s R&D facility. This will include monitoring, ensuring compliance and working towards continuous improvements in research quality, data integrity and laboratory practices.
Key Elements and Responsibilities
Senior Research Technician
- Senior administrative and technical role responsible for enabling and optimising daily operations and infrastructure of Orchard’s research laboratories to support the strategic goals of the R&D teams.
- Provide line management of the Translational Research Core Technical team, including allocation of assignments, training and development of technical staff.
- Oversee the coordination of core Molecular Biology, Vector and Analytical activities provided for the Translational Research department to align vector designs with production requirements, working with dedicated technical staff, and where required contribute directly to the delivery of:
- Vector Design & Assembly: Generating and validating novel lentiviral vectors for ex vivo or in vivo therapeutic applications, using expertise in molecular biology, CRISPR, PCR, qPCR/ddPCR, molecular cloning, western blotting, and mammalian cell culture.
- Production & Optimization: Producing lentivirus, optimising protocols and improving purification processes to improve yield.
- Analytical Testing: Performing assays to assess viral titer, potency, transduction efficiency and purity, and developing standardized protocols for vector performance.
- Core LLV and Analytical Team Leadership: Providing expertise to support technical research staff, troubleshooting, updating protocols, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Implement rigorous experimental design, statistical analysis, and documentation to ensure reproducibility, traceability, and data integrity.
- Oversee the achievement and maintenance of high-quality robust standards of research, and the day-to-day operations of research laboratories, ensuring a safe and organized work environment, efficient workflows and maintenance, training and where required, operation and management of critical research & analytical equipment.
Research Operations
- Coordinate with the Facility Management team and IT to ensure smooth lab functioning, adherence to company policies, and support with equipment management, Health & Safety implementation and standards of working practices.
- Provide compliance monitoring related to research operations for internal policies, guidelines and regulations governing laboratory operations (HTA, CoBRA etc).
- Develop and implement lab workflows, Risk Assessments (PUWERS/ RA for reagents & equipment), SOPs and best practices to support scientific productivity and to lead continuous improvement activities.
- Assist with budgetary tracking for the Translational Research Team, collaborating with research scientists and departmental leadership to anticipate operational needs, prepare budget forecasts and allocate resources effectively.
- Primary liaison for the Research Team and Facilities Management Team, attending weekly General Lab meetings to foster collaborative relationships between researchers and departments.
- Participation in Translational Research departmental meetings to generate ideas for improving efficiency and productivity in laboratory operations, and to develop and implement strategic plans to enhance research performance, including managing space utilisation and resources.
- Work closely with Benchling ELN Administrators to support continuous development of the ELN platform for Orchard’s R&D activities including oversight of inventory management, data capture and data integrity.
- Any other duties allocated which fall within the general area of the position.
Education / Key Competencies
- Experienced molecular/ cellular biologist with strong technical background and analytical abilities to support core technical research staff.
- Being a team player with a 'can-do' attitude and problem-solving skills is a must.
- Good understanding of laboratory management issues.
- Good understanding of Health & Safety issues relevant to the laboratory including familiarity with BSL-1 and -2 requirements and practices.
- Organization, time management, prioritizing and the ability to handle a complex, varied workload.
- Ability to work efficiently, both independently and as part of a team, with excellent communication, collaboration and influencing skills.
- Demonstrable experience of project and laboratory space management.
- Good computer skills, experience of working with an ELN is highly desirable.
- Ability to deal diplomatically but firmly with difficult situations.
- Ability to operate in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary industrial environment, with a customer service mindset.
Qualifications / Experience
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biology, Life sciences, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or cell and gene therapy related scientific field, with typically 10+ years of experience in laboratory operations, preferably within biotech or pharma research settings.
- Or PhD (or equivalent) in biological sciences or cell and gene therapy related scientific field with experience in laboratory operations, preferably within biotech or pharma research settings.
Orchard is an equal opportunity employer. We recognise and celebrate the diverse culture of our workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for our employees. We fully support the principle of Equality and Diversity in employment and oppose all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination. We assess all applications on basis of job requirements and individual qualifications.
We work within the requirements of all current legislation and we implement the provisions of regulatory codes of practice in employment.
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