Description
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Cumming School of Medicine invites applications for a Tumour & Tissue Bank Operations Manager. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 12 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.
The Tumour Bank Operations Manager reports to the Clark H. Smith Tumor Biobank Director, and to other members of the Clark H. Smith Tumor Biobank Committee. The Operations Manager is key in providing support to the tissue bank operations, clinical coordinator and committee members and brings expertise in developing internal/external relations, building cost analyses and providing lab technical support to ensure optimal bank operations.
The Operations Manager is expected to manage their time effectively to ensure that biospecimen sample collections, biospecimen processing (blood, urine, peripheral blood monocytes, etc.) and storage and shipping procedures are conducted within the specified time frames. The collection of participant consents and processing of tissue involves being available in the early mornings and late evenings in addition to routine working hours.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
- Present specialized, technical information or research results to multiple internal/external stakeholders
- Support clinical staff and stakeholders with resources and training applicable to the research protocol(s), when necessary
- Clients are courteously provided with information and advice about programs/services
- Services meet the continuously changing needs of the department and the University
- Responsible for making recommendations to policy or procedural changes, and developing/refining processes as needed
- Responsible for maintaining established programs and procedures
- Responsible for producing cost reports for bank operations
- Process or oversee/coordinate processing of tissue, blood, and fluid specimens into derivatives molecules and sample fractions
- Perform or oversee/coordinate performance of histologic and molecular quality control assessments of banked samples
- Monitor and maintain Tumour Bank specimens in liquid nitrogen and deep freezers
- Label and track samples
- Ensure patient consents are obtained (pre-operatively or post-operatively) in person, by telephone, or by email
- Coordinate with surgeons, OR staff, pathology, APL and biobank lab personnel for collection, processing and transport of specimens
- Manage lab processes to maintain integrity of specimens, ensure procedures are compliant with biobank SOPs and ethics requirements
- Liaise with Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta (HREBA) regarding report protocol modifications, complete annual renewals, manage correspondence letters and other matters
- Monitor tumour bank equipment and consumables; and order supplies or repairs as needed
- Monitor inventory of banked specimens and prepare reports on inventory as requested
- Manage tissue banking requests and provision of study specimens for investigators
- Input patient and specimen information into tumour bank database
- Enroll patients in tumour bank and update participant data in Connect Care as needed
- Provide supply of tumour bank kits and transport media to FMC and ACH local collection sites, and to national collection sites for pan-Canadian or multi-provincial consortium projects
- Make recommendations to policy or procedural changes based on new developments in tissue banking technology and cost analyses of processes related to tissue banking
Qualifications / Requirements:
- RN, MBT or other advanced degree in a health-related research discipline
- At least 3-5 years prior experience in a research specialty involving human biospecimen preservation, processing, and use
- Knowledge of ethics and clinical regulatory affairs in reference to consent, tissue banking, privacy and access to information
- Experience with tissue banking and tissue processing into derivative molecules (DNA, RNA, protein) and specimen types (formalin-fixed and frozen)
- Experience with quantitation and quality control of tissues, cells, and derivative biomolecules
- Requires effective time and project management, personal initiative and teamwork
- Requires strong organizational and time management skill
- Requires accuracy and strong attention to detail
- Requires excellent communication skills; effectively communicates with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of the organization
- Able to use tissue management database programs consistent with National Standards
- Requires familiarity with barcoded inventory storage and management systems
- Able to perform cost analyses of processes related to tissue banking
- Able to track accounts payable and accounts receivable using cost management software
- Requires training on shipping biohazardous materials (IATA and DOT)
- Requires TCPS 2 training provided by Health Canada Responsible for data collection and analyses as required for human research studies
- Experience with using electronic medical record systems (e.g. Connect Care by Epic)
Application Deadline: April 12, 2025
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase 2.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
