Laboratory Technician

Orion Pharma; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Orion Pharma is seeking a proactive Lab Technician to support day‑to‑day operations across biologics laboratories at our Cambridge, UK site. You will help keep labs safe, stocked, compliant and efficient, working with scientists, facilities teams and external suppliers.

This role emphasizes routine solutions preparation, stock control, waste handling and equipment upkeep, with opportunities to contribute to continuous improvements and to grow within Orion's expanding Biologics R&D center.

Qualifications

• Experience in a pharmaceutical/biotech environment.
• Understand stock control, waste handling, wash‑up, glass washing, materials receipt and shipping.
• Strong organisational skills for routine task accuracy.
• Good written and verbal communication with multiple stakeholders.
• Proactive approach to cleanliness, order and safety in shared lab spaces.
• Basic IT skills for stock systems, spreadsheets, training records or electronic documentation.

Responsibilities

• Receive deliveries and manage goods in processes.
• Prepare and coordinate shipments of biological and lab materials.
• Support waste management activities.
• Maintain stock levels and rotate stock.
• Undertake laboratory laundry and glass washing.
• Operate autoclaves for decontamination or sterilisation.

Skills

Lab experience

Biologics

Life sciences

Regulated environment

Stock control

Organization

Communication

IT skills

Education

Scientific qualification

Tools

Autoclave operation

GMP/GLP knowledge

Job description

Job Description

Orion Pharma has established a new Biologics Research & Development Center in the vibrant biomedical ecosystem of Cambridge, UK. The Biologics R&D Center represents a central piece in the long-term vision of expansion into biologics modalities by Orion Pharma. The Center’s mission is to accelerate the company's biologics research and development efforts.

The Biologics R&D Center complements Orion's existing R&D efforts in Finland, where the company was founded in 1917. Currently, Orion possesses all of the functional capabilities necessary for small molecule discovery and development in Finland. Orion’s expansion into Cambridge, UK marks a pivotal step in building future innovative biologics treatments, including multi‑specific antibodies, Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells (CAR‑T).

Independently of geography, Orion Pharma is committed to upholding key Nordic values. The company has created a culture of straightforward and honest interactions, and its management emphasizes the balance of professional and home life, leading to happier and motivated employees. This motivation is key to meeting the company’s bold mission of becoming a powerhouse of biologics discovery and development.

We are seeking a proactive and organised Lab Technician to support day‑to‑day operations across biologics laboratories. This role is focused on ensuring laboratories remain safe, stocked, compliant and operationally efficient, while providing practical support for materials handling, laboratory housekeeping and preparation of routine solutions. The postholder will work closely with scientists, facilities teams and external suppliers to maintain high standards of laboratory support in line with site procedures, health and safety requirements, and quality expectations.

Key Responsibilities Include The Following

• Receive laboratory deliveries and manage goods in processes, including checking items against delivery documentation, inspecting for damage, logging receipts and ensuring prompt distribution to the correct storage locations.
• Prepare and coordinate internal and external shipments of biological and laboratory materials in accordance with site procedures and relevant transport, packaging and documentation requirements.
• Support laboratory waste management activities, including segregation, safe disposal and collection coordination for biological, chemical, sharps and general laboratory waste streams.
• Maintain laboratory stock levels by monitoring consumables, reagents and routine supplies, replenishing benches and stores, rotating stock where required and escalating low‑stock or out‑of‑date items.
• Undertake laboratory laundry activities, including collection, segregation and processing or coordination of reusable lab coats, wipes and other approved laboratory textiles.
• Carry out glass washing activities, including collection, cleaning, inspection and return of reusable laboratory glassware and approved plasticware to the correct locations.
• Operate autoclaves for the decontamination or sterilisation of laboratory materials, equipment and waste in accordance with site procedures, training requirements and safety standards.
• Prepare routine buffers, media and solutions accurately from approved recipes, following standard operating procedures and documenting preparation as required.
• Label, store and distribute prepared media, buffers and consumables in line with stability, traceability and storage requirements.
• Maintain clean, tidy and audit‑ready laboratory support areas, including storage rooms, preparation areas, wash‑up areas and shared equipment spaces.
• Assist with routine equipment cleaning, basic checks and coordination of service requests for support‑area equipment.
• Keep accurate records for deliveries, shipments, stock movements, waste handling and prepared solutions in line with local documentation practices.
• Support continuous improvement of laboratory support processes by identifying inefficiencies, raising issues and suggesting practical improvements.
• Work collaboratively with laboratory users and support teams to respond to day‑to‑day operational needs and changing priorities.
• Any other facilities related tasks which may be required from time to time.

The Lab Technician will report to the Lab Manager and Safety Officer, Orion Pharma R&D.

Description Of Our Organization

Orion Pharma’s Innovative Medicines are within its R&D organization. The organization employs top professionals in the field of drug discovery and development. There are around 400 professionals working in R&D. In addition to Cambridge, UK Biologics R&D Center, Orion R&D has offices in Espoo, Turku and Kuopio in Finland, in Nottingham, UK, and in Cambridge, MA, USA.

We offer

This opportunity is to support all lab operations activities at our location in Cambridge, UK; this will be a one‑of‑a‑kind opportunity for a diligent and proactive lab technician to use their talents to build, optimise and implement operative procedures at our recently established R&D Cambridge site while we build a powerhouse of biologics discovery and development within Orion Pharma iMeds/R&D.

A highly innovative R&D pipeline and enthusiastic working environment with possibilities to use your own strengths to advance your competence and career.

The exciting potential to innovate.

An excellent working atmosphere based on the appreciation of colleagues, continuous development, and mutual trust. Learn more about Orion as an employer https://www.orion.fi/en/careers/orion-as-an-employer/.

Our Expectations

We are seeking an individual with experience in pharma / biotech environments.

Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in a laboratory, biologics, life sciences or similarly regulated environment.
• Practical understanding of laboratory support activities such as stock control, waste handling, wash‑up, glass washing, materials receipt and shipping.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage routine tasks accurately and consistently.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to maintain clear records and work effectively with multiple stakeholders.
• A proactive approach to maintaining cleanliness, order and safety in shared laboratory spaces.
• Basic IT skills for stock systems, spreadsheets, training records or electronic documentation.

Preferred Experience & Certifications

• A minimum of 12 months in a Lab Support role in a pharmaceutical, biotech or manufacturing industries.
• Experience preparing buffers, media or routine laboratory solutions from written instructions or standard operating procedures.
• Knowledge of autoclave operation, decontamination or sterilisation processes, with an understanding of safe working practices and training requirements.
• Understanding of GMP, GLP or similar quality‑controlled environments would be advantageous.
• Relevant scientific qualification, laboratory technician training or equivalent practical experience would be desirable.

This role is primarily laboratory-based and will involve regular movement between storage, goods in, preparation and laboratory support areas. The postholder may be required to stand for extended periods, move deliveries and stock safely within manual handling guidance, and work with standard laboratory cleaning agents, consumables and approved biological or chemical materials in accordance with training and local procedures.

The Lab Technician must work in accordance with all applicable laboratory health and safety procedures, biosafety requirements, waste handling rules and quality systems. This includes using appropriate personal protective equipment, following approved handling and labelling procedures, maintaining accurate records and escalating non‑conformances, spills, incidents or safety concerns promptly. Where shipping responsibilities apply, the postholder must only undertake activities for which they are trained and authorised.

About Us

Orion Pharma is a globally operating Nordic pharmaceutical company – a builder of well‑being for over a hundred years.

We’re home to more than 4,000 Orionees around the world, and we’re proud to be known as a responsible employer and a great place to work. At Orion Pharma, people are truly valued and trusted, encouraged to grow, and supported by a culture where every voice is heard. We appreciate each other, strive for excellence, and build the future.

Together we develop, manufacture, and market human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Our extensive portfolio includes proprietary and generic medicines as well as consumer health products. The core therapy areas of our pharmaceutical R&D are oncology and pain. Proprietary products developed by Orion Pharma are used to treat cancer, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases, and more.

We offer careers with a clear purpose: empowering people to live their lives to the fullest.