Senior Technical Specialist - Stem Cell

Iqvia; Cambourne; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

IQVIA Discovery Sciences in the United Kingdom seeks a Senior Technical Specialist II in Stem Cell Biology to lead culture processes and deliver robust cellular models for drug discovery projects.

You will work across sites, mentor teams, ensure quality, and collaborate with external partners, clients, and suppliers to push forward therapeutic research.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Cell Biology, Stem Cell Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, or a related scientific discipline.
• Significant experience working within a stem cell or advanced cell culture environment.
• Extensive hands-on experience culturing, maintaining, and troubleshooting stem cell lines.
• Strong understanding of cell culture technologies, cellular assays, and cryopreservation methodologies.
• Proven scientific problem-solving and technical troubleshooting skills.
• Experience managing multiple priorities within a deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• A collaborative mindset with strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, optimisation, and implementation of stem cell culture technologies.
• Culture, maintain, expand, and troubleshoot a wide variety of stem cell, primary, and recombinant cell lines.
• Manage multiple cell culture programmes simultaneously, ensuring delivery against critical project timelines.
• Generate and supply high-quality cell batches to support high-throughput screening and ongoing discovery activities.
• Apply contemporary cryopreservation techniques to ensure consistency, reproducibility, and long-term cell line integrity.
• Provide technical leadership in troubleshooting cellular assays and culture-related challenges.
• Drive best practice across cell culture workflows, sharing knowledge and expertise with colleagues.
• Ensure compliance with biological safety requirements and contamination control procedures.
• Collaborate with scientists, project teams, and stakeholders across departments and global locations.
• Engage with external suppliers, research partners, and occasionally clients to support scientific objectives.

Skills

Stem cell culture

Cryopreservation

Cell culture workflows

Troubleshooting

Collaboration

Time management

Communication

Education

Stem Cell Biology

Life Sciences

Biotechnology

Tools

Automated liquid handling

High-throughput technologies

Molecular biology techniques

Job description

Shape the Future of Stem Cell Research and Drug Discovery

At IQVIA Discovery Sciences , we are accelerating scientific innovation through advanced cellular models and cutting-edge research technologies. We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Technical Specialist - Stem Cells to join our talented scientific team and play a pivotal role in supporting innovative drug discovery programmes.

This is an exciting opportunity for a stem cell specialist who combines deep technical expertise with scientific curiosity and enjoys working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where their work directly contributes to ground-breaking therapeutic research.

The Role

As a Senior Technical Specialist II, you will be the subject matter expert for stem cell culture technologies, supporting the development, maintenance, optimisation, and delivery of high-quality cellular systems for a range of discovery projects. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams across sites, helping to solve complex technical challenges while ensuring the consistent supply of robust cellular models for research programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, optimisation, and implementation of stem cell culture technologies.
• Culture, maintain, expand, and troubleshoot a wide variety of stem cell, primary, and recombinant cell lines.
• Manage multiple cell culture programmes simultaneously, ensuring delivery against critical project timelines.
• Generate and supply high-quality cell batches to support high-throughput screening and ongoing discovery activities.
• Apply contemporary cryopreservation techniques to ensure consistency, reproducibility, and long-term cell line integrity.
• Provide technical leadership in troubleshooting cellular assays and culture-related challenges.
• Drive best practice across cell culture workflows, sharing knowledge and expertise with colleagues.
• Ensure compliance with biological safety requirements and contamination control procedures.
• Collaborate with scientists, project teams, and stakeholders across departments and global locations.
• Engage with external suppliers, research partners, and occasionally clients to support scientific objectives.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Cell Biology, Stem Cell Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, or a related scientific discipline.
• Significant experience working within a stem cell or advanced cell culture environment.
• Extensive hands-on experience culturing, maintaining, and troubleshooting stem cell lines.
• Strong understanding of cell culture technologies, cellular assays, and cryopreservation methodologies.
• Proven scientific problem-solving and technical troubleshooting skills.
• Experience managing multiple priorities within a deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• A collaborative mindset with strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships across teams.

Desirable

• Advanced practical experience with pluripotent stem cells (iPSC or ESC) and differentiation workflows.
• Experience with automated liquid handling platforms and high-throughput technologies.
• Knowledge of molecular biology techniques and cell line engineering.
• Experience supporting cell line generation and characterisation programmes.
• Exposure to client-facing scientific projects within a CRO, biotech, or pharmaceutical environment.

Why Join IQVIA Discovery Sciences?

• Be part of a globally recognised organisation at the forefront of healthcare and drug discovery.
• Work alongside an exceptional scientific leadership team and subject matter experts.
• Contribute to innovative programmes that have the potential to transform patient outcomes.
• Access advanced technologies, modern laboratory facilities, and diverse scientific challenges.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the UK, Europe, and global research networks.
• Enjoy ongoing development opportunities and the chance to further establish yourself as a leader in stem cell science.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you're passionate about stem cell biology, thrive on solving complex scientific challenges, and want to contribute to the next generation of therapeutic innovation, we'd love to hear from you.

Join IQVIA Discovery Sciences and help advance the science that changes lives.

IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. Learn more at https://jobs.iqvia.com

IQVIA is committed to integrity in our hiring process and maintains a zero tolerance policy for candidate fraud. All information and credentials submitted in your application must be truthful and complete. Any false statements, misrepresentations, or material omissions during the recruitment process will result in immediate disqualification of your application, or termination of employment if discovered later, in accordance with applicable law. We appreciate your honesty and professionalism.