Director, Research Office

National University Polyclinics; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The National University Health System seeks a Director for the Tissue Repository to lead biobanking initiatives and collaborate with research entities. The role involves overseeing operations, ensuring compliance, and driving a culture of innovation in biobanking excellence.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years of relevant experience in biobanking.
• In-depth understanding of laboratory and biorepository operations.
• Experience with regulatory compliance and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of tissue banking operations, ensuring accurate inventory.
• Oversee team development and resource allocation.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Attention to detail

Project management

Education

Life Sciences degree

Tools

Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

Job description

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Institution: National University Health System

The National University Health System (NUHS) is seeking a dynamic director for the Tissue Repository (TR).

NUHS is an academic medical system that includes 10 institutions ranging from primary care to tertiary care institutions. Precision medicine is a key strategic thrust. One initiative is the one-biobanking initiative that aims to make genomic data available for up to 150,000 individuals across the healthcare system in a form that supports discovery while providing opportunities to return findings to the health system and patients to inform healthcare. NUHS also has a cancer registry which covers both sample collection and clinical annotation.

The incumbent will develop and lead the NUHS TR and facilitate NUHS’s biobanking ambitions while facilitating collaborative research. NUHS’s One biobanking initiative will leverage cutting-edge technology to integrate and strengthen biospecimen banking and data generation across the NUHS cluster. NUHS TR is a shared resource that accelerates basic, clinical, and translational research by providing support through the life cycle of biobanking from consenting to specimen processing.

NUHS operates within an ecosystem that includes activities involving population cohort studies: National Cohorts Office (NCO) - Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, cancer genomics Singapore Translational Cancer Consortium (STCC), and precision medicine Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE). The director will be expected to work closely and interact with these external entities.

The Director will be responsible for the overall success of TR operations and serves as a leader, innovator, coordinator, and change agent in the pursuit of biobanking excellence in support of our research and clinical missions. This includes but is not limited to facilities and equipment management, vendor relationships, compliance and regulatory processes, operations and process management, budget and cost control, quality management, generation and retention of collaborators and partners, and staff development. The Director will be expected to leverage digital technologies, robotics, and automation to enhance the productivity and cost-effectiveness of TR operations.

Job Responsibilities

1. Foster a culture of innovation, driving forward-thinking solutions to maintain excellence in service delivery and outcomes.
2. Oversee team development, resource allocation, accountability, communication, and strategic planning while cultivating a collaborative and results-driven work environment.
3. Manage all aspects of tissue banking operations including the maintenance of an organized, accurate inventory of biospecimens.
4. Deliver exceptional services with integrity, professionalism, and a positive attitude.
5. Ensure optimal physical and environmental conditions for lab operations including a safe working environment that adheres to safety protocols for physical, chemical, and biological hazards.
6. Maintain strict adherence to policies, procedures, and regulatory standards.

Key Requirements

1. Minimally a Life Sciences degree is required with at least 8 years of relevant experience, preferably in biobanking.
2. In-depth understanding of laboratory and biorepository operations, including consenting, specimen procurement, accessioning, and clinical annotation.
3. Experience with research informatics and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) for sample and clinical annotation management.
4. Extensive knowledge of lab accreditations (e.g., CLIA, CAP) and regulatory standards (e.g., GCP, HTF).
5. Proven experience in developing procedures and ensuring compliance with quality and regulatory standards and requirements.
6. Self-motivated, professional leader with exceptional attention to detail.
7. Strong oral and written communication skills.
8. Experience with regional and/or international collaborations or memberships, as well as leadership of regional or international tissue banking networks or consortia, would be an advantage.