Biobank Operations Lead

IDEXX; Westbrook (ME); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits day-one

Dental & Vision insurance

5% matching 401k

Annual cash bonus

Employee stock program

Pet insurance

Foundation donation matching

Volunteer paid days off

Job summary

IDEXX in Westbrook, ME is seeking a Biobank Operations Lead to run day-to-day biospecimen management on-site, ensure data integrity, and align inventory with research programs. You will own the BSI system, implement process improvements, and train teams across Sample Acquisition, Discovery, and Development.

This role reports to the Biobank Manager and requires strong organization and expert knowledge of biospecimen workflows.

Qualifications

• BS in life science with 5+ years in biorepository or lab ops.
• Strong biospecimen handling, storage, traceability and workflows.
• Experience with inventory systems and labeling tools.
• Data-management skills including validation and reconciliation.
• Ability to translate ops into practical system workflows and clear docs.
• Lean/Six Sigma or similar process-improvement exposure.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily biobank activities from receipt to disposition.
• Maintain specimen identity and data alignment.
• Serve as system admin for the BSI system.
• Ensure data quality and inventory audits.
• Manage freezer/repository organization and capacity planning.
• Coordinate specimen logistics including domestic/international shipping.
• Support research programs with specimen prep and retrieval.
• Develop SOPs and training materials.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives across teams/locations.
• Act as business-hours contact for freezer emergencies and continuity.

Skills

Biospecimen handling

Inventory management

Data integrity

Process improvement

System administration

Documentation & training

Education

BS in Life Science (or equivalent)

BA with comparable experience considered

Tools

BSI system

BarTender labeling

Excel

Barcode systems

Job description

The Biobank Operations Lead drives the day-to-day operation and continuous improvement of the Clinical Research Biobank, with ownership of biospecimen management, inventory systems, repository organization, data integrity, process standardization, and training. This is a full-time, onsite position reporting directly to the Biobank Manager. The role is a key operational and technical resource connecting Biobank Operations with Sample Acquisition, Discovery, New Product Development, Assay Dx, Reference Laboratories, and other Research groups.

Why This Role Matters

In this role, you safeguard the availability, integrity, and traceability of the research biospecimens used across Clinical Research and diagnostic-development programs, protecting high-value and difficult-to-replace samples through sound storage, documentation, monitoring, and emergency planning.

As the primary technical resource for BSI and Biobank processes, you shape the workflows, inventory-system configuration, repository organization, and data standards that multiple teams depend on, and you coordinate across upstream sample-acquisition groups and downstream research teams to keep specimen movement timely and accurate. You exercise independent judgment on complex specimen, data, and system issues and lead initiatives spanning multiple departments, research programs, and locations that advance the Biobank as a scalable, reliable research-support function.

What You Will Do

• Lead daily Biobank activities including specimen receipt, processing, storage, retrieval, transfer, distribution, shipment, and disposition, while prioritizing workload against research timelines, operational capacity, and urgency.
• Maintain specimen identity, integrity, and traceability, including accurate alignment between physical inventory and associated data.
• Serve as system administrator and subject matter expert for the Biological Sample Inventory (BSI) system, including workflow development, configuration, troubleshooting, reporting, imports, and user support.
• Safeguard data quality through validation, reconciliation, standardized identifiers, and inventory audits; support barcode and labeling workflows, including BSI/BarTender integration.
• Manage freezer, refrigerator, archive, and staging-area organization, including repository mapping, storage-capacity planning, and legacy sample integration.
• Coordinate incoming and outgoing specimen logistics, including manifests, shipment reconciliation, inter-facility transfers, and domestic and international shipping.
• Support research programs through specimen selection, preparation, pooling, and retrieval, in coordination with research and instrument-development teams.
• Identify and implement process improvements that reduce turnaround time, improve traceability, and standardize operations; monitor capacity, volume, and workflow performance to inform planning.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, work instructions, training materials, and other operational documentation.
• Train and support employees and collaborators on Biobank systems, workflows, specimen-handling practices, and data standards.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives, including system implementation, repository improvements, legacy inventory, workflow standardization, and resolution of operational issues spanning multiple teams, systems, or locations.
• Serve as the primary business-hours contact for freezer emergencies and specimen-storage events, coordinating response, relocation, communication, and business continuity; promote safe specimen handling and laboratory safety.

What You Need To Succeed

• BS in a life science with 5+ years of biorepository or laboratory operations experience, or equivalent, preferred. BA with comparable experience will be considered.
• Strong knowledge of biospecimen handling, storage, traceability, repository management, and research-support workflows.
• Experience administering laboratory or biological inventory management systems; proficiency with BSI, Excel, and barcode and labeling tools.
• Strong data-management skills, including validation, reconciliation, import preparation, inventory tracking, and large dataset organization.
• Ability to translate operational requirements into practical system workflows, standardized processes, and clear documentation.
• Process-improvement and problem-solving skills, including root-cause analysis and workflow optimization, and the ability to troubleshoot specimen, system, data, and repository issues.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to specimen identity and data accuracy, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under changing research demands.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to train and mentor users and to lead initiatives across teams without direct supervisory authority.
• Working knowledge of laboratory safety, frozen-storage environments, emergency response, and business-continuity practices; familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies preferred.

What You Can Expect From Us

• Base annual salary target: $70K DOE
• Opportunity for annual cash bonus
• Health / Dental / Vision Benefits Day-One
• 5% matching 401k
• Additional benefits including but not limited to financial support, pet insurance, mental health resources, volunteer paid days off, employee stock program, foundation donation matching, and much more!
• A dynamic and exciting career that utilizes your leadership experience, technical skills, allows you to travel, meet new people, expand your knowledge and skill set, all while positively impacting the lives of pets and their owners

Why IDEXX

We're proud of the work we do, because our work matters. An innovation leader in every industry we serve, we follow our Purpose and Guiding Principles to help pet owners worldwide keep their companion animals healthy and happy, to ensure safe drinking water for billions, and to help farmers protect livestock and poultry from diseases. We have customers in over 175 countries and a global workforce of over 10,000 talented people.

So, what does that mean for you? We enrich the livelihoods of our employees with a positive and respectful work culture that embraces challenges and encourages learning and discovery. At IDEXX, you will be supported by competitive compensation, incentives, and benefits while enjoying purposeful work that drives improvement.

Let's pursue what matters together.

IDEXX values a diverse workforce and workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBT individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

IDEXX is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws.