Biospecimen Procurement & Operations Manager

Outer Biosciences; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Outer Biosciences is seeking a Biospecimen Procurement & Operations Manager to ensure a reliable supply of human skin tissue and primary cells for internal R&D and external partnerships. You will coordinate tissue collection, manage supplier relationships, and oversee cell repository readiness while collaborating with R&D, product development, and external suppliers.

The role demands strategic thinking, meticulous attention to detail, excellent communication, and creative problem solving.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in biospecimen procurement, biobank operations, or related translational research roles.
• Experience with human tissue handling, primary cell culture, and donor-derived materials.
• Strong documentation, traceability, and project follow-through.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary liaison with tissue supply network to ensure steady tissue flow for research.
• Set expectations with suppliers for tissue specs, handling, shipping, and timelines.
• Identify and qualify new tissue sourcing opportunities to expand access.
• Coordinate tissue collection schedules, shipping, and lab readiness.
• Maintain tissue supplier directory and records for tissue use in projects.
• Monitor cell inventory and plan replenishment for common cell types.
• Develop and track KPIs for tissue procurement and biorepository ops.
• Create and maintain SOPs for tissue procurement and cell biorepository processes.

Skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Teamwork

Problem solving

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry/Bioengineering/Biology

Job description

Company Overview

Outer Biosciences' mission is to improve human skin health by discovering and developing novel bioactives that are more effective and safer than anything available today. Founded by a scientific team with deep experience in engineering advanced organ systems, our fully integrated technology platform combines complex, long-lasting, clinically relevant ex vivo skin models with multimodal data analysis and predictive machine learning. Company overview here.

Company Overview

Outer Biosciences' mission is to improve human skin health by discovering and developing novel bioactives that are more effective and safer than anything available today. Founded by a scientific team with deep experience in engineering advanced organ systems, our fully integrated technology platform combines complex, long-lasting, clinically relevant ex vivo skin models with multimodal data analysis and predictive machine learning. Company overview here.

Role Overview

Outer Biosciences is seeking a Biospecimen Procurement & Operations Manager to ensure a reliable, high-quality supply of human skin tissue and primary cells to support the company's internal research programs and external research partnerships. This role is responsible for coordinating tissue collection and delivery, managing supplier relationships, overseeing cell repository readiness, and developing new sourcing capabilities as the company's research continues to grow. The role requires cross-functional collaboration with product development, and works closely with R&D, project management, business development, and external suppliers. The ideal candidate understands the operational and scientific requirements associated with human biospecimens, primary cell culture, and donor-derived biological materials. This critical position requires strategic thinking, attention to detail, exceptional communication skills, and creative problem-solving abilities. This person will report directly to the Chief Business Officer.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary liaison between Outer Bio and our tissue supply network, and maintain a consistent incoming supply of human tissue for research and development activities
• Establish clear expectations with each supplier regarding tissue specifications, collection handling & shipping procedures, documentation, communication, and delivery timelines
• Identify, evaluate and qualify new sourcing opportunities to expand Outer Bio's access to human skin tissue
• Coordinate schedules, shipping logistics, receipt timing, and laboratory readiness for all tissue collections
• Maintain a tissue supplier directory, and records for all human tissue collections and their laboratory use.
• Maintain visibility into cell inventory; establish and maintain inventory levels and replenishment plans for frequently used cell types
• Establish and track key performance indicators for tissue procurement and cell biorepository operations.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and instructions related to tissue procurement and cell biorepository operations.

Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree in a basic science (Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biology) or related technical discipline. Previous laboratory-based research experience is required.
• Minimum of 3 years' of relevant experience in one or more of the following: biospecimen procurement, biobank operations, primary cell culture, clinical research coordination, translational research operations, laboratory operations.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for documentation, traceability, and project follow-through
• Working knowledge of human tissue handling and human cell culture, including familiarity with cell passage limits, culture aging/senescence, and contamination risks.
• Continuous learner, meticulous, and thrives in dynamic environments.
• Highly productive, agile, and resilient with exceptional troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interactive communication skills.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively both independently and in a group.

We are deeply committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion in all its forms and practices. As a company we promote inclusion and desire to work with people from all walks of life. As we grow our team, we strive to be the change we want to see. If your experience is somewhat different from what we've described and you believe you can bring value and contribute to the role, we'd be honored to learn more about you.