Supervisor, Sample Management (Portland, Oregon (OR)

KCR Placement; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

ICON is seeking a Supervisor, Sample Management in Portland, OR to lead day-to-day operations of the Sample Management team, ensuring receipt, tracking, storage and distribution of biological samples for clinical research. This hands-on leadership role combines people management with process improvements, quality, and regulatory compliance to support fast-paced, highly regulated environments.

You will mentor staff, optimize workflows, and collaborate across functions to deliver accurate results

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• Experience in laboratory operations, healthcare, sample management, engineering, manufacturing, analytical, technical, or other highly regulated environments.
• Strong technical aptitude with experience working in or supporting LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems).
• Experience with ICOLIMS, WindowPath, or similar laboratory systems is preferred.
• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and develop employees while maintaining performance expectations and accountability.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across teams and functions.
• Ability to thrive in a detail-oriented environment involving repetitive processes and complex workflows.
• Experience managing chain-of-custody documentation, inventory controls, sample tracking, or related operational processes is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in a scientific, technical, healthcare, business, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.

Responsibilities

• Supervising the daily flow of specimens, including package receipt, unpacking, scanning, accessioning, labeling, validation, storage, and shipment activities.
• Leading and supporting a team of Sample Management professionals by providing coaching, training, guidance, and day-to-day operational oversight.
• Serving as a technical resource for staff, assisting with troubleshooting and resolving workflow challenges involving laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and sample tracking processes.
• Overseeing sample receipt and storage activities, ensuring appropriate freezer placement based on study-specific temperature requirements and maintaining accurate chain-of-custody documentation.
• Managing sample inventory and storage records within laboratory management systems, including ICOLIMS and other LIMS platforms.
• Coordinating the preparation and shipment of client samples to clients, third-party laboratories, and internal testing facilities while ensuring regulatory and quality requirements are met.
• Supporting laboratory operations by facilitating specimen movement and communication across functional teams.
• Monitoring departmental performance metrics and preparing reports to support operational planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Overseeing departmental equipment and freezer management, including maintenance, monitoring, and related purchasing activities.
• Reviewing and coding invoices in accordance with departmental and company procedures.
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes, increase efficiency, and enhance the overall client experience.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, company procedures, quality standards, and client expectations.
• Performing additional responsibilities and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Laboratory operations

LIMS

ICOLIMS/WindowPath

Coaching & mentoring

Communication skills

Regulatory compliance

Bachelor's degree (related field)

Education

Bachelor's degree in scientific/technical/healthcare field

Tools

ICOLIMS

WindowPath

Job description

Supervisor, Sample Management (Portland, Oregon (OR)

ICON is a global healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation united by a mission to bring new medicines and treatments to patients faster.

As a values-driven organisation, integrity, collaboration, agility, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work and interact with each other, customers, patients and suppliers.

Supervisor, Sample Management

Shift/Schedule:

Full-Time | Monday-Friday | 9:00 AM-6:00 PM EST
Occasional weekend support as business needs requires

What You Will Do:

As a Supervisor, Sample Management at ICON, you will lead the day-to-day operations of the Sample Management team, ensuring the accurate receipt, tracking, storage, and distribution of biological samples that support critical clinical research activities. This is a hands-on leadership role where you will spend significant time supporting employees, troubleshooting operational challenges, driving process improvements, and ensuring the highest standards of quality and compliance.

Your success in this role will come from balancing operational excellence with people leadership, helping your team navigate complex workflows while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Supervising the daily flow of specimens, including package receipt, unpacking, scanning, accessioning, labeling, validation, storage, and shipment activities.
• Leading and supporting a team of Sample Management professionals by providing coaching, training, guidance, and day-to-day operational oversight.
• Serving as a technical resource for staff, assisting with troubleshooting and resolving workflow challenges involving laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and sample tracking processes.
• Overseeing sample receipt and storage activities, ensuring appropriate freezer placement based on study-specific temperature requirements and maintaining accurate chain-of-custody documentation.
• Managing sample inventory and storage records within laboratory management systems, including ICOLIMS and other LIMS platforms.
• Coordinating the preparation and shipment of client samples to clients, third-party laboratories, and internal testing facilities while ensuring regulatory and quality requirements are met.
• Supporting laboratory operations by facilitating specimen movement and communication across functional teams.
• Monitoring departmental performance metrics and preparing reports to support operational planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Overseeing departmental equipment and freezer management, including maintenance, monitoring, and related purchasing activities.
• Reviewing and coding invoices in accordance with departmental and company procedures.
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes, increase efficiency, and enhance the overall client experience.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, company procedures, quality standards, and client expectations.
• Performing additional responsibilities and special projects as assigned.

Your Profile:

You are a strong people leader who enjoys developing others while maintaining a high level of operational excellence. You are comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment and can effectively balance competing priorities while supporting both employees and clients.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• Experience in laboratory operations, healthcare, sample management, engineering, manufacturing, analytical, technical, or other highly regulated environments.
• Strong technical aptitude with experience working in or supporting LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems).
• Experience with ICOLIMS, WindowPath, or similar laboratory systems is preferred.
• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and develop employees while maintaining performance expectations and accountability.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across teams and functions.
• Ability to thrive in a detail-oriented environment involving repetitive processes and complex workflows.
• Experience managing chain-of-custody documentation, inventory controls, sample tracking, or related operational processes is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in a scientific, technical, healthcare, business, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique?

• Opportunity to lead a critical function supporting global clinical research studies.
• Hands-on leadership role with meaningful influence on operational efficiency, process improvement, and team development.
• Exposure to complex laboratory operations and specialized sample management technologies.
• Collaborative leadership team committed to training, knowledge sharing, and employee development.
• Opportunity to make a measurable impact on both team performance and client success.

Our Commitment to People, Clients and Performance

At ICON, our mission is driven by three core pillars: People, Clients, and Performance.

We are committed to creating an environment where our people can grow, develop, and do their best work. We partner closely with our clients to deliver high-quality solutions that advance clinical research and improve patient outcomes. Through a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement, we strive to deliver exceptional performance while making a meaningful difference in healthcare worldwide.

#LI-HD1

What ICON can offer you:
Our success depends on the quality of our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to build a diverse culture that rewards high performance and nurtures talent.

In addition to your competitive salary, ICON offers a range of additional benefits. Our benefits are designed to be competitive within each country and are focused on well-being and work life balance opportunities for you and your family.

Our benefits examples include:

• Various annual leave entitlements
• A range of health insurance offerings to suit you and your family’s needs.
• Competitive retirement planning offerings to maximize savings and plan with confidence for the years ahead.
• Global Employee Assistance Programme, LifeWorks, offering 24-hour access to a global network of over 80,000 independent specialized professionals who are there to support you and your family’s well-being.
• Life assurance
• Flexible country-specific optional benefits, including childcare vouchers, bike purchase schemes, discounted gym memberships, subsidized travel passes, health assessments, among others.

Visit our careers site to read more about the benefits ICON offers.

At ICON, inclusion & belonging are fundamental to our culture and values. We’re dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all candidates. ICON is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please let us know or submit a request here