Lims Technical Lead

The Medical Interventions Group’s clinical vaccine assessment activities are based at UKHSA Porton and occupy new world-class research facilities dedicated to the development and testing of new COVID-19 vaccines. Research undertaken includes clinical testing to support regulatory licensing of new COVID-19 vaccines and research to inform government decisions on vaccination policies.

Home to ground-breaking new technology vital to tackling both COVID-19 and a broad range of emerging health security threats, the facility houses new equipment which will improve the speed and capacity to evaluate COVID-19 vaccines and the potential risks from Variants of Concern.

The Research and Evaluation department based at UKHSA Porton Down has approximately 300 staff, performing a range of research activities, including high containment level work. The department’s work covers a broad range of projects involving the development and evaluation of interventions into a range of infectious diseases e.g. monkeypox, SARS-CoV-2, TB, meningitis, anthrax and plague.

The department has also a test facility performing regulated studies in compliance with GLP, GCP and GMP.

Location

This role will be based at Porton Down, Salisbury
- Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern - Full Time, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working,

**Responsibilities section**:
As the LIMS Technical Lead your main responsibilities will include:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

- Taking a lead role in the project to implement and support the validation of a LIMS for a high throughput, regulated facility.
- Configuring Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), validation rules, calculations, auto completions, implementing workflows, and overall support of LIMS.
- Ensuring that the LIMS is implemented and maintained in compliance with GCP regulations, with input from computer systems validation (CSV) and Quality Assurance (QA)
- Carrying out management and maintenance actions as recommended by the LIMS provider and Internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to maintain system integrity
- Working with software vendors to troubleshoot issues related to LIMS access or performance; maintaining and repairing LIMS to minimise downtime until solutions are reconciled. Maintaining communication with internal users and stakeholders to ensure appropriate decisions are made with regards business continuity
- Working with others to write documentation and manuals. Review LIMS SOPs and amend based on changes to functionality or in line with new developments or system upgrades

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. Further duties/responsibilities can also be found on the full job description.

The Medical Interventions Group’s clinical vaccine assessment activities are based at UKHSA Porton and occupy new world-class research facilities dedicated to the development and testing of new COVID-19 vaccines. Research undertaken includes clinical testing to support regulatory licensing of new COVID-19 vaccines and research to inform government decisions on vaccination policies.

Home to ground-breaking new technology vital to tackling both COVID-19 and a broad range of emerging health security threats, the facility houses new equipment which will improve the speed and capacity to evaluate COVID-19 vaccines and the potential risks from Variants of Concern.

The Research and Evaluation department based at UKHSA Porton has approximately 300 staff, performing a range of research activities, including high containment level work. The department’s work covers a broad range of projects involving the development and evaluation of interventions into a range of infectious diseases e.g. monkeypox, SARS-CoV-2, TB, meningitis, anthrax and plague.

The department has also a test facility performing regulated studies in compliance with GLP, GCP and GMP.

**Key responsibilities**:
1. Assist the Senior Project Team Leader in the development, validation and maintenance of the LIMS and associated workflows for the different laboratory activities as required including some programming capabilities.
2. Work with colleagues in computer systems validation (CSV) and Quality Assurance (QA) to ensure LIMS Is implemented and maintained in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
3. Liaise with UKHSA technology colleagues, management and local site administrators to ensure infrastructure and network is working appropriately and LIMS remains available to users.
4. Carry out management and maintenance tasks as recommended by LIMS provider and Internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to maintain system integrity.
5. Validate, triage, manage and resolve issues reported by system users.
6. Act as point of contact between external support o