Job ID: req4670

Employee Type: exempt full-time

Division: Clinical Research Directorate

Facility: Frederick: WDG

Location: 4600 Wedgewood Blvd, Suite K, Frederick, MD 21702 USA

The Frederick National Laboratory is operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. The lab addresses some of the most urgent and intractable problems in the biomedical sciences in cancer and AIDS, drug development and first-in-human clinical trials, applications of nanotechnology in medicine, and rapid response to emerging threats of infectious diseases.

Accountability, Compassion, Collaboration, Dedication, Integrity and Versatility; it's the FNL way.

Program Description

The BioProcessing and Trial Logistics (BPTL) functional team within the Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory (CGR) plays a critical role in supporting the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) through expert oversight of biospecimen operations for a variety of research aims. By integrating laboratory operations, biospecimen processing, inventory management, and site coordination, BPTL helps ensure that specimens are collected, processed, stored, tracked, and documented with the highest standards of quality and integrity.

We are seeking an Associate Scientist I to oversee laboratory operations for the BPTL team supporting DCP research activities. This is an excellent opportunity for a laboratory operations professional with strong biospecimen management experience who thrives in a dynamic, mission-driven environment and is passionate about enabling research that advances cancer prevention and research science.

In this role, the incumbent will be responsible for all laboratory activities related to biospecimen processing and inventory and will serve as a key point of coordination among DCP leadership, CGR leadership, and numerous consortia collection sites across the country. As studies in active collection continue to expand, this position will benefit from the support of CGR’s mature quality management system, laboratory information management system (LIMS), and extensive experience in high-throughput laboratory operations. This is a highly collaborative role that requires excellent communication, organization, and data management skills.

Key Roles/Responsibilities

The BPTL team supports DCP-sponsored research by translating study and research goals into practical, reliable biospecimen collection, processing, storage, shipment, and tracking workflows. These efforts ensure the availability of high-quality, well-annotated specimens to support current research objectives and long-term scientific discovery.

Responsibilities

As an Associate Scientist I, the incumbent will play a central role in laboratory oversight, operational coordination, and protocol execution. Core responsibilities include:

• Overseeing day-to-day laboratory operations for the BPTL functional team in support of DCP research activities
• Managing biospecimen processing workflows, including receipt, accessioning, processing, aliquoting, storage, and shipment coordination
• Ensuring accurate and timely biospecimen inventory management within laboratory databases
• Coordinating with DCP and CGR leadership to support study needs, operational priorities, and evolving program requirements
• Serving as a key operational liaison with dozens of consortia collection sites nationwide to support specimen collection activities, issue resolution, and protocol compliance
• Monitoring study collection activity and helping ensure that time-sensitive specimens are handled according to protocol and quality expectations
• Supporting implementation and continuous improvement of laboratory workflows using CGR’s established quality management systems and high-throughput operational infrastructure including documentation of deviations
• Write and review standard operating procedures for laboratory processing
• Reviewing specimen receipt information, shipment documentation, and inventory records to identify discrepancies, trends, or operational issues
• Communicating directly with internal and external stakeholders regarding specimen status, collection issues, shipment concerns, and data-related questions
• Preparing and maintaining accurate laboratory records, specimen tracking logs, reports, and other study documentation
• Supporting laboratory quality assurance activities, equipment oversight, supply management, and general laboratory organization
• Training and guiding laboratory staff on biospecimen handling procedures, documentation practices, and protocol-specific requirements as needed
• Using Excel, Word, Outlook, and laboratory information systems daily for tracking, reporting, communication, and operational management
• Contributing to the successful scale-up of active and newly expanding studies through strong coordination, prioritization, and data oversight

Basic Qualifications

To be considered for this position, candidates must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in a relevant scientific discipline, or four (4) years of relevant experience in lieu of degree
• Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
• In addition to the education requirement, a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant laboratory experience with human biospecimens and progressively increasing responsibility in laboratory operations, specimen management, or clinical research support
• Demonstrated experience overseeing laboratory activities, biospecimen processing, and specimen inventory
• Experience working with human biological specimens in research, clinical, or biorepository setting including blood fractionation
• Strong understanding of biospecimen handling, chain of custody, and documentation requirements
• Experience with laboratory data management and specimen tracking systems
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with internal leadership and external collection sites
• Experience coordinating multiple activities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Demonstrated organizational, documentation, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to maintain focus for extended periods of time and manage detailed data accurately
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:

• Previous experience overseeing staff and laboratory operations in support of multi-site clinical research or consortia-based specimen collection programs
• Experience coordinating with external collection sites, study teams, or clinical partners across geographically distributed programs
• Experience with biospecimen inventory management databases, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), or electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs)
• Familiarity with quality management systems in a regulated or high-throughput laboratory environment
• Experience supporting scale-up of specimen collection operations for active or expanding clinical studies
• Experience with specimen shipping/logistics, kit management, and chain-of-custody documentation
• Experience reviewing laboratory operational data and using metrics to support workflow improvement
• Knowledge of basic biorepository operations
• Previous experience training staff in laboratory procedures and documentation practices
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with scientific, operational, and administrative stakeholders
• Strong data management skills and attention to detail

JOB HAZARDS

• This position is subject to working with or having potential exposure to infectious materials, requiring medical clearance and immunizations.
• Work will involve Biosafety Level II laboratory conditions as well as standard office/administrative conditions. Work may involve the use of potentially hazardous chemical or biological materials or may be in areas where such materials are used, requiring the use of personal protective equipment and adherence to strict safety protocols.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, color, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

Pay And Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here

93,800.00 - 134,285.00 USD

The posted pay range for this job is a general guideline and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include, but are not limited to, responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as internal equity, and alignment with market data.

The salary range posted is a full-time equivalent salary and will vary depending on scheduled hours for part time positions