Biospecimen Coordinator

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

The NCI-designated Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (CFCCC) is a campus-wide multidisciplinary matrix organization whose goal is to promote and enhance cancer-relevant research and patient care at UC Irvine. The CFCCC provides research resources to its ~175 members engaged in research and offers multidisciplinary cancer care to its patients.

Under the supervision of the Biospecimen Manager of the Clinical Trials Unit, the Biospecimen Coordinator supports the clinical research efforts of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (CFCCC). The incumbent will provide comprehensive coordination and data management of the biospecimen components for investigator-initiated trials or those sponsored by industry or the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), according to current Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), internal standard operating procedures (SOPs) and University policies and procedures.

The incumbent is responsible for supporting and coordinating all aspects of specimen handling (i.e., timely collection, transporting and shipping) for complex research protocols. Individual must follow protocol specific requirements and research procedures. He/she is responsible for accurate record keeping, for prompt data entry of biospecimen information and resolution of queries in laboratory portals, and for managing and ordering supplies as needed. Assists clinical team with reviewing feasibility for clinical trials requiring biospecimen collection, participates in site initiation visits, and trains clinical research coordinators and/or biospecimen coordinators on specimen handling per protocol and lab manual requirements as needed.

Serves as the liaison to sponsors, governing agencies and facilitate transmission of verbal and written communication to national cooperative oncology groups, pharmaceutical companies and other research entities as needed. The incumbent is also responsible for maintaining communication with all elements of a multi-level research network, including attending Disease Oriented Teams (DOTs) meetings, interacting with sponsoring agencies including National Cancer Institute, and compliance and regulatory groups such as the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and sponsor monitors.

In addition, this individual must accurately maintain clinical trial information in the clinical trial management system (OnCore) and adhere to institutional policies and external Cancer Center Support Grant guidelines for reporting to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize a complex and dynamic workload Ability to multitask and meet deadlines, despite interruptions Ability to independently exercise discretion and sound judgment Ability to prioritize assignments and achieve high productivity/quality with short time frames, under rigid deadlines, and /or in environments with frequent workload changes and competing demands Ability to work within a deadline-driven structure
• 3-5 Years of related work experience with Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science, or equivalent experience
• High level of integrity and honesty in maintaining confidentiality
• Demonstrated problem solving capabilities to resolve concerns that arise unexpectedly Ability to analyze problems, implement solutions and multitask Demonstrated experience in maintaining flexibility and adaptability while implementing institutional change
• Ability to establish and maintain detailed and accurate files and records Strong attention to detail
• Working knowledge of computer software including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to interact with the public, faculty, and staff Willingness to work as a supportive, cooperative member of an interdisciplinary team Ability to work collegially and cooperatively in a small office and to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships Demonstrated skill in interacting with persons of various social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds Foster and promote a positive attitude and professional appearance
• Working knowledge of Electronic Data Capture (EDC) and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Systems i.e., EPIC, Medidata RAVE, Medio
• Demonstrated ability to research, properly evaluate information, and prepare concise, well-organized reports, summaries, and correspondence Ability to think critically, compiles data from various sources, analyze data, and prepare reports.
• Minimum three years of clinical research and/or laboratory experience or three years as an Assistant CRC with Phase I-IV trial experience including cancer therapeutic trial knowledge
• Experience working in a clinical and/or research laboratory environment Experience with clinical research and data collection
• Experience working with biological specimen collection, processing, and shipment per IATA specifications and standards
• Skill in working independently, taking initiative, and following through on assignments Ability to work both independently and as part of team Ability to take initiative and demonstrate strong commitment to duties
• Experience with cancer-related research. Extensive experience with various types of human subject clinical trials (Phase I-IV) i.e., National Group, Industrial, and Investigator-authored. Experience with clinical trial management systems, preferably OnCore.
• Strong organizational and verbal communication skills Demonstrated high-level communication skills to convey information concisely, synthesizing information and presenting it to others

Total Compensation

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Required:

• 3-5 Years of related work experience with Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science, or equivalent experience

Special Conditions:

• May require travel to satellite sites.
• May require coordinating and processing specimens outside of normal business hours.

Conditions of Employment:

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Legal Right to work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement:

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.
UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at (949) 824-0500 or eec@uci.edu.