Assistant-Development (Laboratory Research Assistant)

About the role

Canadian Blood Services is looking regular full-time Development Assistants (Laboratory Assistant) to join our dynamic Innovation & Portfolio Management, netCAD team in Vancouver. Our netCAD facility is set up like a complete miniature blood centre, from donors booking to blood collections, to blood processing, and eventually blood distribution. But unlike other Canadian Blood Services licensed blood centres in which products are manufactured for transfusion, our facility is set up to support Canadian Blood Services in the development of new and improved blood products and deepening the understanding of the qualities of the current and new products for transfusion. We also provide blood products to scientists to support them in their endeavors to improve and advance the fields of transfusion medicine, transplantation, and cellular therapies, and many more.

In this role, you will be responsible for the planning and effective operation of the netCAD blood collections site. All activities are performed in accordance with established operating procedures or approved study protocol. Some of these duties are:

Formula for success

Production

•    Using manual and semi-automated devices and equipment such as centrifuges, extractors, presses, sterile dockers, sealers, pathogen inactivation illuminator, and cell processors/washers to produce and further transform blood components
•    Blood components processing includes receiving blood units, packing and loading into centrifuges, extraction, filtration, buffy coat pooling, and pathogen inactivation if required

Testing

•    Using manual and automated instruments such as hematology analyzer, blood gas analyzer, pH meter, microscope, BacT incubator, flow cytometer, and cell deformability analyzer to perform blood components testing
•    Preparing samples for testing using various techniques and methods including but not limited to blood components mixing, sample transfer, centrifugation, pipetting, aliquoting, weighing, fixing, making dilution, and preparing reagents

Other duties included but not limited to:

•    Ensuring all supplies and reagents are on-hand and in-date to meet the needs of the production and testing plans
•    Ensuring all equipment are well maintained and regular preventative maintenance are done
•    Identifying, following up, and resolving instrument alarms and flags
•    Participating in the provision of blood products to researchers, including receiving and uploading blood orders into the database, and ensuring blood orders are fulfilled
•    Preparing shipment of specimen tubes to Donor Testing lab or blood products to researchers and other Canadian Blood Services departments
•    Participating in development projects, focusing on development of new and next generation blood components and the processes used to manufacture them, improving and deepening the understanding of current generation blood components and the processes used to manufacture them
•    Entering, uploading, and verifying data, ensuring records are correct and complete
•    Reviewing study protocols and participating in study protocols walkthroughs
•    Performing administrative tasks, including ordering and receiving of supplies, and shipments booking
•    Supporting installation and validation of new equipment and instrument
•    Contributing to the preparation of netCAD specific operating procedures and work instruction
•    Coaching and training new team members
•    Contributing to operational decision making
•    Working closely with other netCAD team members (collections, project leads, scientists, and stakeholders) to ensure alignment and clarify on workflows, hand-offs between groups, integration between members, and identification and resolution of potential scheduling and capacity issues
•    Other related duties as required

Desired education and skills

• Minimum of an undergraduate degree in biological or medical laboratory sciences from a recognized academic institution, and preferably a Masters degree, with at least 5 years blood industry development experience (Grade 7)
• Undergraduate degree in biological or medical laboratory sciences from a recognized academic institution with at least 3 years blood or related industry development experience (Grade 6)
• Post-secondary school education, preferably an undergraduate degree in biological or medical laboratory sciences from a recognized academic institution (Grade 5)
• Knowledge and experience in blood and blood component collection, manufacturing process, and testing
• Experience working in a blood industry product and process environment and R&D laboratory environment
• Experience with performing device validation
• Experience in assays development is an asset
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a matrix team environment that promotes high performance
• Ability to work safely and efficiently in a laboratory environment with biological and chemical hazards   
• Ability to build relationships with others, founded on good listening skills, openness to others’ ideas, flexibility, respect and empathy
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Excellent planning, organization and attention to detail skills
• Ability to read, understand, and follow complex written instructions, protocols and/or test procedures without support, ensuring tasks are executed exactly as specified    
• Highly proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools, including Powerpoint, Word, Excel, and Access
• Ability to learn and use laboratory equipment and computer systems with minimal support, including blood component production devices and blood testing instruments
• Ability to identify and resolve issues, making timely operational decisions or appropriately escalating for resolution
• Skilled at effectively coaching and mentoring colleagues with less experience or expertise, supporting their continued learning
• Very good at managing a variable and often changing workload, including ability to prioritize work and deliver on commitments
• Willingness and flexibility to adjust hours of work as needed to meet the demand for Blood4Research and need of development studies

Note: An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.
 

What we offer you

• 4 weeks paid vacation.
• Annual merit and performance award.
• Defined benefit pension plan.
• Employee discounts, wellness program, professional resources.