Lab Manager

CK Group are working in partnership with Avacta to recruit a Lab Manager to be based in West London on a permanent basis.

Avacta’s mission is to shape the future of treatment for cancer patients by developing safe and efficacious treatments and powerful research and diagnostic tools. The Therapeutics business has secured brand new offices and labs at Scale Space located on the Imperial College London’s White City Campus in West London.

Avacta is building the foundations for a strong and vibrant therapeutics division and is now actively involved in developing novel cancer therapies based on its two proprietary platforms – Affimer® biotherapeutics and pre|CISION™ tumour targeted chemotherapy.

Why Join Avacta? Avacta Life Sciencesis poised to move both its pre|CISION™ and Affimer platforms into the clinic across a number of oncology settings with high unmet need. This is an exciting opportunity to join the therapeutics team at the very beginning of its growth journey and tocontribute to building and shaping the team to bring novel cancer treatments to patients.

In February 2021, the MHRA approved Avacta’s first Clinical Trial Authorisation (CTA) in the UK for a Phase 1, first-in-human, study of its lead pre|CISION™prodrug, AVA6000, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic selected solid tumours. They have entered their first clinical trial in the UK and hope to follow in the US.

In January 2022, Avacta announced that the next pre|CISION™ drug candidate, AVA3996, has been selected for pre-clinical development with a view to a first-in-human Phase I clinical trial beginning in the second half of 2023.

Pipeline In addition to being in the clinic with its lead pre|CISION™ targeted chemotherapy programme in mid-2021, Avacta also has a pre-clinical Pipeline of both and Affimer® and pre|CISION™ oncology candidates.

The Role of Lab Manager:

Reporting to the CSO, the Lab Manager is a diverse role to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the White City site. You will work closely with the scientists to ensure a high quality, safe laboratory environment. Taking responsibility for all aspects of laboratory management (including instruments, equipment and supplies) liaising closely with the ScaleSpace facilities team, IT and Office Manager.

Role & Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance to relevant laboratory protocols and standards.
• Work directly with scientists to discuss their support requirements and implement solutions
• Ensure laboratory support documentation and record keeping is up to date and meets required standards
• Develop and continuously improve standard operating procedures and protocols and maintain training records
• Ensure labs are clean andsafe – conduct regular inspections
• Management of the reagent preparation (procedure, recording and control measures)
• Management of in-house stores, including stocks of reagents and consumables, deliveries, and shipments
• Meeting with suppliers, negotiating terms, setting up/reviewing pricing and long-term quotations
• Managing purchasing process, raising orders on SAGE , reconciling delivery notes to purchase orders
• Management of all equipment and assets in the laboratory, includingmaintenance and service contracts. Co-ordinate service plans and communicate with engineers and staff to facilitate them.
• Co-ordinate Health and Safety requirements and compliance, including licenses, permissions, lab safety, display screen equipment and risk assessments. Writing of SOPS’s and training of staff.
• Fire Safety and First Aid Co-ordinator
• Update and maintain the Lab Safety Plan/Manual and the SDS manual

To be considered for the position, you should have the followingskills:

• Graduate qualification or equivalent in a biological science or other relevant discipline
• Experience of managing a biological laboratory
• Knowledge of the regulatory requirements specific to a laboratory environment

The benefits:Avacta offer an exciting range of benefits which includes:

• Private medical cover
• Annual performance related bonus of up to 10% of salary
• Life assurance
• Company pension scheme
• 25 Days annual leave + Bank Holidays
• Share Incentive Plans

Apply: It is essential that applicants hold entitlement to work in the UK. Please quote job reference 53345 in all correspondence.