Technical Specialist II - Cell Culture

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

Do you have expertise in cell culture, and a passion for automation and liquid handling?

Have you got the desire to improve health and lives?

Charles River Laboratories are excited to be recruiting for a Technical Specialist II to join an established technical team on a permanent basis. This is an onsite role, with daily travel to High Peak required. 

As a Technical Specialist II, you’ll be a leading expert in a defined Technical area, able to deliver robust and viable solutions that would enhance current laboratory based processes and deliver on client projects. This role would suit someone with industry-led experience in a similar role, with a focus on cell culture and automation techniques who is looking to further develop their skills and have the chance to work with global organisations to develop new, innovative therapies. 

Job Description

What you’ll be doing:

• Execute complex protocols independently, troubleshoot technical issues and train junior staff on standard techniques. 
• Act as a technical expert within a defined area – Cell culture automation, liquid handling and fluorescence microscopy. 
• Coordination of tissue culture operations and resource for site to meet project demand 
• Lead implementation of process improvements, coordinate technical activities and mentor junior colleagues.
• Perform specialist functions relating to client project work as required.
• Execution of and ability to develop routine and non-routine methodologies, able to implement across teams as necessary.
• Adherence to safe lab working policies, with some ability to suggest new ideas and provide solutions for immediate workspace.
• Recognise and identify solutions for technical problems of varying complexity, escalate to appropriate manager/project leader to agree and implement appropriate solution/s.

What We Offer You:

• A very comprehensive benefits package from day one, including a large pension contribution, private medical for you (and can add family members), private dental care, critical illness cover, bonus and more!
• Global opportunities and strong career progression.
• The chance to work on several varied projects and liaise globally and nationally with other business areas.
• To be able to make a difference to health and wellbeing of people.
• To continue your own career growth.
• Flexible and hybrid working.
• Parental leave.
• Group Life Assurance and Group Income Protection.
• Remote GP access 24/7.
• Well-being support and initiatives.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Skills and Experience:

• Education: BSc/MSc (preferred) in Cell Biology/Biological Science or similar 
• Experience: Demonstrable industry-led experience with cell culture techniques, performing cell health assays and fluorescence microscopy. 
• Additional experience of working in a high throughput cell culture environment and bulk flask preparation would be highly advantageous 
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, able to approach problems with sound logic and judgement.
• Able to collate complex scientific data in a timely manner.

Candidates must have full and permanent Right to Work in the UK as we are not able to provide Sponsorship for this role now or in the future. 

The salary range for the role is £26,000 - £36,000/annum + bonus + benefits. Please note that the salary varies within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

About Safety Assessment
Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state-of-the-art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market. Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.

About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

At Charles River Laboratories, we recognize and recruit all talent. We are a company committed to fostering a sense of belonging and work daily in this direction.