Assistant-Development (Laboratory Research Assistant)

Canadian Blood Services • University Endowment Lands, BC

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Canadian Blood Services is seeking regular full-time Development Assistants (Laboratory Assistant) to join their Innovation & Portfolio Management, netCAD team in Vancouver. The netCAD facility functions as a miniature blood centre, handling everything from donor booking and blood collections to processing and distribution. Unlike other licensed blood centres that produce products for transfusion, netCAD focuses on developing new and improved blood products, enhancing understanding of existing and new products, and providing blood products to scientists for research in transfusion medicine, transplantation, and cellular therapies. In this role, the Development Assistant will be responsible for the planning and effective operation of the netCAD blood collections site, performing all activities in accordance with established operating procedures or approved study protocols.

Requirements

• Minimum of an undergraduate degree in biological or medical laboratory sciences from a recognized academic institution
• At least 5 years blood industry development experience (for Grade 7)
• At least 3 years blood or related industry development experience (for Grade 6)
• 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
• 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

Nice To Haves

• Masters degree
• Experience in assays development is an asset

Responsibilities

• 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
• Performing blood components processing including receiving blood units, packing and loading into centrifuges, extraction, filtration, buffy coat pooling, and pathogen inactivation if required
• 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
• 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

Benefits

• 4 weeks paid vacation
• Annual merit and performance award
• Defined benefit pension plan
• Employee discounts
• Wellness program
• Professional resources
• Diversity and inclusion play a vital role in ensuring health equity for patients across Canada. We are committed to reflecting Canada’s population in our organization and fostering an environment where all employees can be their authentic selves, with equal opportunities to succeed and contribute.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees