Scientific Manager ll

Scientific Manager ll

Job ID: req3340
Employee Type: exempt full-time
Division: Vaccine, Immunity and Cancer
Facility: Frederick: ATRF
Location: 8560 Progress Dr, Frederick, MD 21701 USA

The Frederick National Laboratory is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.  The lab addresses some of the most urgent and intractable problems in the biomedical sciences in cancer and AIDS, drug development and first-in-human clinical trials, applications of nanotechnology in medicine, and rapid response to emerging threats of infectious diseases.

Accountability, Compassion, Collaboration, Dedication, Integrity and Versatility; it's the FNL way.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION         

The Vaccine, Immunity and Cancer Directorate investigates immune responses to vaccines in preclinical and clinical studies, with a focus on HPV and more recently on SARS-CoV-2. As part of a large effort to combat the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is collaborating with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Frederick National Laboratory (FNL) and other stakeholders to develop assays with the highest reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity for evaluation of immune responses against this new virus.  To address gaps and unmet needs in serology assay development and standardization and to gain a solid fundamental knowledge of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and underlying mechanisms of protection against infection, NCI has established the Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet), which includes the Frederick National Laboratory (FNL) Serology Lab, leveraging the vast expertise and excellence in HPV serology at the FNL.  

The Center of Excellence for Serology Development and Emergency Preparedness (CESDEP) is a new program to provide both a more targeted and global response to the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, requiring innovative thinking, outreach and partnership with global leaders. CESDEP will leverage and deploy the knowledge from SeroNet to bring high quality, precision biomarker assays to the cancer and HIV clinics to help combat SARS-CoV-2 in those most vulnerable.

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The Vaccine, Immunity and Cancer Directorate (VICD) is recruiting for a Scientific Manager I/II to oversee a biospecimen repository and testing laboratory operation for the directorate.

•  Manages all laboratory activities of a scientific group at VICD, following GCLP requirements
• Leads development and validation of new immune assays
• Conducts research and development activities using state of the art technologies in collaboration with scientific partners, including government, academic centers and other organizations
• Develops strategies to meet scientific objectives
• Develops budget for laboratory operations
• Collaborates with program partners for funding and future project planning
• Evaluates personnel performance and needs to ensure efficient laboratory functions
• Interface with government officials, both scientific and administrative, at varying levels of leadership and responsibility to coordinate logistical support for assigned projects/programs
• Manage project risk by proactively anticipating issues and develops contingency plans and solutions
• Perform other related duties as assigned by supervisor or Program Director

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered for this position, you must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:

• Possession of Ph.D. in Sciences particularly in immunology and virology, from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or four (4) years relevant experience in lieu of degree.  Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency.
• Experience in standard tissue culture and immunological/virological techniques including: aseptic techniques, cell line maintenance, production of plasmids and virus-like particles, western-blot, ELISA, Luminex assays, virus neutralizing assays and PCR.
• Experience in immune assay (ELISA, multiplex assays) development and validation.
• Familiarity with human research subject requirements and regulations.
• Six to eight (6-8) years of related experience with four to six (4-6) years managing teams.
• Proficient in Word, Excel, PPT.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• In addition to a commitment to excellence in operations, the position requires leadership skills and a commitment to the mission.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:

• Demonstrated experience working with government contracts, particularly Task Orders, NIH, NCI, or NIAID
• Experience with robotics and electronic documentation systems and LIMS
• Strong technical expertise in serology, Luminex, cell cultures, multi-color flow cytometry, Protein analysis, and/or cell-based assay development.
• Experience with managing large data sets
• Flexibility to adopt new emerging techniques and technologies.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality, consistent results in a timely fashion.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects effectively and meet timelines successfully
• Ability to understand, interpret, and communicate complex scientific data.
• Excellent record keeping and organizational skills.
• Experience in laboratories operating under GCLP/GMP/GLP/CLIA

JOB HAZARDS

• This position is subject to working with or have potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations. 

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) | Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran (M/F/D/V) | Drug Free Workplace (DFW)

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