The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading University. With over 6000 academic and professional staff supporting over 46,000 students, we are one of NZ’s largest employers. We have eight academic faculties and 11 service divisions creating a diverse, dynamic and complex organisational culture that demands excellence.
Our lecturers and health researchers are regarded as experts in their fields, frequently directing global research projects designed to better the lives of New Zealanders and the world, and in turn passing this knowledge on to our students.
The Auckland Regional Biobank team is a small but dedicated team of professional staff who work in partnership with academic leadership and clinical teams to provide biobanking services for researchers in the University of Auckland and allied partners,
The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Technical Services department is seeking a Technical Manager to be responsible for the overall leadership and operational management of the Auckland Regional Biobank (ARB).
The ARB supports directed and future unspecified research across the University of Auckland, it’s partners in Health NZ/Te Whatu Ora and collaborating universities, while interacting closely with scientific and governance groups.
Key Responsibilities include:
- Contribute to the development of the strategic and annual operational plans for technical services for the faculty
- Implement Faculty technical strategies and plans
- Ensure culturally and ethically appropriate practices in the consenting, handling, storage and disposal of human tissue with emphasis on tikanga Māori
- Lead the ongoing operational and management requirements for assigned specialist facilities
- Liaise regularly with facility users to arrange appropriate storage or disposal of equipment, work, materials, substances, and samples
- Provide specialist advice and/ support to researchers, independently undertake planning, development work and/or produce outputs of publishable or commercial quality
- Maintain and apply a good working knowledge of equipment, software, and methods, keeping up to date with scientific and technological developments
- Provide leadership, mentoring and direction for professional staff in technical services and encourage behaviors aligned to the development and maintenance of a culture that is inclusive, flexible and encourages excellence
- Ensure staff have the appropriate level of responsibility, training and resources to perform their job effectively and achieve agreed goals
- Responsible for the collection of samples in the Auckland region. Oversee biobanking of human tissue, body fluids etc. to ensure samples maintain integrity. Ensure robust systems are in place for tracking and distributing samples for approved studies (including the maintenance of clinical records)
- Responsible for writing and maintaining the required ethics committee approvals for the ARB
We are looking for someone with a minimum of 5 years management experience in a similar complex, technical environment. You will have a minimum of 10 years in a health laboratory or related environment, have proven people management experience as well as experience with human ethics, procedures, protocols and applications
Knowledge and Skills
Essential:
- Bachelor’s degree in biomedical or biological sciences or related field
- Experience in managing a team
Preferred:
- Project management experience
- Managerial experience in a tertiary teaching and research environment
- Extensive experience working in a New Zealand DHB or allied health seating.
- Experience working with tikanga Māori
This is a fulltime (37.5 hours per week), fixed term (up to 36 months). The salary range for this role is between $94,900- $117,200 dependent on skills and experience.
For more detailed information, please refer to the Position Description.
The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and maintains significant computational, laboratory and analytic facilities. Auckland itself is frequently rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities.
The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:
- Flexible employment practices (including working from home, flexible hours)
- Up to 6.75% company superannuation scheme
- A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave
In addition, we also offer career development programmes, discounted car parking, a generous parental leave allowance, childcare, and a number of other discounts on internal and external services.
For more information, please visit Staff Benefits.
