Responsible for the operational management of the Biorepository and Specimens Research Center at Advocate Aurora Research Institute (AARI) which includes the oversight of collection, storage and distribution of biospecimens for internal and external research studies. We currently have biorepositories at three of our medical centers including Aurora St. Luke's, Aurora Grafton, and Advocate Lutheran General.

Major Responsibilities:

• Oversees the standardized system-wide adoption and optimization of patient consenting and sample collection processes for biorepository through collaboration with leadership in the hospitals, clinics, and ACL laboratories.
• Responsible for all aspects of the production of biospecimen collection, storage, and data management. This includes the development and implementation of processes, techniques, preparation of written procedures, quality control evaluations, and review of all clinical laboratory data and quality compliance.
• Partners with internal research scientists and physicians to promote the use of biorepository samples and data for investigational purposes.
• Promotes biorepository opportunities to external academic and industry partners.
• Serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) for BSRC studies. Develops protocols and required documents for studies as needed.
• Facilitates integration of associated information technology, and manages workflow activities related to advanced clinical biorepository operations.
• Monitors and ensures research is compliant with applicable regulations and policies of Advocate Health-Wake Forest University School of Medicine Institutional Review Board (IRB), AARI, and governmental agencies. Develops and updates new and existing program policies and procedures to meet operational and compliance needs.
• Monitors the progress of biorepository projects and initiatives across AARI to accomplish strategic goals including growth, efficiency, effectiveness, and quality.
• Develops strategies to increase scientific and clinical outcomes attributed to biorepository.
• Identifies and implements continuous improvement opportunities for increasing business efficiency by developing new methods for automating clinical data collection, validation, and benchmarking activities.
• Co-chairs and coordinates the Biospecimen Utilization Protocol Review Committee (BUPRC).
• Leads by example in creating a culture of teamwork, engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Performs human resources responsibilities for staff which include interviewing and selection of new employees, promotions, staff development, performance evaluations, compensation changes, resolution of employee concerns, corrective actions, terminations, and overall employee morale.
• Develops and recommends operating and capital budgets and controls expenditures within approved budget objectives.
• Responsible for understanding and adhering to the organization's Code of Ethical Conduct and for ensuring that personal actions, and the actions of employees supervised, comply with the policies, regulations and laws applicable to the organization's business.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• None Required.

Education Required:

• Master's Degree in Biology or related field. PhD is preferred.

Experience Required:

• Typically requires 5 years of experience in a clinical laboratory and/or research environment that includes experiences in genomic and repository techniques required for evaluation of products and related research activities. Includes 1 year of supervisory experience in multiple technical functions within a laboratory environment at the supervisor or manager level.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Advanced knowledge of biomedical research or biotechnology.
• Knowledge of laboratory robotics focused on liquid handling, sample tracking, sample analysis, and sample storage.
• Ability and demonstrated experience in establishing excellent working relationships and strategic partnering with individuals and teams at various levels and from various fields of expertise to achieve a shared vision, values and objectives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively interact with researchers, caregivers, management, executives, and external business partners.
• Knowledge of practices, operations and informatics related to clinical data management and clinical laboratory sample and data management.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to implement and maintain research projects and operational processes that comply with Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements.
• Demonstrated critical/analytic thinking, effective leadership, organizational, time management and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated project management knowledge, time management skills and sound judgment to independently manage a varied workload of projects with multiple priorities and within standards.
• Ability to work as a member of a diverse team as well as an independent agent of change.

Advocate Aurora Research Institute (AARI) is part of Advocate Health, including Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM) which serves as the academic core of Advocate Health and is among the top 50 research institutions in the United States. Advocate Health (AH) is a large, integrated healthcare delivery system that serves nearly 6 million patients annually and is the fifth largest nonprofit health system in the nation. The health organization is comprised of more than 1,000 care sites and 67 hospitals across 6 states spanning the Southeastern and Midwestern portions of the United States. The expertise, size, and scope of our highly integrated enterprise positions us to be uniquely poised to address barriers and challenges associated with the translation of research into effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of disease.