Job Opportunities in United Kingdom

We are looking for a highly motivated Genomics Coordinator to join our comprehensive Genetics Service at the South London Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH), based at Guy’s Hospital .

This post will involve working within the Monogenics team alongside three existing genomic coordinators and scientist colleagues to process test requests in the local LIMS, monitor and reply to emails about testing, manage transfer of data between SEGLH labs, as well as other administrative tasks.

Successful applicants will be dedicated, enthusiastic and have good communication skills . The role requires consistent attention to detail and excellent organisational skills. Knowledge of genomics testing is preferable but not essential, as full training to perform the required tasks will be provided.

Applications are invited from committed individuals.

We have an established network of remote workers and support flexible working patterns. Applicants looking for remote work are encouraged to apply.

The Monogenics team is part of the wider Genetics department and it is the hub laboratory of the SE Genomics Lab Hub (SE GLH). The department performs a range of different genetics test as prescribed by the National Genomics Test Directory by NHS England.

You will work fully embedded within the Monogenics team to perform assignment of incoming test requests. These arrive with the samples as a paper referral form on which the clinician has recorded the test request details. These forms are scanned into the NHS Trust network in the Generics specimen reception, so this test assignment role can be performed remotely by accessing the scanned image of the form on a GSTT NHS trust computer. The test assignment is performed twice daily on rotation within the coordinator team.

Additional tasks include managing the Monogenics email inbox and replying or redirecting enquiries as indicated, as well as supporting the scientist team with other data inputting tasks.

The Genetics laboratories are part of Synnovis and are located within the Guy’s Hospital site.

The Genetics department is made up of more than 120 staff and with close links to Clinical Services throughout Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTf T) and St George’s Hospital Foundation Trust. With our partner laboratories, the GLH for the South London region provides a comprehensive genomics service for a population of 8 million which includes specialist germline and cancer tests and a class-leading whole exome sequencing service.

The laboratory works collaboratively with other pathology disciplines and research groups such as GSTf T Biomedical Research Centre and Genomics Innovation Unit and the GSTf T Assisted Conception Unit for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis.

Your development and learning

You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.

Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.

The Genomics Coordinator will be required to act as a flexible administrative resource to support the Monogenics clinical scientist team in delivering a seamless and integrated end to end genomic medicine pathway. The post holder will be responsible for the co-ordination of the genomic medicine pathway on a day-to-day operational basis.

The core activities requiring support from the Coordinator are outlined below:

Liaising with cancer and rare disease clinicians to enable appropriate testing for patients
Activation of appropriate genetic tests using the laboratory information management system
Progress monitoring and record keeping throughout in-house testing of samples
Coordination of testing between different laboratories in the South East GLH consortium
Export and request of samples to/from other laboratories nationally

The post holder will act as a central point of contact responsible for tracking documentation, data and samples which progress through the pathway often from different Trusts across the South East GLH geography.

The Post Holder will be required to work autonomously, have good organisational abilities, with excellent IT skills and good attention to detail. The post requires a good level of experience and highly developed communication skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities listed below are representative of the Genomics Coordinator role and its purpose within the molecular genetics service; they are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake additional or alternative administrative and managerial duties and responsibilities commensurate with the level of the post, to support the smooth running of the department.

Documentation tracking including Hub-St George’s transfer of information

Liaise with clinical teams to accurately complete test ordering documentation, following up any incomplete referrals and missing documentation
Ensure all copies of documentation are stored locally and securely
Liaise with labs within the GLH to confirm test ordering documentation has been sent and received

Communication including DNA Duty Scientist email account monitoring

Respond in an accurate and timely way to service queries (for example from service users, external laboratories, and SE GLH staff), escalating queries to a clinical scientist where required
Support coordination of testing between different laboratories in the South East GLH consortium
Support coordination of testing with other laboratories nationally

Test selection

Responsible for assigning appropriate laboratory genetic tests as requested on patient referral forms), escalating queries to a clinical scientist where required

At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London. For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.

The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.

The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Women’s Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Children’s Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guy’s site.