IT Specialist

Company Description

Eurofins Scientific is an international life sciences company, providing a unique range of analytical testing services to clients across multiple industries, to make life and our environment safer, healthier and more sustainable. From the food you eat, to the water you drink, to the medicines you rely on, Eurofins laboratories work with the biggest companies in the world to ensure the products they supply are safe, their ingredients are authentic and labelling is accurate.

The Eurofins network of companies is the global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing and in agroscience Contract Research Organisation services. It is one of the market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and in the support of clinical studies, as well as having an emerging global presence in Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations. It also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products.

In over 30 years, Eurofins has grown from one laboratory in Nantes, France to 58,000 staff across a decentralised and entrepreneurial network of 900 laboratories in over 54 countries. Eurofins companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods to evaluate the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of biological substances and products.

In 2021, Eurofins generated total revenues of EUR 6.72 billion, and has been among the best performing stocks in Europe over the past 20 years.

Job Description

The Eurofins Discovery team was built by bringing together the market-leading discovery expertise of Panlabs (acquired in 2012 from Ricerca), Cerep (acquired in 2013), EMD Millipore's Discovery & Development Solutions business (acquired from Merck KGaA in 2014), Villapharma Research (acquired in 2017), DiscoverX (acquired 2017), Selcia Drug Discovery (acquired 2018) and Calixar (acquired 2023). With over 600 people in eight operational sites worldwide: St. Charles, MO (USA), Fremont, CA (USA), San Diego, CA (USA), Essex (UK), Celle Lévescault (France), Lyon (France), Taipei (Taiwan), and Murcia (Spain) our global team offers the high quality, reliable solutions and support our clients depend on to advance their drug discovery programs. Combining our broad, high quality, industry leading drug discovery products & services portfolios together enables us to support our global clients with one of the industry’s largest and broadest portfolios.

We are seeking an experienced, versatile and highly skilled IT Specialist to join our team to work in a research life sciences environment. The ideal candidate will play a crutial role in automating laboratory processes, managing operational IT projects, and ensuring the seamless integration of technology in our research environment. This position requires a unique blend of technical expertise, a passion for innovation, and a deep understanding of scientific research processes.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and implement software solutions to automate laboratory processes, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in research activities.
• Execute IT projects, including the deployment of new systems, upgrades, and integrations, ensuring they meet research needs and compliance standards.
• Provide technical support and training to research staff on laboratory software, hardware, and automation tools, ensuring optimal use and troubleshooting issues as they arise.
• Collaborate with research teams to understand their IT needs, translating scientific requirements into functional and technical specifications and solutions.
• Maintain and administer laboratory information management systems (LIMS), laboratory instrumentation, from a software and infrastructure perspective, ensuring data integrity, security, and accessibility.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and trends in IT and scientific research, evaluating and recommending tools and technologies that can enhance research capabilities.
• Ensure compliance with data protection regulations and industry standards, implementing and maintaining appropriate cybersecurity measures.
• Coordinate with external vendors and service providers for the procurement, maintenance, and support of IT equipment and services.
• Document IT procedures, configurations, and standards, contributing to the knowledge base and facilitating knowledge transfer within the organization

Qualifications

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, bioinformatics, or related field.

Type and duration of previous experience:

• 4-6 years of proven experience in IT roles within a scientific research or laboratory environment, preferably in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or CRO industry.
• Strong proficiency in scripting languages relevant for laboratory automation such as R Script, VBScript, or Python.
• Experience with laboratory information management systems, instruments and scientific data management.

Specific skills required:

• Solid understanding of network infrastructure, database management, and cybersecurity principles.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific needs into practical IT solutions.
• Experience in providing support and troubleshooting infrastructure and software issues in a lab environment, with a strong emphasis on problem-solving and customer service. Strong activity management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements and compliance standards specific to the Life Sciences industry, ensuring adherence to regulations governing data privacy, security, and quality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Fluent in English.

Personal Qualities:

• Proactive Problem Solver: Demonstrates a resourceful and innovative approach to identifying and resolving complex issues and challenges, utilizing critical thinking skills to overcome obstacles. Works efficiently under pressure, effectively prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines.
• Confident and Independent: Assumes ownership of initiatives, displaying a self-assured and decisive attitude in making independent decisions.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, capable of working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Highly Organized and Analytical: Exhibits meticulous attention to detail, demonstrating exceptional analytical and organizational skills. Possesses the ability to comprehend the broader context while working within a diverse and multicultural team.
• Adaptability in Dynamic Environments: Thrives in fast-paced and evolving settings, adept at managing ambiguity and embracing change. Remains flexible and resilient in the face of shifting priorities and challenges.
• Commitment to continuous learning and staying current with the latest technologies and industry trends.

Travel:

• Occasional travel to Eurofins facilities worldwide, including weekends.
• Estimated travel time is approximately 10% of working time.

Additional Information

• Excellent full time benefits including comprehensive medical coverage, dental, and vision options
• Life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation and holidays