Biological Samples Shipping Coordinator
| Posting date: | 18 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £30,512 per year, pro rata |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 11 January 2026 |
| Location: | Didcot, Oxfordshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Medical Research Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | MLC 2758 |
Summary
Biological Samples Shipping Coordinator
Salary: MRC-5a - £30,512 per annum, pro rata
Hours: Part-Time (25 hours per week)
Contract Type: Open-Ended
About Us
The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell (MLC) is located in an expanding science and innovation campus in Oxfordshire and is an internationally renowned centre at the forefront of genetics research. As the hub of the new National Mouse Genetics Network, the specialist facilities and capabilities of the MLC support several research groups across the UK to accelerate our understanding of human diseases, such as cancer, developmental disorders and neurodegeneration.
About the role
We have an exciting opportunity at the Mary Lyon Centre to join our Laboratory Services team as our new Biological Samples Shipping Coordinator. This role will support Harwell’s standing as a national/international centre for mouse resources, co-ordinating the exportation of biological materials to the scientific community around the world!
We are looking for someone that is a strong team player, customer focused, with excellent communication skills, and a keen eye for detail. This role will suit a person who has an aptitude to learn and the passion to grow, as full training and support will be provided.
Main Duties/Key Responsibilities
Working within a team environment at the Mary Lyon Centre (MLC), Harwell, the post-holder’s principal responsibility will be to support the processes involved in shipping biological samples from the MLC.
Examples of the type of activity this may involve are:
• Physically locating and packing biological samples before shipment (including packaging on dry ice and liquid nitrogen)
• Working with other members of staff dedicated to dissemination of resources and assisting them as and when necessary
• Liaising with investigators within the MRC and other universities/institutes to coordinate the dissemination of biological samples
• Building relationships and liaising with courier companies to ensure the safe delivery of shipments
• Ensuring that the quality and accuracy of our delivery services are maintained
About you
You will need to have:
• GCSE maths and English
• Previous experience in an environment involving a wide range of outward-facing activities and/or administrative tasks
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-throughput service role
• Ability to understand/use IT packages and databases at an Intermediate level
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written)
Benefits
Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits, from a defined-benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement, to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and a salary sacrifice cycle-to-work scheme. In addition, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the work of a world-class medical research organisation.
How to Apply
If you are ready to take on this exciting role and be part of a team dedicated to ground-breaking research, we would love to hear from you. For full details and to apply: https://mrc.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/appcentre-1/candidate/postings/3086
Please quote reference MLC 2758.
The closing date for applications is 11 January 2026
Salary: MRC-5a - £30,512 per annum, pro rata
Hours: Part-Time (25 hours per week)
Contract Type: Open-Ended
About Us
The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell (MLC) is located in an expanding science and innovation campus in Oxfordshire and is an internationally renowned centre at the forefront of genetics research. As the hub of the new National Mouse Genetics Network, the specialist facilities and capabilities of the MLC support several research groups across the UK to accelerate our understanding of human diseases, such as cancer, developmental disorders and neurodegeneration.
About the role
We have an exciting opportunity at the Mary Lyon Centre to join our Laboratory Services team as our new Biological Samples Shipping Coordinator. This role will support Harwell’s standing as a national/international centre for mouse resources, co-ordinating the exportation of biological materials to the scientific community around the world!
We are looking for someone that is a strong team player, customer focused, with excellent communication skills, and a keen eye for detail. This role will suit a person who has an aptitude to learn and the passion to grow, as full training and support will be provided.
Main Duties/Key Responsibilities
Working within a team environment at the Mary Lyon Centre (MLC), Harwell, the post-holder’s principal responsibility will be to support the processes involved in shipping biological samples from the MLC.
Examples of the type of activity this may involve are:
• Physically locating and packing biological samples before shipment (including packaging on dry ice and liquid nitrogen)
• Working with other members of staff dedicated to dissemination of resources and assisting them as and when necessary
• Liaising with investigators within the MRC and other universities/institutes to coordinate the dissemination of biological samples
• Building relationships and liaising with courier companies to ensure the safe delivery of shipments
• Ensuring that the quality and accuracy of our delivery services are maintained
About you
You will need to have:
• GCSE maths and English
• Previous experience in an environment involving a wide range of outward-facing activities and/or administrative tasks
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-throughput service role
• Ability to understand/use IT packages and databases at an Intermediate level
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written)
Benefits
Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits, from a defined-benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement, to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and a salary sacrifice cycle-to-work scheme. In addition, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the work of a world-class medical research organisation.
How to Apply
If you are ready to take on this exciting role and be part of a team dedicated to ground-breaking research, we would love to hear from you. For full details and to apply: https://mrc.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/appcentre-1/candidate/postings/3086
Please quote reference MLC 2758.
The closing date for applications is 11 January 2026
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