Supervisor, Sample Management; Portland, Oregon

Supervisor, Sample Management (Portland, Oregon (OR)

ICON is a global healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation united by a mission to bring new medicines and treatments to patients faster.

As a values-driven organisation, integrity, collaboration, agility, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work and interact with each other, customers, patients and suppliers.

Full-Time | Monday-Friday | 9:00 AM-6:00 PM EST
Occasional weekend support as business needs requires

As a Supervisor, Sample Management at ICON, you will lead the day-to-day operations of the Sample Management team, ensuring the accurate receipt, tracking, storage, and distribution of biological samples that support critical clinical research activities. This is a hands-on leadership role where you will spend significant time supporting employees, troubleshooting operational challenges, driving process improvements, and ensuring the highest standards of quality and compliance.

Your success in this role will come from balancing operational excellence with people leadership, helping your team navigate complex workflows while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Supervising the daily flow of specimens, including package receipt, unpacking, scanning, accessioning, labeling, validation, storage, and shipment activities.
• Leading and supporting a team of Sample Management professionals by providing coaching, training, guidance, and day-to-day operational oversight.
• Serving as a technical resource for staff, assisting with troubleshooting and resolving workflow challenges involving laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and sample tracking processes.
• Overseeing sample receipt and storage activities, ensuring appropriate freezer placement based on study-specific temperature requirements and maintaining accurate chain-of-custody documentation.
• Managing sample inventory and storage records within laboratory management systems, including ICOLIMS and other LIMS platforms.
• Coordinating the preparation and shipment of client samples to clients, third-party laboratories, and internal testing facilities while ensuring regulatory and quality requirements are met.
• Supporting laboratory operations by facilitating specimen movement and communication across functional teams.
• Monitoring departmental performance metrics and preparing reports to support operational planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Overseeing departmental equipment and freezer management, including maintenance, monitoring, and related purchasing activities.
• Reviewing and coding invoices in accordance with departmental and company procedures.
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes, increase efficiency, and enhance the overall client experience.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, company procedures, quality standards, and client expectations.
• Performing additional responsibilities and special projects as assigned.

You are a strong people leader who enjoys developing others while maintaining a high level of operational excellence. You are comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment and can effectively balance competing priorities while supporting both employees and clients.

• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• Experience in laboratory operations, healthcare, sample management, engineering, manufacturing, analytical, technical, or other highly regulated environments.
• Strong technical aptitude with experience working in or supporting LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems).
• Experience with ICOLIMS, Window Path, or similar laboratory systems is preferred.
• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and develop employees while maintaining performance expectations and accountability.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across teams and functions.
• Ability to thrive in a detail-oriented environment involving repetitive processes and complex workflows.
• Experience managing chain-of-custody documentation, inventory controls, sample tracking, or related operational processes is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in a scientific, technical, healthcare, business, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience will…