About University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)

University of Global Health Equity is a health sciences university in Rwanda. An initiative of Partners In Health, UGHE is a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution

About This Opportunity

The position of Biobank Coordinator (Administrative & Research Operations) at University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) located in Burera, Rwanda offers an opportunity for qualified professionals to contribute their knowledge and experience in a dynamic working environment. The organization seeks individuals who are motivated, reliable, and capable of performing their duties effectively while maintaining professional standards.

Description

Position Title: Biobank Coordinator (Administrative & Research Operations)

Department: Institute of Global Health Equity Research (IGHER)

Reports To: Head of Biobank

Location: Kigali with regular travel to research sites

Contract Duration: Two year contract with possible extension for another two years

Position Summary

The Biobank coordinator will deliver operational, administrative, and research coordination assist for biobank activities and clinical trial projects. The position will ensure effective planning, implementation, documentation, and monitoring of research activities while maintaining compliance with institutional policies, ethical requirements, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and biobank quality standards.

The Coordinator will serve as a key liaison between investigators, clinical trial teams, laboratory personnel, research participants, regulatory bodies, and collaborating institutions. The role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, experience in research administration, and the ability to organize multiple activities simultaneously.

Key Responsibilities

• organize daily biobank operations, including specimen collection, processing, storage, tracking, inventory, access, documentation, and compliance.
• assist clinical trial implementation, including timelines, regulatory documentation, site coordination, monitoring visits, recruitment tracking, essential documents, and logistics.
• organize research activities, work plans, meetings, reports, budgets, procurement, travel, and project documentation.
• Ensure adherence to GCP, ethics and regulatory requirements, biobank policies, data protection, and assist audits and accreditation activities.
• Serve as a coordination point among investigators, clinical teams, laboratory/biobank staff, sponsors, regulators, and research partners, ensuring effective communication and follow-up.

Required Qualifications and competence

• Bachelor’s degree in Health/Biomedical/Laboratory Sciences, Public Health, Clinical Research, Life Sciences, Health Administration, or related field; Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Experience: 3–5 years’ experience in clinical research, clinical trials, biobanking, laboratory research, or research administration.
• Experience with research documentation, databases, regulatory/ethics submissions, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of ICH-GCP, biobank operations, sample management, and research compliance.
• Experience with REDCap, CTMS, LIMS, or similar research data systems is an advantage.
• Strong organizational, coordination, communication, documentation, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to oversee confidential research information.
• GCP, research ethics, clinical research, biobank, or data management certification is an advantage.
• Ability to organize multiple activities, keep accurate records, meet deadlines, and assist clinical trials, audits, reporting, and research logistics.

• organize daily biobank operations, including specimen collection, processing, storage, tracking, inventory, access, documentation, and compliance.
• assist clinical trial implementation, including timelines, regulatory documentation, site coordination, monitoring visits, recruitment tracking, essential documents, and logistics.
• organize research activities, work plans, meetings, reports, budgets, procurement, travel, and project documentation.
• Ensure adherence to GCP, ethics and regulatory requirements, biobank policies, data protection, and assist audits and accreditation activities.
• Serve as a coordination point among investigators, clinical teams, laboratory/biobank staff, sponsors, regulators, and research partners, ensuring effective communication and follow-up.

• Communication
• Management
• Audit
• Planning
• Research
• Training
• Administration
• Procurement
• Logistics
• Strong organizational, coordination, communication, documentation, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to oversee confidential research information.

• Bachelor’s degree in Health/Biomedical/Laboratory Sciences, Public Health, Clinical Research, Life Sciences, Health Administration, or related field; Master’s degree is an advantage.
• 3–5 years’ experience in clinical research, clinical trials, biobanking, laboratory research, or research administration.
• Experience with research documentation, databases, regulatory/ethics submissions, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of ICH-GCP, biobank operations, sample management, and research compliance.
• Experience with REDCap, CTMS, LIMS, or similar research data systems is an advantage.
• GCP, research ethics, clinical research, biobank, or data management certification is an advantage.
• Ability to organize multiple activities, keep accurate records, meet deadlines, and assist clinical trials, audits, reporting, and research logistics.