Supervisor, Sample Management (Portland, Oregon (OR)

What You Will D o

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.

Key Responsibilities Include

• 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.

Your Profile

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.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• 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, WindowPath, 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 also be considered.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique?

• Opportunity to lead a critical function supporting global clinical research studies.
• Hands-on leadership role with meaningful influence on operational efficiency, process improvement, and team development.
• Exposure to complex laboratory operations and specialized sample management technologies.
• Collaborative leadership team committed to training, knowledge sharing, and employee development.
• Opportunity to make a measurable impact on both team performance and client success.

Our Commitment to People, Clients and Performance

At ICON, our mission is driven by three core pillars: People, Clients, and Performance.

We are committed to creating an environment where our people can grow, develop, and do their best work. We partner closely with our clients to deliver high-quality solutions that advance clinical research and improve patient outcomes. Through a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement, we strive to deliver exceptional performance while making a meaningful difference in healthcare worldwide.

• #LI-HD1
• Employment with ICON is contingent upon having the legal right to work in the country where the role is based.

Rewards & Benefits

ICON offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and career development.

Benefits may include

• Competitive base salary and performance related incentives
• Health and wellbeing programmes including medical, dental, and vision coverage where applicable
• Retirement and pension plans
• Life assurance and disability coverage
• Employee assistance programmes and wellbeing resources
• Learning and development opportunities through structured training and career pathways

• Benefits may vary depending on role and location.
• Visit our careers site to read more about the benefits ICON offers.

Inclusion and Accessibility

Are you a current ICON Employee? Please click here to apply