Senior Research Fellow (Deputy Director DCC) - Strand, London, WC2R 2LS

Senior Research Fellow (Deputy Director DCC) - Strand, London, WC2R 2LS

About Us

A vacancy has arisen for a Deputy Director within the Drug Control Centre (DCC), Kings Forensics in the Department of Toxicology & Forensic Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science. The post holder will have advanced knowledge and understanding of chromatographic-mass spectrometry-based analysis and possess significant laboratory experience in bioanalysis.

The DCC is the only World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in the UK and is therefore an important sovereign facility. It played a key role in the London 2012 Olympics, Glasgow 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2021 Rugby League World Cup sports testing programmes as well as the UEFA Mens and Womens Football Tournaments (the EUROs) and most recently the European Athletics Championships (2026). The DCC is also accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) as a testing laboratory, in accordance with IEC/ISO 17025. The post holder will therefore need a meticulous approach to work and understand the importance of maintaining quality standards within a highly structured laboratory unit.

About The Role

The Senior Research Fellow will be required to develop and lead a research programme in the DCC that complements and builds on the existing research portfolio through the acquisition of research and third-stream income and the publication of scientific papers in peer reviewed journals.

• The Senior Research Fellow will act as the Deputy Director for the Drug Control Centre (DCC) at Kings College London.
• To support the Head of the Drug Control Centre (Laboratory Director) to identify, develop and lead research collaborations and partnerships within Kings College London and with other academic institutions and analytical science practitioners / end user bodies, and leverage these relationships to maximise both the research impact and funding from grant and other sources.
• The Senior Research Fellow will be required to work closely with the Director of Kings Forensics (Head of the DCC) to maintain the success of the laboratory. This role will have a wide range of responsibilities including assisting with day-to-day running of the DCC, reporting laboratory results, training and laboratory staff management
• Be responsible for the core competencies of analytical staff and the DCC training programme in compliance with WADA requirements for Certified and Certifying Scientists to ensuring that laboratory staff are suitably qualified to work within their own area.
• To work collaboratively with the Laboratory Operations Manager in matters relating to the fair allocation of staff across the DCC to meet demand according to skills and capacity providing expert advice in a range of subject areas pertinent to analytical science
• As a senior member of staff, the candidate will contribute to the Educational provision within Kings Forensics including lecturing, supervising students and marking. Teaching responsibilities will amount to around 10 % of the role.
• The Senior Research Fellow will work to ensure compliance with World Anti-Doping Codes International Standard for Laboratories, and both WADA and ISO/IEC 17025 accreditations, maintaining and building relations with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) as well as representing the DCC within the scientific community.
• The Senior Research Fellow position includes the obligations of the ISO 17025 accreditation Technical Manager and as such must have significant experience in the development and validation of assays, a wide range of analytical approaches (such as separation science, mass spectrometry and/or immunoassay), a PhD in a relevant scientific subject with considerable analytical chemistry content
• Demonstrable expertise at post-doctoral level of working in an analytical chemistry laboratory focusing on the interpretation of analytical data from biological samples and the ability to lead on decision making around sample reporting of adverse analytical findings.
• IT literacy for commonly used software packages is required, along with an understanding of the importance of dealing with confidential information. An understanding of the implications of Health and Safety for self and others taking standard actions within guidelines where appropriate is essential.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract.

Research staff at Kings are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers , applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.