Product Application Specialist III (Validation Application Specialist – VAS)

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Cleanroom: no hair products, jewelry, makeup, nail polish, perfume, exposed piercings, facial hair etc... allowed, Laboratory Setting, Office, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.), Will work with hazardous/toxic materials

Job Description

Validation Applications Specialist - Job Description

Level: Band 6

Location: Europe

The Validation Applications Specialist (VAS) will be a part of the HID global Support Team integrated to the Professional Services (HPS) team tasked with developing and delivering validation service, workflow solutions, and training for the entire portfolio of Thermo Fisher Scientific HID products to forensic science laboratories.

Position Objectives:

The objective of this position is to contribute to the success of the HPS business through the development, delivery, implementation, and post implementation support of workflows developed specifically for the use of Applied Biosystems HID chemistries, instrumentation and applications within the forensic DNA markets in European, Middle Eastern, and African regions. This is a field-based position, and prospective candidates will be required to travel across the regions. The candidate may be required to participate in projects in other regions globally. Projects may require stays in the project location, normally up to 2-3 weeks, occasionally longer.

Essential Functions:

In collaboration with Technical Project Managers (TPMs), execute on the delivery of professional service offerings, such as chemistry, equipment and/or software validations, data analysis, and validation report writing. Participate in post-delivery support to customers who have utilized HPS.
Provide pre-sales support to HID commercial team and channel partners on HPS products, workflow solutions, and customer training. Work in with HPS TPMs on HPS project proposals and pricing estimates and maintain updates to the HPS Opportunities Funnel.
Maintain a high level of communication with customers to ensure a clear understanding of needs and verify successful execution.
Identify opportunities to increase project efficiency and reduce costs of project execution without sacrificing quality.
Create and deliver training and instruction to customers on the implemented workflows and systems.
May be required to perform other related duties as required and/or assigned, including support to Field Applications Specialists (FAS) on customer troubleshooting and supporting/advising customers with lab and workflow design.

Experience/Requirements:

Minimum BSc. in molecular biology, chemistry or related discipline
At least 5 years’ experience (or 3 years with advanced degree) with demonstrable use of elements of the HID workflow solutions utilized in forensic DNA either within DNA forensic laboratories or in a relevant field technical support role, including the interpretation of forensic DNA analysis results. Familiarity with mixture interpretation is a plus.
Customer-focused with experience in performing validation work in forensic science or other regulated markets. Familiarity with guidelines of expert bodies such as the European Network of Forensic Science (ENFSI) DNA Working Group, Specialist Working Group for DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) Quality Assurance Standards (QAS), and other applicable standards. Auditing experience is a plus especially for ISO/EIC 17025.
Experience in developing and delivering technical training or sales presentations and conveying scientific principles and supporting the value proposition of HID Professional Services.
High-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
Advanced written and spoken English and excellent communication skills.

You will:

Work closely with other colleagues who are involved in the HID space (commercial, FAS, Field Service Engineers, product management, project management and marketing etc.).
Identify needs and problems and offer creative and timely solutions to address the need, identifying and escalating delivery risks before customer impact.
Contribute to goals of the HID validation business through tenacity, creativity, and scientific and professional excellence.
Be expected to learn new technologies, methodologies, and workflows as appropriate to fulfil the requirements of specific projects.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Effective organizational and time management skills.
Detail oriented, analytical, data driven, and ability to solve complex problems.
Highly energetic and self-motivated. Able to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to build relationships across different business functions and business units.
Comfortable with making decisions with some level of uncertainty.
Passionate about challenges, problem solving, and learning new things.
Takes initiative and demonstrates a sense of urgency, optimism and a “can do” attitude.
Ability to present to all levels of an organization internally and externally.
Identifies opportunities for new services and trainings to drive direct revenue and support business objectives.
Works closely with the regional commercial teams to meet diverse customer needs in a global market.
Confident in leading discussions with customers to assess appropriate service products and translate customer needs to TPMs ready for scope of services.

Working Conditions

Remote (home based) field role
Travel up to 50% across EMEA