Job Description

Help Keep Life-Changing Medicines Moving Through Quality

Sample Management Technician

Behind every pharmaceutical product is a network of quality processes that help ensure it meets the required standards before reaching patients. Accurate sample management is a vital part of that process, ensuring laboratory teams have the right samples, in the right conditions, at the right time.

We are recruiting Sample Management Technicians to join an expanding Quality Operations Laboratory in Carlow. This 11-month contract offers the opportunity to support pharmaceutical quality operations while developing practical experience with laboratory systems, quality investigations, and regulated sample management.

If you're organised, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a structured laboratory environment, this role offers an opportunity to contribute to the processes that support pharmaceutical testing and product release.

What you'll achieve (and why it matters)

• Receive, log, label, store, track, and distribute biological, environmental, and manufacturing samples.
• Coordinate sample transfers to internal QC laboratories and external testing facilities, maintaining traceability throughout the sample lifecycle.
• Manage sample inventories, retention records, storage locations, and environmental monitoring requirements.
• Use LIMS and electronic tracking systems to maintain sample records and support efficient laboratory operations.
• Complete sample documentation, data entry, record reviews, and peer reviews in accordance with established procedures.
• Investigate sample discrepancies, storage excursions, non-conformances, and deviations, contributing to root-cause analysis where required.
• Generate sample management metrics and trend reports to support operational planning and identify improvement opportunities.
• Communicate sample priorities, workloads, and potential risks during QC meetings.
• Support laboratory audits and regulatory inspections by ensuring documentation is accurate and readily available.
• Maintain laboratory consumables and sample-container inventories.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives using structured problem-solving tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, and FMEA.
• Follow cGMP, GDP, site safety policies, and applicable quality procedures.

Your edge (desired, not required)

• A bachelor's degree or higher in Science, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Science, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Experience in a GMP-regulated pharmaceutical, biotechnology, laboratory, or quality environment.
• Understanding of cGMP, GDP, and laboratory quality systems.
• Experience handling laboratory samples, managing inventories, or supporting laboratory operations.
• Familiarity with LIMS or electronic sample-tracking systems.
• Experience with quality documentation, SOPs, deviations, investigations, or change control.
• Exposure to laboratory audits or regulatory inspections.
• Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma or root-cause analysis techniques.
• Strong organisational, communication, and computer skills, with excellent attention to detail.

Why this role matters

Sample management supports the reliability of pharmaceutical testing by ensuring samples remain identifiable, traceable, and suitable for their intended use. By keeping laboratory workflows organised and documentation accurate, you'll help QC teams carry out their work efficiently and support the wider quality process behind pharmaceutical product release.

You'll also have the opportunity to strengthen your experience with laboratory information systems, quality investigations, and continuous improvement within a regulated manufacturing environment.

This role could suit a Sample Management Technician, Quality Technician, Laboratory Technician, QC Technician, QC Analyst, Laboratory Operations Technician, or science graduate with relevant experience in a regulated setting.

The next step for you

If this opportunity is of interest, please send your CV to danielle.johnson@nextgeneration.ie or reach out to discuss the role further.

All applications are treated in the strictest confidence.

Next Generation Recruitment specialises in Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, Technical, Scientific, Manufacturing, and Operations recruitment across permanent, contract, and temporary positions.

Your personal data will never be shared outside our organisation without your prior written consent.