About the role
Position Summary
The Wet Lab Chief is responsible for the day-to-day technical operation, quality, and safety of the molecular wet laboratory, encompassing nucleic acid extraction, library preparation, NGS sequencing runs, ddPCR, FISH/IHC-adjacent molecular workflows, and related bench processes. The role holds hands-on ownership of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical wet lab workflows and acts as the primary technical bridge between bench operations and the Incharge, ensuring every assay meets NABL/CAP-aligned quality standards, turnaround-time targets, and documentation integrity.
Key Responsibilities
1. Laboratory Operations & Workflow Management
• Oversee end-to-end wet lab workflow: sample receipt, accessioning, aliquoting, block/slide tracking, extraction, library prep, quantification/QC, and sequencing/ddPCR setup. • Coordinate daily bench scheduling across assays (NGS panels, ddPCR EGFR/BCR-ABL, DPYD genotyping, and emerging IHC-linked molecular workflows) to meet TAT commitments. • Maintain the block and aliquot tracking system across ZCH and Zydus Main Hospital sites, ensuring chain-of-custody integrity for every specimen. • Flag and escalate capacity constraints to the Incharge with proposed mitigations.2. Technical & Assay Ownership
• Serve as the technical lead for library preparation, target enrichment, and sequencing platform operations (Illumina/Ion Torrent or equivalent, as applicable). • Own ddPCR bench operations, including plate setup, droplet generation, and QC of quantification outputs. Also able to handle pyrosequencing, Sanger sequencing and exome sequencing. • Support validation and go-live of new assays in the pipeline including analytical verification and documentation. • Troubleshoot assay failures, low-yield extractions, and QC flags at the bench level, escalating complex or recurring issues to the Incharge and Reporting Consultant.3. Quality, Compliance & Documentation
• Implement and enforce NABL/CAP-compliant SOPs for every wet lab process. • Maintain equipment logs, calibration/maintenance schedules, reagent lot tracking, and QC/QA records for internal and external audits. • Support Inter-Laboratory Comparison (ILC) programs and proficiency testing cycles. • Ensure timely, accurate incident reporting (e.g., missing samples, deviations) with root-cause analysis and corrective/preventive action follow-through.4. Inventory, Procurement & Cost Management
• Manage reagent, consumable, and kit inventory to prevent stockouts while minimizing wastage and expiry losses. • Provide technical input into procurement planning for new assays and instrumentation, including kit/vendor evaluation. • Support costing and CPRT (cost-per-reportable-test) modeling for existing and new assays.5. Team Supervision & Training
• Supervise, mentor, and schedule wet lab technical staff; conduct competency assessments and ongoing training. • Enforce biosafety, biosafety cabinet, and PPE protocols; ensure staff certification on all instruments they operate. • Act as first point of technical escalation for bench-level staff, resolving issues independently where possible.6. Cross-Functional Coordination
• Liaise with Zydus portal teams on sample tracking, result entry, and system gap resolution. • Coordinate with Reporting Consultants and the Incharge on turnaround times, repeat/rerun decisions, and platform selection for complex cases. • Support onboarding of new instruments, vendor training sessions and infrastructure expansion projects.Qualifications
Education
• M.Sc. / Ph.D in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics, Life Sciences.Experience
• Minimum 5–8 years of hands-on experience in a clinical molecular diagnostics or NGS wet laboratory, including direct bench experience with NGS library preparation and/or ddPCR, Sanger and pyrosequencing. • Prior experience in a NABL/CAP-accredited laboratory strongly preferred. • Demonstrated experience supervising technical staff and managing lab operations at scale.Required Skills & Competencies
• Strong hands-on expertise in nucleic acid extraction, library preparation, NGS run setup, and ddPCR. • Working knowledge of NABL/CAP quality frameworks, SOP development, and audit readiness. • Familiarity with portal systems and digital sample-tracking workflows. • Strong troubleshooting ability under TAT pressure, with meticulous documentation discipline. • Effective people-management skills, with the ability to train, motivate, and hold technical staff accountable. • Clear, professional communication with pathologists, clinicians, and cross-functional teams.Working Relationships
The Wet Lab Chief functions as the operational anchor of the wet lab, translating clinical and quality requirements into reliable, audit-ready bench execution. The role does not have independent authorised-signatory or final reporting authority — final result sign-off remains with the Reporting Consultant and Incharge — but is expected to exercise full technical ownership of the wet lab bench.