Biologistics Coordinator

Position Summary

The Rare Cancer Research Foundation (RCRF) seeks an organized, detail-oriented, and mission-driven Biologistics Coordinator to support its biospecimen collection and research programs.

This position is well suited to an early-career professional interested in developing expertise in biospecimen logistics, biobanking, clinical research operations, and rare-cancer research. Under the direction of organizational leadership, the Biologistics Coordinator will coordinate the day-to-day activities required to collect, package, transport, track, store, and distribute patient tissue and fluid samples.

The position serves as an operational contact among participating hospitals, clinical personnel, shipping vendors, biobank partners, research collaborators, and internal RCRF teams. The Biologistics Coordinator will help ensure that collection kits and biospecimens are handled accurately, documented appropriately, and transported within required timelines.

Because biospecimen shipments are time-sensitive, occasional evening, weekend, or holiday availability may be required. Limited overnight travel may also be required.

Key Responsibilities

Biospecimen Collection Program Support

• Coordinate tissue and fluid collection activities across participating hospitals and clinical sites.

• Maintain approved protocols, operating procedures, work instructions, and site-specific requirements.

• Coordinate with pathology, surgery, radiology, laboratory, research, and clinical personnel regarding collection requirements and timelines for select patients.

• Track upcoming collections and confirm that required kits and shipping materials are available.

• Identify operational barriers and escalate significant issues to leadership.

Kit Assembly and Distribution

• Coordinate the assembly, quality review, inventory management, and distribution of tissue, fluid and/or blood collection kits to hospitals, clinicians, and other approved locations.

• Confirm each kit contains the correct materials, labels, shipping supplies, and instructions.

• Maintain accurate records for kit inventory, expiration dates, versions, and distribution.

• Monitor inventory levels and initiate replenishment and purchasing requests.

• Identify opportunities to improve kit usability, accuracy, and reliability.

Shipping and Logistics Operations

• Coordinate shipping & tracking for shipments with internal administrative staff and handle when necessary.

• Coordinate with courier and shipping vendors when needed.

• Assist with planning for evening, weekend, and holiday shipments when required.

Clinical Site Support

• Support the onboarding and training of participating clinical sites.

• Maintain regular communication with designated site contacts.

• Coordinate with site-based staff and patient-navigation personnel to support timely, effective specimen collection.

Biobank Coordination and Sample Tracking

• Coordinate & maintain accurate tracking/documentation of sample intake, processing, storage, retrieval, and distribution activities with biobank partner(s).

• Support requests for specimen retrieval or distribution to approved researchers and research partners.

Data Management and Quality Support

• Maintain & reconcile accurate and complete collection, shipment, inventory, specimen & partner records.

• Document errors & operating issues and assist leadership with review and corrective actions.

• Collaborate with RCRF internal team to support accurate biospecimens and associated data connections.

Regulatory and Documentation Support

• Perform assigned activities in accordance with approved operating procedures & IRB requirements.

• Support updates to procedures, training materials, collection instructions, and governance documents.

Program and Operational Support

• Prepare operational reports & assist with any other requests or work designated by leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Strong organizational, project-coordination, and time-management skills with high attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple assignments and prioritize time-sensitive activities.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate empathetically & professionally.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

• Ability to provide evening or weekend coverage & to undertake limited overnight travel when needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biological or life sciences, healthcare administration, clinical research, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience

• Experience supporting oncology, rare disease or translational research.

• Experience coordinating inventory, shipments, or other time-sensitive operations.

• Familiarity with IRB-regulated research, HIPAA-related procedures, or research documentation.

Key Competencies

• Operational discipline, attention to detail

• Adaptability, responsiveness and reliability

• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively & able to communicate professionally

• Commitment to RCRF's mission

Mission Impact

This position directly supports rare-cancer research by helping ensure that high-quality patient tissue and fluid samples are collected, preserved, tracked, and made available to researchers working to develop new discoveries, diagnostics, and treatments for rare cancers.

Reports To: President, Pattern.org, supporting the Rare Cancer Research Foundation

Organization: Rare Cancer Research Foundation

Location: On-site at RCRF headquarters, 703 Foster Street, Durham, North Carolina

Employment Type: Full-time

Salary Range: $55,000-$65,000, based on experience

Application Process

Apply by email only. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume or curriculum vitae to ***email_hidden***. Candidates must reside in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area and must be able to work primarily on-site in Durham.

The Rare Cancer Research Foundation is committed to building an inclusive workplace and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.