"Analyst - Drug Control Centre (DCC), King’s Forensics"

About Us

We are seeking a skilled Analyst within the Drug Control Centre (DCC), King’s Forensics in the Department of Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences. The post holder will have experience in Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and have some laboratory experience preferably working with biological samples.

The DCC is the only World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in the UK and played a key role as the testing laboratory for the London 2012 Olympics, Glasgow 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2024 UK Athletics Diamond League events. The DCC is also accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) as a testing laboratory, in accordance with ISO 17025.

You will be a highly motivated individual who can work within a team and under the supervision of the Lead Analyst (GC-Technologies), the postholder will analyse biological samples in accordance with the WADA International Standard for Laboratories. Full training will be provided for the new member of staff are required to carry out a range of activities using standard laboratory operating procedures and working to always comply with the principals of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). The post holder will be organised, have good attention to detail and proficient in routine laboratory skills. They will be able to work alone as well as in a team. This post is entirely based on campus.

About The Role

The post holder is a member of the DCC Analyst family, King’s Forensics, providing high quality analytical support for sports testing within a highly controlled environment based in the Department of Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Science, King’s College London.

The post holder will carry out recognised analytical skills in a range of analytical methods predominantly using GC-MS, where the primary focus will be working in a team that operates a routine analytical service. There will be a need for liaison with staff members across the laboratory. You will perform sophisticated routine analysis in compliance with ISO17025 and WADA International Standards for Laboratories (ISL) using established standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the analysis of biological samples. Being a team player, you will help ensure the smooth running of the GC-Team taking shared responsibility for the efficient use of resources and demonstrating stock control of items used and GLP.

As a core part of your role, you will demonstrate efficiency in your daily tasks booking samples in and performing sample preparation to assist the GC-Team and developing wider skills as you gain experience. Full training will be given. You will also be expected to carry out routine maintenance of GC instruments as appropriate as well as the calibration of pipettes under the direction of the Lead Analyst. Attention to detail is required as you will maintain a training record in accordance with the requirements of UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. A willingness to help is key in our busy, evolving laboratory environment. There will be times when you will need to be responsive to changing priorities to help maximise the efficiency of the analytical laboratory output. Working within the GC-team you will be assigned tasks by the Lead Analyst and be expected to be flexible in anticipating and responding to shifting demands of a world-renowned anti-doping laboratory.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

This is a full-time post (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract and be based entirely on campus.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. Degree level experience in analytical science developed through considerable knowledge and skills gained through work within a similar post
2. Have a range of analytical or practical skills in related to GC-MS and a well- developed working knowledge of GC-MS analytical practices, procedures and basic maintenance.
3. Knowledge of the use of certified reference materials
4. A good understanding of a quality assurance framework as it applies to an analytical laboratory
5. Good computer skills including Microsoft Office packages and Strong communication skills – orally and in writing
6. Demonstrable knowledge of mass spectrometry
7. Strong planning & organisational skills – a systematic and precise approach, managing competing priorities, accurately recording information
8. A commitment to professional development and a willingness to learn new techniques

Desirable criteria

1. Previous experience of working in an analytical anti-doping setting
2. Experience of relevant modern tandem GC-MS/MS instrumentation and sample preparation procedures
3. Experience of working in an accredited laboratory

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our How we Recruit pages.

Interviews are due to be held in January/February 2026.

Grade and Salary: £34,713 - £38,127 per annum including London Weighting Allowance
Job ID: 134367
Close Date: 04-Jan-2026
Contact Person: Jayla Mehmet
Contact Details: Jayla.mehmet@kcl.ac.uk