Jobs › Abbott

Associate Clinical Affairs Specimen Operations Specialist

Abbott · Madison, WI · $50,700–$101,300 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 4, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you managed several priorities with different deadlines.

What they are checking: Whether they stay organized and communicate early, as the posting asks.

Describe a time you spotted an operational problem before it caused trouble.

What they are checking: Whether they are proactive in finding and fixing issues, which the posting highlights.

What would you want to learn in your first year in clinical specimen operations?

What they are checking: Whether they are eager to grow expertise in this area, as the posting describes the ideal candidate.

What would you do

A shipment of study specimens arrives warm. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they document, quarantine and escalate rather than quietly using or discarding the samples.

How do you work with clinical study managers and cross-functional teams who need samples at the same time?

What they are checking: Whether they coordinate and set expectations instead of serving whoever asks loudest.

A teammate asks you to update a record without documenting why. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they protect data integrity even when it is inconvenient for a coworker.

About the work

What does it mean to manage clinical specimens from collection to testing to storage?

What they are checking: Whether they understand chain of custody and traceability for samples used in clinical studies.

How would you keep specimen records accurate when samples move between sites and systems?

What they are checking: Whether they see data management as part of the job, since regulators may review those records.

Why does informed consent matter for how specimens can be used?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that consent limits sample use and must be tracked.

How do you make sure you follow standard operating procedures in a regulated environment?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that documented procedures protect data integrity for regulatory submissions.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Abbott.

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. JOB DESCRIPTION: Position Overview The Associate Clinical Affairs Specimen Operations Specialist works with product core teams, working groups, clinical study managers, cross-functional support teams, and key stakeholders to ensure that product and clinical goals are met through excellent coordination and communications. This role is responsible for operational and sample management processes; including, but not limited to, all technical, system, and data management components that support the execution of clinical and regulatory affairs work. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented professional who thrives in a collaborative team environment and is eager to develop expertise in clinical specimen operations. They demonstrate strong execution skills, accountability, and a commitment to delivering high-quality work while managing multiple priorities. This individual is proactive in identifying and resolving operational challenges, communicates effectively with stakeholders, and embraces opportunities to learn and grow. They are dependable, adaptable, and motivated to contribute to the successful execution of clinical studies through strong partnership, accuracy, and continuous improvement. Essential Duties Include, but are not limited to, the following: • Assist teams to divide and organize work into manageable packages and an actionable schedule. • Visualize and document processes. • Assign tasks and confirm completion. • Ensure on-time delivery of all assigned goals. • Lead defined small and medium-sized teams and components of large projects and programs. • Schedule meetings and prepare agenda and minutes at the direction of stakeholders and leads. • Liaise between internal and external stakeholders and Exact Sciences team members. • Keep relevant information organized and available to appropriate stakeholders and team members. • Manage issues and action items; collaborate directly with team members to ensure completion. • Coordinate and provide communication updates to key stakeholders, management, and team members. • Maintain positive working relationships with various internal parties and stakeholders. • Lead and support process improvement initiatives within the clinical and regulatory affairs department. • Analyze systems user needs to identify efficiencies and gaps; assess cross-functional impact and integrate stakeholder recommendations and needs to streamline process flow. • Communicate both efficiencies and gaps cross-functionally. • Manage multiple priorities for various stakeholders in a cross-functional matrix environment. • Apply strong attention to detail. • Apply strong verbal and written communication skills. • Apply effective presentation skills. • Apply strong analytical, problem solving, and decision-making skills. • Ability to adapt to rapid changes in priorities, strong sense of urgency, and ability to identify ways to work together to achieve results needed for all requests. • Ability to organize, present, and convey problems or issues. • Ability to exercise judgment and determine appropriate action to a variety of problems of varying complexity. • Ability to coordinate multiple tasks both owned individually and by others. • Uphold company mission and values through accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork. • Support and comply with the company’s Quality Management System policies and procedures. • Maintain regular and reliable attendance. • Ability to act with an inclusion mindset and model these behaviors for the organization. • Ability to work designated schedule. • Ability to work nights and/or weekends, as needed. • Ability to lift up to 10 pounds for approximately 5% of a typical working day. • Ability to work on a mobile device, tablet, or in front of a computer screen and/or perform typing for approximately 90% of a typical working day. • Ability to grasp with both hands; pinch with thumb and forefinger; turn with hand/arm; reach above shoulder height. • Ability to comply with any applicable personal protective equipment requirements. • Ability to work on a computer and phone simultaneously. • Ability to use a telephone through a headset. • Ability to travel 10% of working time away from work location, may include overnight/weekend travel. Minimum Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Biology, or other field related to the essential duties of the position. • 2+ years of work experience in a project-focused environment. • Proficient with Microsoft Office suite programs. • Demonstrated ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation. • Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship. Preferred Qualifications • Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) through the Project Management Institute (PMI). • Experience with workflow design; including, but not limited to, experience with Visio and/or other related programs. • Strong understanding of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and the International Conference on Harmonization - Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP); including strong understanding of global regulations. • Good understanding of clinical systems functionality and requirements. The base pay for this position is $50,700.00 – $101,300.00 In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted. JOB FAMILY: Supply Chain DIVISION: ONCO Cancer Diagnostics LOCATION: United States > Madison : 5505 Endeavor Ln ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS: WORK SHIFT: Standard TRAVEL: Yes, 10 % of the Time MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: No SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES: Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday) Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans. EEO is the Law link - English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdf EEO is the Law link - Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf

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