Genomics Specimen Reception Lead
Job summary
East Genomics is one of seven regional services which make up the Genomic Medicine Service. Delivering Genomics testing to 31 NHS Trusts, serving over 9m people, is complex and challenging. We are therefore pleased to be recruiting an experienced Biomedical Scientist or Genetics Technologist to lead our specimen reception.
The Genomics Laboratory is the lead laboratory of East Genomics. It is a busy workplace undergoing transformation. The post holder will be able to lead the reception team in delivering an accurate and timely service which puts the patient first. Patient confidentiality is critical within a genomics laboratory, and the post holder must understand what that means and how it is ensured.
The successful applicant will join a dynamic, growing establishment that is developing its staff in a vibrant atmosphere, making a real difference to patients who are benefitting from the latest genomic testing technology.
You can read more about us at www.eastgenomics.nhs.uk
Main duties of the job
Act as the accountable lead for the Genomics Laboratory reception area including managing the staff, equipment and processes within it.
Manages and coordinates the day-to-day sample management and associated laboratory activities associated with specimen reception.
Managing staff resources to ensure that samples are booked in promptly on receipt
Leads on service improvement and staff development necessary to address the changing needs of the specimen reception.
Maintain the specimen reception area as a functional interface between departments, service users and the laboratory.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 13th August 2026
Interviews are due to be held on 1st September 2026
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Biological Science Degree (BSc) or equivalent
- Data processing /IT qualification or equivalent experience
- Professional registration with either the AHCS or HCPC, or nearing completion.
- Postgraduate qualification in management, quality or genomics
Experience
- Highly specialist experience of diagnostic laboratory sample workflows, sample preparation techniques and sample quality assurance.
- Experience of using laboratory information management systems.
- Experience of developing, supervising and managing a team.
- Practical experience of Quality Management Systems to ISO 15189:2022
- Previous relevant experience of working in an NHS laboratory
- Performing Risk Assessments
Knowledge
- Genetic and genomic testing nomenclature and terminology
- Knowledge of biological sample types.
- Sample processing & tracking
- The importance of patient confidentiality
- Health and safety in a laboratory
- Audit process
- Incident investigation
Skills
- High level of accuracy and attention to detail
- Self-motivated and able to motivate others.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Ability to effectively train others.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Demonstrable mentoring skills
- Demonstrable interpersonal skills - can work as part of a team or independently
- Able to prioritise own workload and that of others to meet needs of the service
- Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods of time
- Manual dexterity
- Ability to challenge inappropriate behaviour in a safe and kind way.
Additional Requirements
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
Employer details
Employer name
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Addenbrookes Hospital-Division B
Genomics Laboratory, Level 6 Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk