Genomics Specimen Reception Lead Cambridge

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.

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.
• Manage and coordinate the day-to-day sample management and associated laboratory activities associated with specimen reception.
• Manage staff resources to ensure that samples are booked in promptly on receipt.
• Lead 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:

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 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.

Details:

• Date posted: 30 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year p.a. pro rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: 180-B-264191
• Job locations: Addenbrookes Hospital-Division B, Genomics Laboratory, Level 6 Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities:

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Benefits to you:

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 café, 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.

Person Specification:

Qualifications:

• Essential: Biological Science Degree (BSc) or equivalent; Data processing /IT qualification or equivalent experience; Professional registration with either the AHCS or HCPC, or nearing completion.
• Desirable: Postgraduate qualification in management, quality or genomics.

Experience:

• Essential: 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.
• Desirable: Previous relevant experience of working in an NHS laboratory; Performing Risk Assessments.

Knowledge:

• Essential: 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.
• Desirable: Audit process; Incident investigation.

Skills:

• Essential: 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.
• Desirable: Manual dexterity; Ability to challenge inappropriate behaviour in a safe and kind way.

Additional Requirements:

• Essential: The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.

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.