Job Summary

For an inspirational supervisor or manager, this is a unique opportunity. You’ll lead one of our national tissue retrieval teams. With your help, we’ll safely and efficiently retrieve and store tissues, comply with regulations, and make the most of these valuable gifts. 

Your focus will be on a deceased tissue group, such as Ocular, Cardiac or Musculoskeletal. You’ll take charge of a team, develop their skills, observe their performance and help them meet targets and improve standards. Naturally, you’ll also be part of rotas – and play an active role in the service. 

Ultimately, the real reward is the work. Anyone in the country who needs a blood transfusion or a donation of tissue or an organ, relies on us. From recruiting both living and deceased donors to improving our expertise and processes, we’re on an exciting mission to save and improve even more lives. And that’s why we need your help.

Main duties of the job:

In this role you will be required to manage all aspects of the tissue retrieval service within a designated area on behalf of the National Retrieval Manager, planning the departmental work to maintain an efficient and robust retrieval service. Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing the running of the department and retrieval team in all aspects of tissue retrieval to the required quality standards, compliance and regulations.
• Line managing a team including training and development.
• Acting as the retrieval co-ordinator nationally and the communication link between the National Referral Centre and the Retrieval teams, escalating complex cases to the oncall Tissue and Eye Services Duty Manager as required.
• Undertaking the retrieval of tissues and eyes from consented deceased donors acting as team leader.

You will be required to travel and spend time away from base, which will involve working irregular hours and overnight stays when required, with prior notice. You will also be required to participate in a 7 day working rota requiring evening, weekend and public holiday working.

About You

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience of handling tissue and deceased donors
• Experience of budget management
• Experience of working to performance objectives to meet operational demands
• Experience of diverse problem solving techniques, working with databases, and quality and audit systems
• Experience of practical work-based training and development and evidence of commitment to staff training
• Management or supervisory experience within blood service / tissue banking or similar environment
• Experience of Health and Safety in the workplace and a working knowledge of HR Policies and procedures
• Experience of implementing and driving change, and experience of implementing and monitoring quality procedures

Qualifications and Training

• BSc in a biological discipline or equivalent qualification, PLUS equivalent level of highly developed post registration /qualification specialist knowledge gained through formal training and extensive work experience in tissue, organ or blood banking.
• Management / leadership training.
• Requirement for Tissue Bank Technologist (AHCS) or equivalent professional registration required (which must be achieved and maintained in the role).
• Possess a valid full UK manual driving licence with no more than 6 penalty points.
• Demonstrate commitment to own Continued Professional Development (CPD).

About Us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.

Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.

You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community. 

What we offer:

• NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities where the role will allow.
• 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions ‎  
• We’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

To apply, please visit our website.

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Wednesday 25 March 2026 (subject to change).

This vacancy may close sooner than the advertised deadline if we receive a high volume of applications, so we recommend applying early.

Interviews are anticipated to take place week commencing 12th April 2026.

For informal enquiries please contact Claire Price – National Tissue Retrieval Manager, via email at: [email protected]