Job overview

This is a unique, pivotal, and complex Band 3 role that spans both laboratory governance and theatre administration within the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC).

The primary focus is to ensure legal compliance for all human tissue activities under the Human Tissue Act 2004 and the HTA Licence held by BMEC. This involves meticulous tissue coordination, traceability, and archiving, as well as acting as the co-ordinator for the Donor Eye Retrieval Service.

In addition, the post holder will provide comprehensive and efficient administrative support to the Theatre Service and Managers, assisting with the administrative workload to ensure smooth clinical operations.

The role requires exceptional organisational skills, attention to detail, and a proactive approach, as you will be operating under the guidance of the HTA Designated Individual and Theatre Managers.

Main duties of the job

• Ensure strict legal compliance with the Human Tissue Act 2004 and the BMEC HTA Licence.

• Manage the full life-cycle of human tissue: coding, receipt, storage, tracking, and safe disposal.

• Maintain accurate paperwork and electronic records for complete traceability of tissues used for transplantation and research.

• Monitor specialist storage equipment (e.g., −80∘C freezers) and implement immediate remedial actions as needed.

• Manage and audit tissue stock levels and order transplant tissues.

• Provide comprehensive, efficient, and confidential administrative support to the Theatre Service and Theatre Managers.

• Assist directly with the administrative workload, using initiative and judgment to manage matters independently.

• Handle general telephone enquiries from staff and medical colleagues.

Working for our organisation

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB) serves Birmingham and the Black Country – one of the country’s most culturally diverse areas. It’s a friendly and welcoming place – a place where you can belong, and a place where you can grow.

We care for our patients, we care about our population, and we care about our people.

Our values – Ambition, Respect and Compassion – are at the heart of who we are. They guide us every step of the way; how we work with each other, and how we look after our patients and their families; how we respect and value the rich diversity of our team and our community.

Our Trust has always aspired to be more than a hospital, more than a healthcare provider. Our purpose is to “Improve the Life Chances and Health Outcomes of our Population.” It is what inspires, drives, and unites us every day. It’s what makes us unique.

We want working at SWB to feel like more than just a job. We want our Trust to be a place where you can feel you belong. A place where you feel happy, safe, and rewarded. A place where you can develop your career in whatever way you choose. When we say we’re ‘with you all the way’ we want you to know that we mean it. Visit the SWB website to find out more about our ambitions and people plans.

Multi-site working 

The four partner Trusts of the Black Country Provider Collaborative (Dudley Group NHS FT, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust, and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust) are actively working in partnership to deliver a collective vision focused on providing "better, faster and safer care to the population of the Black Country and beyond". 

To support this vision, we are (where appropriate and safe to do so) actively looking at new models of care which:

Against this context, although this post is hosted by Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust, there may be an expectation to work flexibly across the four partner Trusts to better meet patient and service needs.