Job vacancy: Specialist Scientific Lead, Tissue Dissection & Sampling, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry

Job summary

Main area: Cellular Pathology
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 218-HSS-B8A-8144094

Employer: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
Town: Coventry
Salary: £57,528 - £64,750 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 20/07/2026 23:59
Interview date: 31/07/2026

Specialist Scientific Lead, Tissue Dissection & Sampling

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is a network post including our two histology sites of SWFT and UHCW; you will be expected to work across both sites but the main base is UHCW.

In conjunction with the Consultant Histopathologist the post holder will participate in the sampling of fresh tissue for research and Biobank (Tissue Bank). The post holder will be required to train junior medical staff in the sampling of fresh tissue for research and Biobank (Tissue Bank).

In liaison with the Advanced BMS in specimen reception and dissection, the post holder will ensure a timely workflow and assist in maintaining high scientific and technical standards.

For further details please see the attached job description.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• HCPC registration as a Biomedical scientist or clinical scientist, through possession of an acceptable degree • Relevant MSc or equivalent qualification • Hold the IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice in Histological Dissection or equivalent qualification via the Scientist Training Programme (STP) with single specialism in Histopathology and associated experience of specimen dissection in categories A-E • Hold or be working towards the IBMS Advanced Specialist Diploma in dissection • Evidence of ongoing CPD

Desirable criteria

• Management qualification • Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences • Leadership/management qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive experience working in a clinical laboratory as a state registered BMS • Extensive experience in dissection • Extensive experience in an adult histopathology laboratory • Training and supervision of staff including junior medical staff • Experience in managing Health and Safety • Experience of participation and preparation for an ISO/UKAS inspection • Experience of leading a team

Desirable criteria

• Experience of training other staff • Problem solving

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• A working knowledge of RCPath cancer data sets and dissection guidelines including block selection for diagnosis and research • Extensive histopathology laboratory knowledge including decalcification, fixation, tissue processing and embedding techniques • Anatomical, clinical presentation and differential diagnose • Experience in Audit and Error Logging • Awareness of all local and national legislation/policies relating to relevant aspects of Laboratory Medicine • Knowledge of the ISO15189 standard including uncertainty of measurement, validation and verification etc.

Desirable criteria

• A working knowledge of the RCPath retention and storage of pathological records and specimen guidelines

Skills

Essential criteria

• Be able to speak, receive and issue instructions without risk of misunderstanding. • Good organisational skills • Be able to prepare and comment on complex documents such as a standard operating procedure (in English). • High level of accuracy and attention to detail. • Ability to train other staff • Ability to communicate technical information and results to other health professionals and be able to use telephone and email • Supervisory skills • Planning and organisational skills • Excellent presentation skills • Good communication skills (verbal and written) • Evidence of working as part of a team • Good time management and prioritisation skills • Good IT skills including commonly used software packages in the laboratory and dissection areas • Able to communicate highly complex and sensitive information to individuals or groups

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s values. (As detailed in UHCW’s Values in Action document below) • Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience

To ensure that we provide world-class patient care, UHCW recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values and Behaviours in their everyday life. Therefore, if you are invited to interview, you will be undertaking a Values Based Interview/Assessment, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours which can be accessed on the right side of this page under the job description.
The Supporting Information Section in your application should therefore reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated Behaviours. You will be expected to provide us with examples from work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviour.

The Trust is committed to Equal Opportunities within the workplace. All vacancies will be considered for Job Share unless otherwise stated. All applicants who have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be interviewed. Where a post has an overwhelming response, this Trust may use random selection in order to reduce numbers to interview, any disabled applicants will automatically be guaranteed an interview and will be exempt from this process.

In submitting an application form, you authorise University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust to confirm from your previous or current NHS employer and other prior employers; previous NHS service details and personal data held about you, including Occupational Health data (inoculations and screening tests). This data will be transferred using NHS Electronic Staff Record and third-party systems via an automated process and only used for the purposes of obtaining and maintaining accurate employment records, should you be appointed to the post.

UHCW NHS Trust, by virtue of its Green Plan, is committed to ensuring that the way we provide services minimises the impact on the environment and the future health of the public e.g. zero waste to landfill, reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our recycling and reuse percentages.

If you are successful at interview you will receive a conditional offer of employment and we’ll ask you for information so that we can carry out pre-employment checks. You must successfully complete all pre-employment checks to progress to a final unconditional offer.

We must confirm the identity of our staff and their right to work in the United Kingdom. We will ask you to submit proof of your identity and right to work documents via a secure digital platform approved by the Home Office, named TrustID. Alternatively, you may be asked to attend our office with original documents.

Depending on you level of exposure with patients you may be required to undertake a Standard or Enhanced DBS. The cost of this check will be charged to you and will be deducted from your salary over the first 3 months of employment at the current rate.

All correspondence will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk/SPAM folders