Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for Reproductive Science Practitioner (Band 5) to join our team at Newcastle Fertility Centre on a fixed term basis.
The Newcastle Fertility Centre is a well-established unit offering a full range of laboratory diagnostic and assisted conception techniques including IVF, ICSI, PGT-M, PNT, microTESE, gamete & embryo cryopreservation and has active egg, embryo and sperm donation programs. The clinical laboratory is a state of the art facility incorporating isolator equipment to create a unique environment for gamete/embryo manipulations.
The position is a full time role and fixed term until 21 June 2026. Applicants should have a Degree in Biological Sciences and previous laboratory experience.
- Interview Date Tuesday 06 January 2026
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
The post holder will contribute to practitioner laboratory processes and will provide administrative and technical support to Embryologists.
The successful candidate will possess excellent physical dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination and ideally be adept in working under aseptic conditions. Applicants must possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills in order to perform successfully within a multi-disciplinary team. The practical and record keeping aspects of this post demand a meticulous approach and we are looking for candidates able to demonstrate effective planning and organization and good computing knowledge.
About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:
- Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
- Freeman Hospital
- Newcastle Dental Hospital
- Cramlington Manor Walks
- Urgent treatment centres
- Newcastle Fertility Centre
- Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
- Northern Genetics Service
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Communicates effectively with diverse groups of people, including patients, sperm donors and professionals from other disciplines and other centres. This may involve communicating difficult information to patients and sperm donors.
- Performs advanced and routine procedures in the diagnostic andrology laboratory. These include:o Microscopic analysis of semen sampleso Sperm freezing including ejaculated, retrograde and surgically-retrieved sperm samples
- Performs a range of manipulations requiring a high degree of precision under aseptic conditions in the embryology laboratory. These include:o Sperm preparation for clinical use including processing of surgically retrieved spermo Oocyte retrievalo IVF inseminationo Aliquoting of media and preparation of dishes
- Develops skills and contributes to the development of others working in the andrology laboratory through planning and implementing training programmes for less experienced staff.
- Contributes to maintaining health, safety and security throughout the laboratory services.
- Contributes to improvement of services in all areas of the laboratory service.
- Contributes to maintaining and improving quality in the all aspects of the laboratory services.
- Applies judgement to evaluate the suitability of prospective sperm donors.
- Applies analytical skills to assess the requirement for storage of additional samples from oncology patients.
- Assists in monitoring and maintaining equipment in all sections of the laboratory services.
- Assists in monitoring expenditure in all areas of the laboratory services.
- Assists in monitoring ordering and checking supplies of goods and services.
- Assists with marketing and in the sale of donor sperm to other centres.
- Organises the transport of sperm to and from other centres.
- Records and communicates results to appropriate clinical, administrative and scientific staff including GPs throughout the region.
- Inputs data on patient information generated in the assisted conception laboratories.
- Helps to collect, collate and report patient, donor and performance data from the andrology service.
- Assists in the organisation of laboratory services.
- Assists with planning, allocating and supervision of work in all sections of the laboratory services.
- Performs a range of microscopic manipulations requiring a high degree of precision under aseptic conditions in the embryology laboratory.
- Assists with research and development activities.
- Assists in ensuring that the diagnostic service, and the donor and cryopreservation programmes are conducted in accordance with good clinical and research governance, and in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
- Participates in a weekend rota and provides out of hours services as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Communicates effectively with diverse groups of people, including patients, sperm donors and professionals from other disciplines and other centres. This may involve communicating difficult information to patients and sperm donors.
- Performs advanced and routine procedures in the diagnostic andrology laboratory. These include:o Microscopic analysis of semen sampleso Sperm freezing including ejaculated, retrograde and surgically-retrieved sperm samples
- Performs a range of manipulations requiring a high degree of precision under aseptic conditions in the embryology laboratory. These include:o Sperm preparation for clinical use including processing of surgically retrieved spermo Oocyte retrievalo IVF inseminationo Aliquoting of media and preparation of dishes
- Develops skills and contributes to the development of others working in the andrology laboratory through planning and implementing training programmes for less experienced staff.
- Contributes to maintaining health, safety and security throughout the laboratory services.
- Contributes to improvement of services in all areas of the laboratory service.
- Contributes to maintaining and improving quality in the all aspects of the laboratory services.
- Applies judgement to evaluate the suitability of prospective sperm donors.
- Applies analytical skills to assess the requirement for storage of additional samples from oncology patients.
- Assists in monitoring and maintaining equipment in all sections of the laboratory services.
- Assists in monitoring expenditure in all areas of the laboratory services.
- Assists in monitoring ordering and checking supplies of goods and services.
- Assists with marketing and in the sale of donor sperm to other centres.
- Organises the transport of sperm to and from other centres.
- Records and communicates results to appropriate clinical, administrative and scientific staff including GPs throughout the region.
- Inputs data on patient information generated in the assisted conception laboratories.
- Helps to collect, collate and report patient, donor and performance data from the andrology service.
- Assists in the organisation of laboratory services.
- Assists with planning, allocating and supervision of work in all sections of the laboratory services.
- Performs a range of microscopic manipulations requiring a high degree of precision under aseptic conditions in the embryology laboratory.
- Assists with research and development activities.
- Assists in ensuring that the diagnostic service, and the donor and cryopreservation programmes are conducted in accordance with good clinical and research governance, and in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
- Participates in a weekend rota and provides out of hours services as required.
Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Degree in relevant subject
- Knowledge of current regulations and legislation, including the HFEA Code of Practice
Desirable
- Computer literacy qualification
- Knowledge of relevant legislation
- Expertise and theoretical knowledge in a range reproductive technologies
- Further relevant specialist training
SKILLS
Essential
- Good oral and written communication skills
- Familiarity with spreadsheets and databases
- Good physical dexterity skills
- Strong analytical and judgement skills
- Good planning and organisational skills
- Good administrative and record-keeping skills
Desirable
- Aseptic Technique
- Microscopy
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Some laboratory experience
Desirable
- Relevant laboratory experience
- Experience of working in a regulated environment
- Experience with the use of databases
- Experience of supervision and training of others
- Experience of working in a regulated laboratory environment
- Experience of equipment monitoring and testing
Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Degree in relevant subject
- Knowledge of current regulations and legislation, including the HFEA Code of Practice
Desirable
- Computer literacy qualification
- Knowledge of relevant legislation
- Expertise and theoretical knowledge in a range reproductive technologies
- Further relevant specialist training
SKILLS
Essential
- Good oral and written communication skills
- Familiarity with spreadsheets and databases
- Good physical dexterity skills
- Strong analytical and judgement skills
- Good planning and organisational skills
- Good administrative and record-keeping skills
Desirable
- Aseptic Technique
- Microscopy
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Some laboratory experience
Desirable
- Relevant laboratory experience
- Experience of working in a regulated environment
- Experience with the use of databases
- Experience of supervision and training of others
- Experience of working in a regulated laboratory environment
- Experience of equipment monitoring and testing
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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