Job overview
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is an internationally recognised centre of excellence, well known for pioneering cancer diagnostics and treatment through innovation, research, and education. Our dedicated scientific and clinical teams play a vital role in delivering high quality services that contribute directly to patient care and to the Trust’s research strategy.
We are delighted to invite applications for a highly motivated and experienced Senior Biomedical Scientist in Haematology, based at our Sutton site. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual seeking to develop leadership, quality, and technical expertise within a supportive and forward thinking environment.
As a Senior BMS, you will supervise the day to day operation of the Haematology laboratory, ensuring a timely, accurate, and high quality analytical service. You will oversee analyser performance, support complex result validation, lead staff training and competency assessment, and contribute to the ongoing development of our quality management system in alignment with ISO15189 standards and MHRA requirements.
While the primary focus of this role is Haematology, you will also be expected to provide support to the Blood Transfusion laboratory as required to meet service needs.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for supervising staff during the day to day operation of the department and performing analytical work. The post holder will lead the development of the quality system ensuring the laboratory complies with ISO15189 accreditation standard and MHRA requirements.
The key working relationships will be with staff in Haematology, but the post holder will be expected to liaise with staff throughout Pathology and the Trust. There will be frequent occasions when the postholder takes sole responsibility for work, for example when not Lead is not present.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• Working closely with the Haematology and BT seniors, coordinating rotations and training depending individual development, service requirements and user needs.
• Sample reception: receipt and checking of samples, liaising with ward staff where there are doubts or errors, assigning High Risk samples to an appropriate containment area and dealing with leaking / damaged samples, and centrifugation of specimens when necessary
• FBC Analyser preparation: daily startup of analyser, check background counts within limits, run and verify controls,, liaise with technical lead or supplier for remedial action if necessary. Monitor analyser continuously throughout the day, running control samples as necessary.
Technical & Analytical
• Oversee daily operations across Haematology, including FBC, coagulation, blood film morphology, and manual testing.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting and maintenance on analysers and laboratory IT systems.
• Validate complex results and provide expert advice to BMS staff.
Leadership & Supervision
• Supervise staff rotas, workflow, and daily huddles.
• Deputise for the Haematology Lead when required.
• Support staff development through training, competency assessment, and appraisal.
Quality Management
• Lead on IQC/EQA review and corrective actions.
• Review, update, and manage SOPs and documentation.
• Contribute to audits, investigations, and non conformity management.
Service Improvement
• Contribute to new equipment validation, service development, and implementation of lean and efficient working practices.
Laboratory Environment & Equipment
Our laboratories operate routine services from 08:00 to midnight, Monday to Friday, and are equipped with:
• Sysmex XN3100
• CS2500
• Epic Beaker DHR
• BioRad IH 500 (Blood Transfusion)
• Haemonetics Safetrace LIMS
The department maintains full UKAS Accreditation.
We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate:
Essential qualifications & experience
• HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist
• MSc or equivalent advanced specialist qualification
• Extensive experience in a Haematology laboratory
• Proven understanding of IQC, EQA, quality systems, and ISO15189
• Demonstrable supervisory, organisational, and communication skills
Desirable
• Experience with UKAS inspections
• Ability to introduce new methodologies or equipment
If you are an enthusiastic, committed biomedical scientist eager to contribute to high quality patient care and continuous improvement, we would love to hear from you.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Desirable criteria
1. Evidence of post registration study
2. Evidence of training related to specific area or instrument(s)
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
3. HCPC Registration
4. Evidence of ongoing professional development
5. MSc or higher specialist diploma level experience
Experience
Essential criteria
6. Experience of working in all areas of relevant diagnostic laboratory
7. Able to work to deadlines
8. Able to write / review SOPs and documents
9. Full understanding of EQA & IQC and their implications
10. Full understanding of laboratory H&S procedures
11. General understanding of all aspects of quality management
12. Knowledge and understanding of ISO15189 standard
13. Able to perform staff training and maintain compliance
14. Ability to write, perform and analyse audits
15. Ability to manage laboratory section and associated staff
Desirable criteria
16. Ability to introduce new systems/equipment
17. Experience and understanding of UKAS requirements, inspection processes and clearance of findings
Skills Abilities/knowledge
Essential criteria
18. Evidence of effective interpersonal skills
19. Evidence of working well in a team
20. Flexible approach to work, can deal with unexpected situations
21. Ability to demonstrate self-motivation
22. Ability to make decisions, organise and prioritise
23. Knowledge and understanding of quality issues
24. Computer Literacy (eg: Microsoft Word, Teams, Excel and Outlook)
25. Able to work unsupervised and to supervise others
26. Good judgement, analytical, perceptive, eye for detail
27. Understanding of relationship between laboratory investigations and clinical practice
Desirable criteria
28. Actively contributes to laboratory meetings
29. Ability to review anomalous / unexpected findings and take further appropriate action
30. Motivates and effectively manages staff / team
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
31. Flexibility to meet the needs of the service
The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.
Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Please ensure your information is accurate to avoid errors with processing your application
Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff
At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.
The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.
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