About the Organisation:
As Scotland’s smallest health board, NHS Orkney is committed to delivering excellent care to our 22,000 residents. Whether you’re new to the NHS or bringing experience from elsewhere, your skills will make a real difference.
Our modern healthcare facility, The Balfour, brings together inpatient care, emergency services, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices and the Scottish Ambulance Service. We’re also investing in services across our outer isles, ensuring high-quality care reaches every corner of Orkney.
We are guided by our core values that shape everything we do – Open and honest, Respect and Kindness – from how we care for our patients to how we support each other as colleagues.
About Orkney:
With over 70 islands – 20 of them inhabited – Orkney offers a unique blend of natural beauty, close-knit community and an opportunity for adventure. From dramatic coastlines and rare wildlife to rich cultural traditions and active lifestyles, it’s a place where compassion thrives and every day brings something new. Regularly named one of the UK’s best places to live, Orkney offers a lifestyle that’s both fulfilling and inspiring.
The Position:
We are seeking a motivated individual to join our Clinical Laboratory Services team as a Medical Laboratory Assistant within our reception team. The post holder will assist Biomedical scientists in delivering laboratory services for NHS Orkney. This role involves providing a basic clinical technical service with varied tasks, including the reception and preparation of clinical specimens for analysis, responding to reception and telephone queries from hospital and community departments as well as the public. Additional responsibilities include performing daily maintenance and quality checks on laboratory equipment. This role is essential in ensuring the smooth operation of laboratory processes and maintaining high standards of patient care and safety.
The Candidate:
The successful candidate will be educated to at Hold either SVQ 3 in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities, Highers in Science, or have equivalent experience and National Grade 4/5 in Maths and English.
They will demonstrate experience of working effectively as part of a team, possess basic to intermediate IT skills with a sound knowledge of Microsoft Office applications. They should have the ability to prioritise tasks, work to deadlines, and maintain clear communication in a busy environment both in person or by telephone. Experience of working with chemicals and biological materials is desirable.
Location, Working Pattern and Contract Duration:
This post will be based at The Balfour
The successful candidate will work: Full Time 37 hours per week
This post is Permanent
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.
Benefits and Salary:
Did you know NHS Scotland salaries are higher than those in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
The salary for this post is Band 3 and if residing on Orkney, you’ll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,654 pro rata per annum, adding extra value to your rewarding career with us.
NHS Orkney also offers an attractive pension scheme, wide range of work life balance policies, employee assistance programme and various discounts to both local and national retailers.
Further Information:
If you share our vision and are ready to be part of Team Orkney, we’d love to hear from you. Your rewarding career starts here!
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If there are additional requirements you would like to request, please contact ork.recruitment@nhs.scot
For further guidance on the recruitment process and tips for creating a strong application, please refer to our Candidate Application Pack.
To find out more about this opportunity please contact Lorna Wilson, Laboratory Services Manager on lorna.wilson8@nhs.scot
This post is subject to a Protecting Vulnerable Groups Disclosure Scotland check.
Interview Date: Friday 16th of January 2026