Molecular Pathology Service
Department of Laboratory Medicine
Royal infirmary of Edinburgh and Western General Hospital
NHS Lothian
Assistant Practitioner (Band 4)
Permanent (based at RIE)
Band 4: Full time post, 36 hours per week; part-time applicants will be considered
Applications are invited for this opportunity to join the NHS Lothian Molecular Pathology Service, where the post holder will be predominantly based at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (with a proposed move to the Lauriston site in 2028).
We are seeking an Assistant Practitioner with relevant experience working within a laboratory to join the team providing comprehensive support to the clinical laboratory service. Previous experience of working in an NHS laboratory and performing wet laboratory benchwork is desirable.
The successful candidate will receive training in a wide range of laboratory techniques, including PCR, Sanger sequencing, RT-PCR, and NGS.
Candidates should be adaptable, organised, have good interpersonal skills, and a professional attitude.
Candidates should also have previous experience of working with complex and highly sensitive equipment. Excellent attention to detail and manual dexterity is required for this post.
Education is required to SCQF level 8 e.g. HND; or SVQ4; or IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 2; Personal Development Awards.
An understanding of how Molecular Pathology fits in the patient pathway is desirable.
This is a full-time post, however part-time applicants will be considered.
Informal enquiries to Sophie McHaffie, Gene Science Operations Manager at [email protected] or Richard Matthews, Specialist Biomedical Scientist at [email protected]
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.
Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.
Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.
We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.
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