Expert Biomedical Scientist - Team Leader Histology

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Foundation Trust in the UK seeks an Expert Biomedical Scientist to oversee laboratory operations in Histology. This role involves implementing continuous flow processes, managing staff, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. Candidates must possess HCPC registration and significant experience in histological practices and team leadership. Join a dynamic team dedicated to providing exceptional care and advancing the field of pathology over a fixed term of 12 months.

Benefits

Development opportunities

Employee assistance programme

Discounted gym membership

Onsite fitness classes

Qualifications

• Proven experience in laboratory leadership required.
• Significant experience of histological theory and practice.
• Experience of line management and team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of continuous flow in the laboratory.
• Supervise, train and develop laboratory staff.
• Ensure adherence to Health & Safety and UKAS standards.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Lean methodologies

Health & Safety compliance

Education

HCPC registration

MSc Biomedical Science

Fellow of IBMS

Job description

Go back University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Expert Biomedical Scientist - Team Leader Histology

The closing date is 22 January 2026

An opportunity has arisen in Histopathology, as part of Derbyshire Pathology, for an Expert Biomedical Scientists (BMS), with proven experience in laboratory leadership. This is a 12 month fixed term post.

Derbyshire Pathology was formed on the 1st July 2018, of the laboratories at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Royal Derby Hospital, with Queens Hospital Burton joining in October 2021. The Histopathology Department is based on the site of Royal Derby Hospital, and operates an extended day and week shift system (please contact for details). There is an appetite for continuing laboratory transformation, and we are implementing the full digitisation of the Histopathology Service.

Derby has been at the forefront of BMS dissection since 2005, and as such, has a long established and successful in house training and competency programme, pioneering extended biomedical scientist dissection and BMS reporting.

The main focus over the 12 months in post will be to lead on the implementation of continuous flow within the current laboratory setting. Experience of line management and team leadership are required for this role, as you will be expected to actively manage and develop staff, and to liaise with the Histology Senior team, to deliver a high quality, efficient, and unified Histology laboratory service.

Main duties of the job

Leading within Histology, therefore familiarisation, understanding and experience of UKAS standards is essential; Health & Safety requirements; NEQAS, audit and training/education experience is also required. Familiarisation of LIMS implementation is desirable.

Experience of utilising lean methodologies to drive change and improve service is desirable. This is essential to the role as one of the main duties will be to lead on the implementation of lean processes e.g. continuous flow. Candidates should be proactive, self-motivated, and enthusiastic. Excellent communication, organisation and leadership skills are essential.

• To support the Quality Assurance / Training programmes alongside the Histology Manager and Cellular Pathology Service Manager
• Supervise, train and develop laboratory staff
• Participate in other sections of the Histology service when required
• Work with team leaders to develop staff to meet team objectives
• Delegated responsibility for the day to day management of the laboratory functions in an effective and efficient way ensuring the area works within the Standard Operating Procedures laid down by senior management

Closing date of applications: 22 January 2026

Interview date: 05 February 2026

Internal applications - This position is offered as a secondment. Accordingly, you are required to consult with your manager and obtain approval prior to submitting your application.

About us

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

In return we will offer:

• Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
• On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
• Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key Facts:

• We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
• We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week.
• An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country.
• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
• We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
• UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship. Impacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS Employers

Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).

Person Specification

Education, Training & Qualifications

• HCPC registration
• MSc Biomedical Science
• Fellow of IBMS

Experience & Knowledge

• Significant experience of histological theory and practice.
• Practical application examples of lean processing in the workplace

Skills & Ability

• Ability to communicate with internal teams and stakeholders to drive improvement implementations forward
• Skilled in training both healthcare scientists and medical staff in processes.

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.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust