Healthcare Scientist Assistant

NHS; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A national public health agency is seeking a Laboratory Coordinator for a fixed-term role in Cardiff. The ideal candidate will have microbiology lab experience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work in a team. Responsibilities include quality control, specimen processing, and supporting diagnostic services. This position offers a varied work environment and requires a strong attention to detail. This is a full-time role with a salary range of £27,898 to £30,615 per annum.

Benefits

Supportive work environment

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Essential: Recent experience in a Microbiology laboratory.
• Desirable: Educational achievements in laboratory services.
• Essential: Reliable, conscientious and punctual.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and undertake routine laboratory tasks.
• Quality control and specimen processing.
• Support diagnostic services of the department.

Skills

Microbiology laboratory experience

Good communication skills

Attention to detail

Ability to work in a team

Education

IBMS Certificate of Achievement

Vocational qualifications level 4 or 5

Foundation degree in Biological Sciences

Job description

Job Summary

This is a Fixed term post for 12 months due to secondment cover.

Public Health Wales is part of the wider NHS Wales - it is the main provider of Microbiology Services to Health Boards and other health care providers across Wales.

Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology is a specialised Service area, provided from a network of only 3 laboratories across Wales (Bangor /Cardiff and Carmarthen). They undertake diagnostic testing and provide specialist advice to local authorities and food producers to ensure the quality and safety of food, water and the environment throughout Wales. Our laboratories are accredited to internationally recognised standards ISO 17025-2017 and are recognised as official food control laboratories, in supporting enforcement of food law.

Main Duties

We are offering an opportunity to join the Cardiff, Food Water and Environmental laboratory team based at the University Hospital Llandough. The post will suit people with microbiology laboratory experience, ideally with experience of food and water laboratory techniques. Good general practical and communication skills, the ability to work with attention to detail, under own initiative and as part of a small team would be advantageous.

We can offer a varied and rewarding work environment, a typical day will involve a mix of tasks including meeting people receipting samples, data input, processing and performing enumeration and confirmatory tests on Food, Water and Environmental samples, operating laboratory equipment and maintenance of quality within the laboratory environment.

About Us

We are Public Health Wales - the national public health agency in Wales. Our purpose is 'Working together for a healthier Wales'. We exist to help everyone in Wales live longer, healthier, happier lives. Together with our partners, we work to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations.

Our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the leading source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. In a world facing complex health challenges, our work has never been so important.

We are guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace that values equality and diversity. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and are supportive of flexible working arrangements, including part time roles and job sharing.

To find out more about working for us and the benefits we offer please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/careers/.

For guidance on the application process, please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/working-for-us/applicant-information-and-guidance/.

Job Details

Date posted: 11 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 4

Salary: £27,898 to £30,615 a year per annum

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 028-ACS041-1225

Job location: University Hospital Llandough, Penlan Road, Cardiff, CF64 2XX

Job Responsibilities

The post holder will coordinate and undertake a wide range of routine laboratory tasks including quality control, specimen processing, (maintenance and calibration of equipment, operation of automated equipment, use of commercial kits), waste disposal, and clerical duties, in support of the diagnostic services of the department in conjunction with Biomedical Scientific staff.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 1 or 2, Vocational qualifications level 4 or 5, foundation degree (e.g. Biological Sciences) or other diploma or equivalent level of knowledge, or equivalent experience.
• Recent experience of working within a Microbiology laboratory or University Laboratory.

Desirable

• Recent educational achievements relating to laboratory services.
• Experience of quality control procedures.

Attitude

Essential

• Reliable, conscientious and punctual.

Desirable

• Flexibility with regard to working hours.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer Details

Employer name: Public Health Wales

Address: University Hospital Llandough, Penlan Road, Cardiff, CF64 2XX

Employer's website: https://phw.nhs.wales/.