Healthcare Scientist Assistant

Public Health Wales; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A public health agency in Wales is seeking a laboratory technician to join their team in Cardiff. The role involves performing microbiology tasks, including sample processing and quality control, to ensure food and water safety. Ideal candidates will have laboratory experience, strong practical skills, and the ability to work attentively within a collaborative environment. This position offers opportunities for professional development and flexibility in working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Experience in microbiology laboratory tasks.
• Ability to operate laboratory equipment.
• Skills in data input and quality control.

Responsibilities

• Receive samples and perform tests on Food, Water and Environmental samples.
• Maintain quality within the laboratory environment.
• Support diagnostic services in conjunction with Biomedical Scientific staff.

Skills

Microbiology laboratory experience

Food and water laboratory techniques

General practical skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Job description

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.

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.

Typical day will involve a mix of tasks including:

• receiving samples
• data input
• processing and performing enumeration and confirmatory tests on Food, Water and Environmental samples
• operating laboratory equipment and maintaining quality within the laboratory environment

Working for our organisation

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.

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.

Visa and Sponsorship

• If you require sponsorship under the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Visa routes, please ensure you self‑assess your eligibility for sponsorship for this role before applying.
• Check the Skilled Worker visa guidance or Health and Care visa guidance for details on job eligibility, salary, English language and sponsorship requirements.

If you are successful and shortlisted for interview you will be contacted by email using the address with which you registered. Please ensure you check your email account regularly.

We are committed to fair, transparent recruitment and believe in equality of opportunity in our workplace and will not tolerate discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, religion or belief, race or nationality, marriage or civil partnership status, sex, sexual orientation, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity or political beliefs – or on any other grounds. We welcome applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements.

The salary scale shown is for a full‑time member of staff, with the amount being adjusted pro rata for those working less than 37.5 hours per week. In general, anyone joining our Trust who has not previously worked in the NHS will, by default, start on the first point of the advertised pay band. Pay progression will then be determined by annual Performance and Development Reviews in accordance with the NHS Wales Pay Progression Policy. An application for Incremental Credit may be considered, but can only be awarded based on evidence, reckonable service and/or equivalent, relevant experience.

Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh; any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English. To support our all Wales service, we particularly welcome applications from Welsh speakers. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome.

Public Health Wales

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.