Laboratory Administrative Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; Manchester; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Clear pathways for development

Culture that supports wellbeing

Job summary

The North West Genomic Laboratory Hub at St Mary's Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, seeks an administrative assistant for the laboratory admin team. You will book clinical samples, coordinate data transfers and prepare paperwork for export to third‑party laboratories.

The role involves handling confidential material, acting as the main contact for service users by telephone and email, and providing sickness and annual leave cover.

Qualifications

• Accurate keyboard skills and experience with computers.
• Experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel).
• Experience in an environment with high confidentiality.
• Previous administration experience.

Responsibilities

• Book in clinical samples for genetics laboratory services.
• Receive incoming test requests and coordinate submission per protocol.
• Maintain accuracy in data transfer and check sample/data transfers.
• Prepare documentation for exporting samples to third‑party labs.
• Create letters from templates and produce confidential reports.

Skills

Keyboard skills

MS Office

Confidentiality

Administrative experience

Communication

Organization

Time management

Multi-tasking

Initiative

Problem solving

Education

NVQ/ diploma Level 3 in administration

Tools

ESR/OLM system

Oracle financial systems

Q Pulse

Job description

This administrative role sits in the laboratory admin team of the North West Genomic Laboratory Hub at St Mary's Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. The work centres on booking in clinical samples for genetics services, checking sample and data transfer, and preparing paperwork for export to third-party laboratories. It sits in the Specimen Reception and Pre-Analytical Laboratory area, handles highly confidential material and covers absences among other administrative staff. Fit depends on confidentiality-focused experience, Microsoft Office skills and working knowledge of the trust's ESR/OLM system.

What the job involves

• Book in clinical samples for genetics laboratory services
• Receive incoming test requests and co-ordinate submission according to laboratory protocol
• Maintain accuracy in data transfer and routinely check sample and data transfer by other staff
• Prepare documentation for exporting samples to third-party laboratories
• Create letters from templates and produce confidential reports and correspondence
• Act as main point of contact for service users by telephone and email
• Dispatch letters and clinical reports by post or email
• File, archive and scan clinical referrals, reports and laboratory documents, and prepare documents for off-site storage
• Undertake defined administrative tasks and other general administrative duties as required within the team
• Collaborate with department colleagues to achieve an effective and reliable service
• Provide sickness and annual leave cover for essential duties of other administrative staff

What’s required

Experience

• Accurate keyboard skills
• Experience working on computers and keyboards
• Experience using Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel
• Experience in an area where confidentiality is a high priority
• Previous administration experience

Skills & knowledge

• Communicating well with staff at all levels
• Strong organisation and prioritisation to meet deadlines
• Time and workload management in a heavy, busy environment
• Multi-tasking accurately under high pressure
• Working on own initiative and unsupervised
• Problem solving and following trust and departmental policies

Other

• Working knowledge of the trust ESR/OLM system

Nice to have

• NVQ or diploma in administration or business at Level 3, or equivalent, plus experience in administrative management
• Previous experience of working in the NHS
• Working knowledge of Oracle financial systems
• IT qualification
• Knowledge of Q Pulse and document controller work
• Ability to take minutes

What’s offered

• Clear pathways for development
• Culture that supports wellbeing