Medical Laboratory Assistant (Armed Forces Community)

NHS Scotland; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A national health service organization is seeking a Medical Laboratory Assistant in Edinburgh. This role involves manufacturing blood components and requires excellent interpersonal skills and attention to detail. Applicants must be from the Armed Forces Community. The position is full-time, Monday to Friday, with numerous benefits including occupational health services and a pension scheme.

Benefits

Pension scheme

Occupational health services

Learning resource centres

Discounted leisure and shopping benefits

Qualifications

• Must be a member of the Armed Forces Community.
• Ability to follow controlled documented procedures.
• Experience handling biohazard materials is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Undertake tasks to manufacture blood components for transfusion.
• Process blood donations and maintain records.
• Operate various IT software applications.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Verbal and written communication skills

Job description

**This post is open to Armed Forces Community Applicants only and is a Fixed Term position until 31st March 2026**

About the Organisation:
National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating right at the heart of NHSScotland providing invaluable support and advice at a strategic and operational level. NSS supports customers to deliver their services more efficiently and effectively and we offer shared services on a national scale using best-in-class systems and standards. Our priority is always the same – to improve the health and well-being of the people of Scotland. We do this by working in partnership with colleagues across Health and Social Care to deliver fit for purpose solutions and systems, delivering high quality services that help our stakeholders to free up resources so they can be re-invested into essential services.

The Post:
A vacancy has arisen for a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) position within the Manufacturing Department. Applications are invited from Armed Forces Community individuals, who are organised and enthusiastic with excellent interpersonal skills, scrupulous attention to detail and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

The departmental duties will include undertaking tasks, following controlled documented procedures, to manufacture blood components for transfusion from whole blood and apheresis collections and the subsequent distribution of blood components to hospital blood banks throughout Scotland. This will involve working as part of the team processing blood donations, receiving and making telephone calls, manual lifting and moving of stock, record completion and the operation of various IT software applications.

The Candidate:
The successful candidate must be a member of the Armed Forces Community (i.e. a veteran, service leaver or a member of their family including spouse, partner or dependent)

This is an exciting opportunity to join the SNBTS Manufacturing team. The successful candidate will be working with biohazard material (e.g. untested blood) within a Processing environment whilst adhering to the principles of Good Manufacturing Practice.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a Disclosure Scotland check. Any candidate who have lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.

Location and Working Pattern:
The Jack Copland Centre, 52 Research Avenue North, Heriot-Watt Research Park, Edinburgh, EH14 4BE

Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NSS.

Benefits:
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits - HR Benefits Brochure.

Inclusion:
NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national board and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. NSS has made a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of NSS to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on [e-mail]

Further information:
To register your interest with Armed Forces Talent Programme (AFTP) please click here

For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Mark Gray (Head of Components) at [e-mail]

Closing date for completed applications is 11.59pm on 17th August 2025

Please note: This post may close earlier than the above date, once sufficient applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

Further information on NSS is available from: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/

Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).

NHS National Services Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.