Scientific Officer

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA); London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is seeking a full-time Scientific Officer to support activities within the Compliance team. This role involves processing various scientific applications, ensuring quality, and maintaining compliance with regulations. Ideal candidates will have a degree in biological sciences, strong communication skills, and project management experience.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Pension arrangements

Flexible working

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in a bioscience related subject.
• Experience of managing and prioritising a complex workload.
• Excellent written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Process applications from HFEA licensed clinics for committee approval.
• Ensure the quality of applications and maintain detailed records.
• Manage workload effectively and produce high quality evidence-based reports.

Skills

Written communication

Analytical skills

Project management

Time management

Education

Degree in biological sciences

Job description

Job Summary

The HFEA is the UK's independent regulator overseeing safe and appropriate practice in fertility treatment and embryo research. We license and monitor clinics carrying out IVF, donor insemination, and human embryo research.

We are looking for a full time Scientific Officer to support a wide range of our activities within the Compliance team.

Main duties of the job

A key part of this role will be to support the Compliance team in processing a variety of scientific applications such as Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M), Mitochondrial donation applications & ITE import certificates. The work will be varied, and the successful applicant will be responsible for the processing and quality of these applications.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is proactive, can work effectively as part of a team, and who has good written and verbal communication skills including an ability to handle sensitive patient information. You should be able to demonstrate some experience of supporting or managing projects and of working with multiple pieces of work. You should also have the skills required to undertake scientific literature searches, be confident at reviewing scientific journal papers, and can summarise and identify key points from a wide range of evidence.

Given the varied nature of this role, good time management skills and the ability to prioritise tasks effectively is key. You will be educated to degree level in one of the biological sciences and have good IT skills.

Interviews are likely to take place on 23 July.

About Us

The HFEA is the UK's independent regulator overseeing safe and appropriate practice in fertility treatment and embryo research. We license and monitor clinics carrying out IVF, donor insemination, and human embryo research.

This post is offered as either office based (in which case you will need to attend the office at least one day per week)or home based (in which case office attendance will be specified by your line manager based on business need). Our office is in Stratford, east London, in attractive new premises on the edge of the Olympic Park, alongside several other health Arms Length Bodies. In addition to flexibility and hybrid working we offer generous annual leave and pension arrangements.

The HFEA is a member of the Community Race and Work Charter and the Disability Confident Charter. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and supportive working environment that is free from any form of discrimination. We recognise that there are real benefits of having a diverse community of staff and aim for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society. Additionally, we adopt a culture that hopes to attract and retain talented individuals that want to work with us.

In November 2024, the HFEA was awarded People Insight's Outstanding Workplace Award 2024.

Details

Date posted

20 June 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£34,500 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

G0002-25-0007

Job locations

2nd Floor

2 Redman Place

London

E20 1JQ

Job Description

Job responsibilities

• To process a variety of applications from HFEA licensed clinics for approval by the relevant HFEA committee, including:
• Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M) applications
• Preimplantation tissue typing (PTT) applications
• Mitochondrial donation applications
• Applications from licensed clinics relevant to the import and export of gametes and embryos (Special Directions and ITE import certificate updates)
• Ensure the quality of applications submitted by HFEA licensed centres
• To promote and practice a culture of continuous improvement.
• To engage with service users, providers, and other regulatory and professional bodies.
• To contribute to the delivery of strategic organisational and directorate projects.
  

Key responsibilities

• To manage the review and processing of relevant applications from clinics that impact on patients undergoing licensed fertility treatments. Promoting good practice and compliance by:
• supporting the compliance team to ensure all necessary applications are processed in accordance with approved methodologies.
• liaising with centres and stakeholders to ensure applications are processed in accordance with KPIs;
• producing high quality evidence based reports;
• responding to enquiries and correspondence from centres and stakeholders;
• To manage own workload and produce high quality output by effective prioritisation of activities and adherence to organisational KPIs.
• To secure and maintain an understanding of the relevant legislation, regulations, Directions, Code of Practice and HFEA policies and procedures and apply this knowledge in the regulatory process.
• Ensure detailed and accurate written records are kept for all activities by maintaining up to date contemporaneous records using approved HFEA methodologies.
• Contribute to the development of policies and improved practices through involvement in the delivery of organisational and directorate project programmes and cross directorate working.
  
  

Promote and maintain a positive image of the HFEA.

Job Description

Job responsibilities

• To process a variety of applications from HFEA licensed clinics for approval by the relevant HFEA committee, including:
• Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M) applications
• Preimplantation tissue typing (PTT) applications
• Mitochondrial donation applications
• Applications from licensed clinics relevant to the import and export of gametes and embryos (Special Directions and ITE import certificate updates)
• Ensure the quality of applications submitted by HFEA licensed centres
• To promote and practice a culture of continuous improvement.
• To engage with service users, providers, and other regulatory and professional bodies.
• To contribute to the delivery of strategic organisational and directorate projects.
  

Key responsibilities

• To manage the review and processing of relevant applications from clinics that impact on patients undergoing licensed fertility treatments. Promoting good practice and compliance by:
• supporting the compliance team to ensure all necessary applications are processed in accordance with approved methodologies.
• liaising with centres and stakeholders to ensure applications are processed in accordance with KPIs;
• producing high quality evidence based reports;
• responding to enquiries and correspondence from centres and stakeholders;
• To manage own workload and produce high quality output by effective prioritisation of activities and adherence to organisational KPIs.
• To secure and maintain an understanding of the relevant legislation, regulations, Directions, Code of Practice and HFEA policies and procedures and apply this knowledge in the regulatory process.
• Ensure detailed and accurate written records are kept for all activities by maintaining up to date contemporaneous records using approved HFEA methodologies.
• Contribute to the development of policies and improved practices through involvement in the delivery of organisational and directorate project programmes and cross directorate working.
  
  

Promote and maintain a positive image of the HFEA.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Education to at least degree level or equivalent in a bioscience related subject
  
  

Desirable

• Specialist knowledge of genetics, particularly the genetics of human disease
  
  

Experience

Essential

• A scientific background and experience of working in a laboratory or a related discipline relevant to healthcare
• Experience of managing and prioritising a complex workload
• Experience working as part of a team with people from a wide range of disciplines
• Experience of gathering, analysing, and interpreting information and evidence
• Experience of promoting a culture of continuous improvement
  
  

Desirable

• Experience gained within a similar role.
• Project management experience
  
  

Skills

Essential

• Excellent written communication skills and ability to produce evidence-based reports
• An ability to assimilate, understand and apply complex legislation and regulatory requirements
• Resilience in handling difficult situations
  
  

Desirable

• Understanding of the quality improvement/clinical governance agenda
  
  

Person Specification

Essential

• Excellent written communication skills and ability to produce evidence-based reports
• An ability to assimilate, understand and apply complex legislation and regulatory requirements
• Resilience in handling difficult situations
  
  

Desirable

• Understanding of the quality improvement/clinical governance agenda
  
  

Employer details

Employer name

Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority

Address

2nd Floor

2 Redman Place

London

E20 1JQ

Employer's website

https://www.hfea.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority

Address

2nd Floor

2 Redman Place

London

E20 1JQ

Employer's website

https://www.hfea.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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