Senior Biomedical Scientist - Virology

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Bedford; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Virology Biomedical Scientist to lead quality and virology activities within the Microbiology Department. The role focuses on maintaining ISO 15189 compliance, managing documentation, audits, and staff training, in a busy laboratory serving Bedfordshire and surrounding areas.

The post-holder will work with Laboratory Management and the Quality team to ensure robust quality processes, risk mitigation, and continuous service

Qualifications

• BSc in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent.
• Masters degree or related professional health care qualification or equivalent.
• HCPC registration.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and develop departmental documentation and quality processes.
• Monitor and manage non-conformances, conduct audits, and drive quality improvements.
• Deliver training to staff across all grades in standardised quality processes.
• Assist in operational running of the department and support contractual requirements.

Skills

Quality management

Staff training

Audit and governance

Communication skills

Data analysis

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Leadership

Flexibility

Team management

Education

BSc in Biomedical Sciences

Masters degree or related professional health care qualification

HCPC registration

Tools

Q-Pulse Documents Management

Pathology Information Management Systems

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Virology Biomedical Scientist to join the Microbiology Department at Bedford Hospital.

Our laboratory is equipped with an extensive range of modern platforms, including the Beckman Coulter Microscan, BioMérieux BacT/Alert Virtuo, Cepheid GeneXpert, BD MGIT, BioMérieux VIDAS, BioFire TORCH and FilmArray, Roche Cobas 6800, Bruker MALDI‑TOF, BD MAX, Stratec Gemini, Roche Cobas 8000, and the DS2 system.

Following our merger with the Luton Microbiology Department, we now provide a comprehensive diagnostic service for Bedford Hospital, Luton and Dunstable Hospital, and local GP practices. The department is UKAS‑accredited to ISO 15189:2022 and is recognised by the IBMS as an approved training laboratory.

In this role, you will be a key member of the senior Microbiology team, with a primary focus on Virology and Quality.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will serve as a Senior Biomedical Scientist, working closely with the Laboratory Manager and the Quality team to support the Virology service through robust quality processes, documentation management, and staff training, ensuring continued compliance with UKAS accreditation standards. Applicants must demonstrate substantial experience with Quality Management Systems, a strong understanding of quality principles, and a proven ability to train staff across all grades.

In this role, the post holder will support the senior Virology team by maintaining and developing departmental documentation, monitoring and managing non‑conformances, conducting audits, implementing quality improvements, and delivering training. They will also assist the Laboratory Manager with the operational running of the department, contributing to the implementation, monitoring, and review of contractual requirements while ensuring service continuity and effective risk mitigation.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will work as an HCPC‑registered Biomedical Scientist, contributing to the effective delivery of departmental services.

They will support Laboratory Management in implementing and maintaining a cohesive service, working in partnership with the department’s clinical lead.

They will also be responsible for applying the department’s quality policy, including delivery of agreed quality objectives.

They will contribute to the implementation and maintenance of UKAS standards by using the established Pathology Quality Management System, supporting the quality cycle and audit processes required for ISO 15189 compliance.

They will assist in developing action plans to address non‑conformities identified through internal or external audits or complaints, ensuring that corrective and preventative actions are completed and embedded.

They will follow and update departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) using the Q‑Pulse Document Management Module.

Where delegated, they will take responsibility for drafting, reviewing, and implementing SOPs within the Q‑Pulse system.

They will manage the day‑to‑day quality operations within the department, supporting senior staff with documentation, and training staff of all grades in standardised quality processes and effective use of the Quality Management System.

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent
• Masters degree or related professional health care qualification or equivalent
• HCPC registration

Experience

• Audit and evaluation, clinical & information governance
• Significant specialist knowledge of Microbiology acquired over a significant period
• Managing staff Implementation of new technologies e.g. laboratory equipment and Pathology information management systems

Skills

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal at all levels
• Manage highly complex information
• Excellent Inter-personal skills
• Ability to utilise evaluation tools
• Ability to analyse complex data and use information to inform judgements
• Personal integrity – leading by example
• Drive and determination
• Flexibility Tactful and diplomatic
• Flexible in approach and in working relationships
• Able to communicate with multi-disciplinary teams throughout Health Economy
• Team Leader and decision maker
• Commitment to service development

Knowledge

• Highly specialised and extensive knowledge of Microbiology
• National and local issues facing Pathology

It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state‑of‑the‑art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.