Senior Biosample Assistant

Cambridge University Hospitals; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site facilities

Reduced cost transport

Parking subsidy

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge is seeking a Senior Biosample Assistant to join the biosample team within the Cambridge Cancer Trials Centre. You will help manage processing, storage and shipment of biological samples for cancer trials, coordinating with trials nurses and data managers to ensure a robust service.

The role involves maintaining the oncology sample handling room and equipment, liaising with couriers and external agencies, and ensuring accurate trial

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or NVQ level 4 with additional relevant experience in a biological, physical, social or related scientific discipline.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in research.
• Experience of working in the NHS or similar biological or scientific discipline.
• Experience of handling biological samples in a laboratory or clinical trials environment.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the sample related aspects of clinical trials, such as processing, storage and shipment of samples for research studies, ensuring protocol requirements are followed.
• Manage the oncology sample handling room and laboratory equipment within it.
• Liaise with couriers, external agencies and clinical staff regarding sample collection, storage and shipment for trials.
• Manage sample kits and sample storage facilities and maintain logs and trial documentation.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Degree level

NVQ level 4

Tools

EPIC

EDGE

Office software

Job description

Main area Division R&D - CCTC Grade Band 5 Contract 12 months (Fixed Term for 12 months) Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Full Time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered. Monday to Friday) Job ref 180-RD-264198

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital-Division R&D Town Cambridge Salary £32,073 - £39,043 p.a. pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 19/08/2026 23:59 Interview date 04/09/2026

Job overview

We are currently seeking a Senior Biosample Assistant to join our biosample team in the Cambridge Cancer Trials Centre (CCTC). The CCTC is an exciting collaborative centre conducting research at all phases of clinical drug development and co-ordinates major multi-centre studies. Our goals are to improve outcomes for patients with cancer or at risk of developing cancer.

The CCTC accommodates around 100 research staff involved in the set-up, coordination and conduct of clinical and translational cancer research. The biosample team are a small team central to the work of CCTC who look after local aspects of sample management. This includes managing the processing, storage and shipment of biological samples for clinical trials, and working alongside trials nurses, practitioners, data managers and numerous teams around the hospital to ensure the delivery of a robust service.

Main duties of the job

This role will involve coordinating the sample related aspects of clinical trials, such as processing, storage and shipment of blood and other biological samples for research studies, ensuring that protocol requirements are followed.

There will be responsibility for all aspects of managing the oncology sample handling room and the laboratory equipment within it.

Other duties include liaising with couriers, external agencies, and clinical staff alongside research teams regarding all aspects of sample collection, storage and shipment for trials.

Management of sample kits and sample storage facilities and maintenance of logs, accurate completion of trial documentation.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:

• applied for a Graduate visa
• or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on the 19th August 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on the 4th September 2026.

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or NVQ level 4 with additional relevant experience in a biological, physical, social or related scientific discipline.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in research.

Experience

• Experience of working in the NHS or other similar biological or scientific discipline.
• Previous experience handling biological samples in a laboratory environment or clinical trials environment.
• Experience of liaison with staff across all levels with the NHS/universities/industry/external agencies.
• Experience of working autonomously within guidelines and deadlines.
• Experience of prioritising, planning and organising own tasks.
• Data entry and documentation experience.
• Experience of using IT packages including Microsoft Office.
• Experience of working in cancer related field.
• Experience of working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Previous experience of working in clinical trials.
• Experience of using EPIC, EDGE, and sample management systems.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of safe use and maintenance of laboratory equipment e.g. centrifuges, cold units, automated pipettes.
• Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory processes.
• Ability to contribute to assessing and suggesting changes to laboratory operating procedures.
• Understanding of ethical and quality standards applicable to clinical trials, including Good Clinical Practice and EU directive.
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages.
• Awareness of Human Tissue Act.
• GCP certificate.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.

Skills

• Well-developed organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to adapt to change.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to demonstrate a flexible approach to respond to the needs of the service.
• Well-developed physical laboratory skills, ie adept manipulation of biological samples and use of laboratory equipment.
• Ability to multitask, organise, and manage own time, whilst keeping to schedule and deadlines.
• Willing to undertake training to extend skill set.
• Ability to show attention to detail with a high standard of accuracy and work to good documentation principles.
• Able to train less experienced colleagues.
• Prior knowledge of EPIC.

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Together - safe, kind, excellent.
• Has an awareness of the cancer treatment journey of a patient and has a patient centred approach to the handling of biological samples.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Jane Bushen Job title Clinical Trials Team Lead (Biosample Team) Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01223 216083