Senior Embryologist

Jd Healthcare; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Life assurance

Pension plan

Nursery scheme

Staff discounts

EV Car Scheme

Cycle to work

Wellness programmes

Learning & development

Equal opportunities

Job summary

JD Healthcare Group is seeking a Senior Embryologist to provide expert clinical leadership in a premier UK fertility laboratory. You will perform and oversee IVF/ICSI, embryo biopsy and vitrification, while mentoring junior staff and driving quality and governance.

You will collaborate with clinicians, contribute to research and protocol development, ensure HFEA compliance, and support operational delivery across sites.

Qualifications

• Degree in Biology, Biomedical Sciences or related life sciences.
• Minimum 4–5 years' embryologist experience in IVF lab.
• Current HCPC Clinical Scientist registration.
• Full competency in ICSI, embryo biopsy and vitrification.
• Experience supervising junior staff.
• Knowledge of HFEA regulatory requirements.
• Strong documentation and QA practices.
• Excellent communication for MDT discussions.
• Weekend rota flexibility.
• MSc in Reproductive Science or related field.
• RCPath/ESHRE or progression towards it.
• Research, protocol development or new tech deployment experience.
• Knowledge of ART advances.

Responsibilities

• Perform core and advanced embryology procedures including IVF, ICSI, PICSI.
• Oversee embryo culture, biopsy, vitrification and warming.
• Supervise and mentor junior embryologists and staff.
• Lead quality control and QA initiatives with KPIs.
• Manage laboratory equipment and maintenance.
• Ensure HFEA compliance and traceability.
• Collaborate with clinicians for treatment planning.
• Participate in research, audits, and new tech evaluation.
• Support rota coordination and cross-site operations.

Skills

Leadership

Team supervision

Clinical governance

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Biology/Biomedical Sciences degree

MSc in Reproductive Science

HCPC registration

Job description

JD Healthcare Group is one of the UK's leading fertility and reproductive healthcare providers, operating brands including London Women's Clinic, London Egg Bank, London Sperm Bank, KindIVF, Surrey Park Women's Clinic and Elective Egg Freezing across the United Kingdom. Since 1985, we have been supporting individuals and families through some of the most significant journeys of their lives — combining world-class clinical expertise with genuine human care. Everything we do is driven by a shared purpose: helping people build the families they dream of.

About the Role

As a Senior Embryologist at JD Healthcare, you'll bring advanced technical expertise and clinical leadership to one of the most specialist roles in reproductive medicine. You'll perform and oversee the full range of embryology procedures — from ICSI and embryo biopsy to vitrification and warming techniques — while supervising junior colleagues, driving quality improvement and contributing to the strategic development of laboratory practice. This is a role with genuine breadth: hands-on clinical excellence, mentorship, research and governance all come together here. If you're an experienced, HCPC-registered embryologist ready to take on greater responsibility, we'd very much like to hear from you.

What You Will Do

Perform and oversee all core and advanced embryology procedures, including oocyte retrieval preparation, IVF, ICSI and PICSI, embryo culture, assessment, biopsy, vitrification and warming

Supervise, train and mentor junior embryologists and laboratory staff, supporting competency development, performance and professional growth

Lead quality control and quality assurance initiatives, driving continuous improvement against laboratory KPIs and contributing to consistently strong patient outcomes

Manage laboratory equipment, validation and maintenance, ensuring optimal environmental conditions and system reliability at all times

Ensure full compliance with HFEA requirements and maintain accurate documentation and traceability across all laboratory processes

Collaborate with clinicians and the wider multidisciplinary team to support treatment planning and provide expert clinical input where required

Participate in research, audit and the evaluation and implementation of new technologies and protocols to advance laboratory practice

Support rota coordination and contribute to the operational management of the laboratory, including cross-site working where applicable

What We Are Looking For

Degree in Biology, Biomedical Sciences or a related life sciences discipline

Minimum 4–5 years' experience as an embryologist in an IVF laboratory setting, with significant post-registration experience

Current, valid HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist

Full competency across all advanced procedures including ICSI, embryo biopsy and vitrification

Proven ability to supervise and develop junior laboratory staff

Thorough knowledge of HFEA regulatory requirements and clinical governance standards

Strong attention to detail, with a rigorous approach to documentation, traceability and quality assurance

Effective communicator with the confidence to contribute to multidisciplinary clinical discussions and laboratory leadership

Flexible approach to working patterns, including weekend rota cover

MSc or equivalent qualification in Reproductive Science or a related field

RCPath, ESHRE or equivalent professional certification or progression towards it

Experience in research, protocol development or implementation of new laboratory technologies

Knowledge of emerging techniques and current advances in ART and clinical embryology

What We Offer

32 days annual leave including bank holidays

Life assurance

Pension plan

Workplace Nursery Scheme

Staff treatment discounts

EV Car Scheme and Cycle2Work

Health and wellness programmes

Ongoing learning and development opportunities

JD Healthcare is an Equal Opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and encourage applications from all backgrounds.