Tissue Bank Travelling Technician College of Medicine and Health 106859 Grade 5

The University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading British university is seeking a dedicated individual to join the Human Biomaterials Resource Centre (HBRC) team in Birmingham. The role involves the procurement and processing of ethically sourced human samples for biomedical research. Candidates must have a solid understanding of NHS regulations and possess effective communication skills. The position offers a salary range of £29,647 to £31,460, with a full-time fixed-term contract until November 2027. A driving license and the ability to manage records under pressure are essential requirements.

Qualifications

• Practical experience within NHS environment and good understanding of ethical issues.
• A driving license is essential for role performance.
• Experience of working within a biomedical environment is required.
• Ability to maintain accurate records under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Identify eligible patients for various projects/trials.
• Attend clinics/surgical theaters for consent and sample collection.
• Ensure compliance with Human Tissue Act regulations.
• Complete necessary records and electronic tracking logs.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Understanding of ethical and regulatory issues

Familiarity with biomedical environment

Good computing skills

Job description

Description

Position Details

College of Medicine and Health

Location : University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range 29647 to 31460 with potential progression once in post to 35388

Grade : 5

Full Time Fixed Term contract up to November 2027

Closing date : 4th January 2026

UK travel may be required for this role.

Role Summary

The main role of the post holder is delivery of the core services provided by the Human Biomaterials Resource Centre (HBRC) and other key facilities. The HBRC is an HTA‑licensed human sample biorepository operating as part of the Colleges Research Office. It is a quality‑controlled environment regulated and operated in an HTA‑compliant manner.

The post holder will undertake the procurement, processing and release of appropriately consented quality‑assured annotated biomaterials for biomedical research from patients in a wide range of disease settings. This will involve the identification and recruitment of appropriate patients in a variety of clinic settings (and on occasion health volunteers), obtaining informed consent, sample collection and handling according to project protocols and HBRC Standard Operating Procedures and completion of the necessary records and electronic tracking logs. The role requires accurate contemporaneous administration associated with sample tracking and paperwork; therefore forms a substantial portion of the role.

The HBRC has developed into a key facility helping to deliver translational research programmes which are central to the College research strategy. The post is varied, requires a strong sense of initiative, diligence and attention‑to‑detail when working under time pressures and also knowledge of the regulations, legislation and governance arrangements applicable to clinical research which uses human tissues and clinical trial samples. The post holder will interact with senior academic, clinical and surgical staff and often with patients; therefore effective communication and strong interpersonal skills are essential.

The post will be required to travel between several local NHS sites and hospitals and may require the wearing of masks / COVID vaccination.

Main Duties

• In association with clinical and surgical staff identify eligible patients for a variety of projects/trials using different sources of information such as clinic and surgical lists, patient health records/NHS Trust information systems and records from MDT meetings.
• The post holder will be expected to work according to the requirements of the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research to Caldicott Principles and in a manner compliant with the Human Tissue Act 2004.
• Attendance at clinics/operating theatres/cellular pathology departments across several local NHS sites in order to receive consent and collect the appropriate samples. The post holder will perform this task with a degree of autonomy and in an integrated way with clinical staff to ensure minimal disruption to the patient treatment pathway. SOPs will be followed for collection transfer and any subsequent processing of samples within the HBRC to ensure sample integrity. The entire process will be Human Tissue Act compliant and will be carried out in a manner compliant with the Human Tissue Act (HTAct) Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
• To complete accurately and contemporaneously the necessary records and electronic tracking logs relating to sample consent receipt, processing, storage, release and clinical data annotation.
• To process samples (e.g. tissue culture/sectioning/staining) as required and according to level of training.
• To contribute to the Quality Management System within the HBRC and other areas assisting with review of SOPs, risk assessments and COSHH assessments; contributing to internal/external audit procedures and regulatory inspections; undertaking basic housekeeping matters within facility laboratories including monitoring and maintenance of equipment.
• To uphold compliance with all University and local Health & Safety policies including risk assessments and manual handling reporting any breaches or non‑compliance to the relevant manager.
• To adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures where practicable.
• To support equality and values diversity moderating own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
• Any other duties within the HBRC commensurate with the grade and skill base of the post holder as directed by the HBRC General Manager and Tissue Services Manager and laboratory managers.

Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience

• Practical experience of working within the NHS environment and a good understanding of the ethical and regulatory issues surrounding human sample collection and use for research e.g. Human Tissue Act 2004, UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research, Good Clinical Practice, Data Protection Act/GDPR.
• A driving licence is essential as well as access to and use of own vehicle for the performance and delivery of the role.
• Attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records under pressure.
• Familiarity with technologies associated with handling human samples.
• Experience of working within a biomedical environment and general laboratory experience.
• Familiarity with health and safety requirements/policies relating to biological chemical liquefied gases and manual handling.
• Good level of basic computing and technical skills.
• Good communication skills and ability to treat all work as confidential.
• Courteous and patient with a positive service attitude.
• Ability/willingness to work outside of normal hours occasionally to comply with hospital COVID requirements and an ability to complete multiple trips per day either on‑site or between sites.
• Understands importance of equality and diversity in the workplace. Able to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.
• Post holder will be trained in all aspects of HBRC activity and the regulations surrounding the collection and storage of human samples for research.

Dimensions

• The HBRC is a team of 15 staff comprising a general manager (to which this post ultimately reports), quality/operations manager, tissue services manager, data entry officer, clinical study coordinators, histology coordinator and various technical staff. This post has no line management or supervisory responsibilities.
• The HBRC is self‑funding and charges for the services it delivers. The post‑holder’s activities will be directly contributing to this income but will have no budgetary responsibility.
• The HBRC provides services for many biomedical research groups (up to 50 at any one time). The majority are based locally within the University or neighbouring NHS Trusts but a proportion are external and/or commercial.

Planning and organising

• The post holder will be expected to manage their own time effectively in order to meet specific project needs in a timely and regulatory compliant manner and to ensure continuity of service. This role requires careful planning on a daily/weekly basis and may also need to plan ahead for several months.
• Work schedules and priorities are reassessed by the HBRC team on a daily basis with weekly coordination meetings and fortnightly team briefs providing a supervisory element. The post holder may need to prioritise their own work schedules with limited direct supervision according to the objectives set by more senior staff within a particular service area.
• Elements of the service are unpredictable and within these areas the post holder will need to be reactive.

Problem solving and decision making

Without reference to others

• Prioritisation of own work on a daily/weekly basis liaising with senior staff.
• Ordering/replacing consumable reagents and plastics.
• Operation of equipment.
• Meeting personal deadlines.

After consulting with others

• Evaluation and monitoring some aspects of service delivery.
• Helping develop and coordinate the implementation of solutions.
• Resolving problems that may have not been encountered previously.
• Remedy of equipment failure or breakdown.

Referred to someone else

• Issues relating to patient confidentiality, HTA compliance, GCP compliance, Health and Safety.
• Complaints.
• The post‑holder is not expected to set long term strategic goals.