Blood Sciences Reception Team Lead and Training Officer

Job overview

We are seeking a motivated and experienced professional to take a key leadership role within Blood Sciences Specimen Reception (BSSR).

In this role, you will lead on training and competency development across the reception team, ensuring staff are fully supported, skilled and confident in delivering high-quality service.

You will work closely with the Reception Managers acting as Deputy when appropriate and coordinate day-to-day activities, contribute to service planning, and support the implementation of service improvement initiatives. A strong focus on leadership, organisation and continuous improvement will be essential.

The reception area forms a vital interface between service users and the laboratory, and you will play a key role in ensuring it operates effectively and professionally at all times. You will also provide expert support to the team, including advanced troubleshooting, problem-solving and guidance on complex issues.

Flexibility is essential in this role, as you may be expected to contribute to a fully operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week service, ensuring consistent and reliable performance across all shifts.

If you are passionate about service excellence, staff development, and operational leadership within a laboratory environment, this is an excellent opportunity to make a real impact.

Main duties of the job

Supervise the handling of all samples that arrive in the reception area including blood, urine, faecal and tissue samples. Ensure that any leaking or problem samples are dealt with in a manner consistent with the Trusts safe handling policies and procedures

Processing accurate and timely data into the laboratory information system and other information systems. This includes laboratory results and patient demographics.

Ensure staff follow protocol for the communication of problem samples to clinicians and/or senior colleagues.

Plan, organise and review staff shifts on the departments rostering system – Health Roster

Support recruitment for the Specimen Reception area and be actively involved in the induction of new staff.

Prepare information for presentation by self or others at sectional, departmental or meetings outside the Trust as appropriate.

Be able to use Laboratory Information system, email, internet and automated operating systems, and other software packages as required.

Participate in and help create and develop departmental audits

Ensure incident forms and risk assessments are completed and assist in investigations, where appropriate.

Supervise and mentor staff providing practical and theoretical training to groups and individuals.

Prepare and maintain training documentation and monitor compliance within BSSR.

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 19th July 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 7th August 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.