Reproductive Science Practitioner

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Reproductive Science Practitioner (Band 5) to join our team at Newcastle Fertility Centre on a fixed term basis.

The Newcastle Fertility Centre is a well-established unit offering a full range of laboratory diagnostic and assisted conception techniques including IVF, ICSI, PGT-M, PNT, microTESE, gamete & embryo cryopreservation and has active egg, embryo and sperm donation programs.  The clinical laboratory is a state of the art facility incorporating isolator equipment to create a unique environment for gamete/embryo manipulations.

The position is a full time role and fixed term until 21 June 2026.  Applicants should have a Degree in Biological Sciences and previous laboratory experience.

• Interview Date Tuesday 06 January 2026
• 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
• You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy.  Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

The post holder will contribute to practitioner laboratory processes and will provide administrative and technical support to Embryologists.

The successful candidate will possess excellent physical dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination and ideally be adept in working under aseptic conditions. Applicants must possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills in order to perform successfully within a multi-disciplinary team. The practical and record keeping aspects of this post demand a meticulous approach and we are looking for candidates able to demonstrate effective planning and organization and good computing knowledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Communicates effectively with diverse groups of people, including patients, sperm donors and professionals from other disciplines and other centres. This may involve communicating difficult information to patients and sperm donors.
• Performs advanced and routine procedures in the diagnostic andrology laboratory. These include:o Microscopic analysis of semen sampleso Sperm freezing including ejaculated, retrograde and surgically-retrieved sperm samples
• Performs a range of manipulations requiring a high degree of precision under aseptic conditions in the embryology laboratory. These include:o Sperm preparation for clinical use including processing of surgically retrieved spermo Oocyte retrievalo IVF inseminationo Aliquoting of media and preparation of dishes
• Develops skills and contributes to the development of others working in the andrology laboratory through planning and implementing training programmes for less experienced staff.
• Contributes to maintaining health, safety and security throughout the laboratory services.
• Contributes to improvement of services in all areas of the laboratory service.
• Contributes to maintaining and improving quality in the all aspects of the laboratory services.
• Applies judgement to evaluate the suitability of prospective sperm donors.
• Applies analytical skills to assess the requirement for storage of additional samples from oncology patients.
• Assists in monitoring and maintaining equipment in all sections of the laboratory services.
• Assists in monitoring expenditure in all areas of the laboratory services.
• Assists in monitoring ordering and checking supplies of goods and services.
• Assists with marketing and in the sale of donor sperm to other centres.
• Organises the transport of sperm to and from other centres.
• Records and communicates results to appropriate clinical, administrative and scientific staff including GPs throughout the region.
• Inputs data on patient information generated in the assisted conception laboratories.
• Helps to collect, collate and report patient, donor and performance data from the andrology service.
• Assists in the organisation of laboratory services.
• Assists with planning, allocating and supervision of work in all sections of the laboratory services.
• Performs a range of microscopic manipulations requiring a high degree of precision under aseptic conditions in the embryology laboratory.
• Assists with research and development activities.
• Assists in ensuring that the diagnostic service, and the donor and cryopreservation programmes are conducted in accordance with good clinical and research governance, and in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Participates in a weekend rota and provides out of hours services as required.