University of Oxford

• Please note this is a re-advertisement, previous applicants need not apply**

Location: Level 4, John Radcliffe Hospital and Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford

Contract type: Fixed term for 36 months

Hours: Full time (willing to consider 0.8 FTE)

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Tissue Handling Technician – Lab Team Lead to join the NDS Bioresource and lead the OCHRe laboratory team providing end-to-end histopathology services. This role offers an exciting opportunity to use your advanced microtomy expertise and excellent leadership skills to make a real difference to the functionality and efficiency of clinical research biobanks and to the delivery of research results.

The Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences (NDS) is home to a number of Tissue Research Banks (RTBs or ‘biobanks’), biorepositories of human tissue samples intended for use in research. The success of these biobanks and the increasing complexity and collaborative nature of the work means that the time is right to bring these expert teams together under one service, which we will call the NDS Bioresource (NDSB), and which will provide a single pathway to applicants for access to fresh or archived samples.

As part of this highly dynamic and varied role, responsible for the management of a team of tissue handling technicians, providing training and professional development support for the team, and for ensuring the smooth running of the laboratory. In addition to your managerial role, you will be overseeing and providing services for consent checking, sample acquisition, embedding, processing, cutting, and allocation of histopathological material.

You will work closely with the Governance Manager to lead technical team meetings and allocate work within your team. You will be based at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust sites; specifically, the John Radcliffe Hospital, with a potential requirement to travel to the Churchill Hospital and Old Road Campus site. While there will be some opportunity for remote working, it is expected that you would be on site a minimum of 4 days per week.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Carry out a variety of histological techniques, including cassetting, tissue embedding, microtomy and cryotomy, and TMA building, and maintain competency according to relevant SOP’s and research protocols.
• Act as point of contact with the local NHS (OUH) Cellular Pathology team to coordinate activities carried out for the Bioresource by this team, such as processing of tissue and immunohistochemistry.
• Ensure smooth running of the laboratory, coordinating equipment maintenance and resource provision, in addition to maintaining clear oversight of HTA-governed sample storage areas.
• Supervise and line manage a team of tissue handling technicians in order to facilitate the delivery of samples in a timely manner. Plan, allocate, and organise the day-to-day workload of the lab team; co-ordinate and schedule workflow, plan and lead regular technical team meetings, reporting issues or problems to senior management.

About you

An experienced tissue handling technician, you are expected to have advanced microtomy skills and experience training and supervising junior members of staff. You will have:

• Proven work experience in a laboratory performing histological techniques, including microtomy (preferably with human tissue).
• Ability to plan and manage own work schedule and those of a team and remain adaptable to changing priorities.
• Prior line management experience.
• Exceptional data entry skills
• Experience of developing and implementing SOPs and performing Risk Assessments.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation including the Human Tissue Act and HTA licencing, Data Protection Act, Good Clinical Practice and Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Undergraduate life sciences degree or equivalent experience.

This full-time post is available immediately and is fixed term for 36 months in the first instance. For a full list of responsibilities and selection criteria please refer to the attached Job Description.

Application Process

If you would like to discuss this role please contact Danielle Fairbrass at danielle.fairbrass@nds.ox.ac.uk.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online, via the University jobs portal. You will be required to upload a supporting statement, setting out how you meet the selection criteria, curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of two referees as part of your online application. Please quote reference NDSA960B on all correspondence.

Only applications received before noon Thursday 10 July 2025 can be considered. Interviews will be held Tuesday 22 July 2025.

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