Job summary
Senior Genetic Technologist
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Senior Genetic Technologist to join the North West Genomic Laboratory Hub (NW GLH) at Manchester Foundation Trust (MFT) and be part of one of the largest Acute Trusts in the UK, employing over 20,000 staff.
This is a permanent position based at the North West NHS Genomics Laboratory Hub (NW GLH) Manchester site at St Mary's Hospital. The NW GLH is one of 7 GLHs recently created as part of a national reorganisation to provide a national genomic medicine service. It is a highly regarded, UKAS accredited, NHS clinical service provider of Genomics to a population of 7.2 million people in the North West of England as well as a wide range of national and international specialist referrals. The NW GLH is currently undergoing a significant transformational change program and is in the process of implementing a Whole Genome Sequencing service as well as multiple ancillary projects to support the national genomics service reorganisation.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for individuals with an enthusiastic and flexible attitude who can lead, manage and develop a specialised section of our technical team. You will have highly specialised knowledge of genomic techniques and ideally be registered as a Genetic Technologist with the Academy for Healthcare Science. You should also have good communication and organisational skills and be able to work to deadlines. You will be responsible for all workforce within the team including supervision of trainee staff and be an integral part of the management team for technical staff and resources. The successful applicants will work and interact with a variety of personnel at all levels, locally, nationally and internationally. At a crucial time of change and development in our technical teams this is an exciting opportunity for experienced staff to develop themselves as managers and upskill their team to produce high quality data from the key techniques used in a genomics laboratory.
The NW GLH operates a 6 day delivery model and therefore new applicants should be aware that any future postholder will be required to work a pattern to support this; which could include occasional Saturday and Bank Holiday working.
About us
MFT is England's largest NHS Trust with a turnover of £2.6bn & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We're creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.
Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 28,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you'll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.
We've also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our brand-new Electronic Patient Record system which we've launched in September 2022.
We're proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What's more, we're excited to be embarking on our new Green Plan which will set out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not currently a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, there is helpful advice and information available by searching on the NHS England website where you can also find out more about how to access the vaccination.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at resourcing@mft.nhs.uk.
Were looking forward to hearing from you!
Job description
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not currently a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, there is helpful advice and information available by searching on the NHS England website where you can also find out more about how to access the vaccination.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at resourcing@mft.nhs.uk.
Were looking forward to hearing from you!
Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential
- Degree in a Biological Discipline
- The postholder will have successfully completed a recognised competency based training programme and will be registered where such a scheme exists
- Significant experience in genetic analysis techniques gained from working in an accredited NHS diagnostics laboratory or equivalent workplace.
- Registration with relevant professional body
Desirable
- Qualification includes a significant genetics component
- Modernising Scientific Careers Practitioner Training Programme (PTP) certificate of competence in Genetics or ACC/CMGS Genetic Technologist training (National Training Programme or similar)
- 3-5 years experience in a range of molecular and cytogenetic techniques such as microarray analysis, Sanger DNA sequencing, PCR and Fragment analysis
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Able and willing to adapt to changes in working practices
- Able to work as a member of a team
- Able to motivate self
- Able to recognise and manage priorities
- Significant IT literacy
- Able to communicate effectively verbally
- Highly developed physical skills requiring a high degree of precision and high levels of hand-eye co-ordination for the manipulation of fine tools or material
- Specialist knowledge and expertise acquired through in depth experience
- Knowledge and awareness of NHS diagnostics laboratory work in Genetics
Desirable
- Postgraduate training in Genetic Technology
- Knowledge of the principles of human diagnostic genetic testing
Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential
- Degree in a Biological Discipline
- The postholder will have successfully completed a recognised competency based training programme and will be registered where such a scheme exists
- Significant experience in genetic analysis techniques gained from working in an accredited NHS diagnostics laboratory or equivalent workplace.
- Registration with relevant professional body
Desirable
- Qualification includes a significant genetics component
- Modernising Scientific Careers Practitioner Training Programme (PTP) certificate of competence in Genetics or ACC/CMGS Genetic Technologist training (National Training Programme or similar)
- 3-5 years experience in a range of molecular and cytogenetic techniques such as microarray analysis, Sanger DNA sequencing, PCR and Fragment analysis
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Able and willing to adapt to changes in working practices
- Able to work as a member of a team
- Able to motivate self
- Able to recognise and manage priorities
- Significant IT literacy
- Able to communicate effectively verbally
- Highly developed physical skills requiring a high degree of precision and high levels of hand-eye co-ordination for the manipulation of fine tools or material
- Specialist knowledge and expertise acquired through in depth experience
- Knowledge and awareness of NHS diagnostics laboratory work in Genetics
Desirable
- Postgraduate training in Genetic Technology
- Knowledge of the principles of human diagnostic genetic testing
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
