Job summary
We are seeking an exceptional Principal Embryologist to provide senior scientific leadership within our Reproductive Medicine service. This is a key role, responsible for delivering and overseeing advanced assisted conception techniques, ensuring compliance with HFEA, HTA, and CQC regulations, and driving innovation in embryology, andrology, and cryopreservation.
As Principal Embryologist, you will lead and develop a highly skilled team, safeguard the quality and safety of all laboratory practices, and shape the future of our fertility services through research, service development, and the adoption of new technologies. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on patient outcomes while supporting the strategic growth and excellence of the service.
Main duties of the job
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Lead the embryology, andrology, and cryopreservation services, ensuring safe, effective, and high-quality patient care.
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Perform and oversee advanced assisted conception procedures, including IVF, ICSI, embryo biopsy, and cryopreservation.
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Ensure full compliance with all regulatory requirements (HFEA, HTA, CQC, ISO), maintaining the highest standards of governance and quality.
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Provide scientific leadership, training, and development for the laboratory team, ensuring staff competence and succession planning.
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Develop and deliver service improvements, innovations, and research to advance reproductive science and patient outcomes.
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Manage laboratory operations, including quality systems, risk management, and resource allocation.
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Contribute to strategic planning and decision-making to support the growth and future direction of the service.
About us
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
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Clinical practice Undertake and oversee the full range of advanced assisted conception techniques, including IVF, ICSI, embryo biopsy, vitrification, and sperm preparation, ensuring safe and effective outcomes for patients.
-
Service leadership Provide strategic direction and operational leadership across embryology, andrology, and cryopreservation, ensuring services are delivered efficiently, safely, and in line with best practice.
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Regulatory compliance Act as the senior scientific lead for regulatory bodies (HFEA, HTA, CQC, ISO), ensuring full compliance with statutory requirements, quality standards, and clinical governance frameworks.
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Workforce management Lead, support, and develop the scientific team through training, mentoring, and succession planning, ensuring staff are skilled, competent, and motivated.
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Quality and governance Maintain and develop quality management systems, oversee audits, manage incidents and risk, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.
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Innovation and research Contribute to research, service development, and the introduction of new technologies to enhance patient outcomes and keep the service at the forefront of reproductive science.
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Resource and operational management Oversee laboratory operations, including equipment, consumables, budgets, and capacity planning, ensuring efficient and effective use of resources.
-
Strategic contribution Play a key role in shaping the long-term development of fertility services, supporting the Trusts commitment to growth, excellence, and innovation in patient care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
-
Clinical practice Undertake and oversee the full range of advanced assisted conception techniques, including IVF, ICSI, embryo biopsy, vitrification, and sperm preparation, ensuring safe and effective outcomes for patients.
-
Service leadership Provide strategic direction and operational leadership across embryology, andrology, and cryopreservation, ensuring services are delivered efficiently, safely, and in line with best practice.
-
Regulatory compliance Act as the senior scientific lead for regulatory bodies (HFEA, HTA, CQC, ISO), ensuring full compliance with statutory requirements, quality standards, and clinical governance frameworks.
-
Workforce management Lead, support, and develop the scientific team through training, mentoring, and succession planning, ensuring staff are skilled, competent, and motivated.
-
Quality and governance Maintain and develop quality management systems, oversee audits, manage incidents and risk, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.
-
Innovation and research Contribute to research, service development, and the introduction of new technologies to enhance patient outcomes and keep the service at the forefront of reproductive science.
-
Resource and operational management Oversee laboratory operations, including equipment, consumables, budgets, and capacity planning, ensuring efficient and effective use of resources.
-
Strategic contribution Play a key role in shaping the long-term development of fertility services, supporting the Trusts commitment to growth, excellence, and innovation in patient care.
Person Specification
Training and Qualification
Essential
- HCPC Registered clinical scientist
- Working knowledge of HFEA code of practice
- Post Graduate qualification or equivalent level of knowledge and expertise in relevant field
- Higher specialist scientist training or fellowship of the royal college of pathologists
- HFEA licensed intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection practitioner
- Participation in Continuing Professional Development
Desirable
- PhD
- Teaching qualification
- Advanced theoretical and clinical knowledge of reproductive science
- MSc (relevant field)
- Degree in Biological Science
Experience
Essential
- Significant previous relevant experience of working in a reproductive fertility laboratory
- Research skills
- Previous experience of statistical analysis
- Detailed knowledge of management
- Proficient in MS Office and Fertility information technology systems
Desirable
- NHS Experience
- Training of embryology staff
- Experience of running sperm donor bank
- High level of patient contact
- Previous use of Fertility Database Software
Communication and Relationship skills
Essential
- Able to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and patients
- Able to present complex, sensitive information to staff and patients, including ability to impart bad news
- Ability to teach, devising training and development plans
- Ability to communicate and receive highly complex information to large groups, including communicating specialist information at conferences
- Staff appraisal experience
Desirable
- Ability to deal with highly sensitive HR issues
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Able to make judgements involving highly complex facts or situations
- Ability to analyse and interpret results and comparison of treatment options
Skills
Essential
- Requires a high degree of hand -eye co -ordination to carry out ICSI and embryo biopsy
- Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures and protocols for the service both locally .
- Ability to interpret and implement national policy
- Ability to initiate research and secure funding (internal/ external)
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly as the service requires
- High level of organisational skills, ability to plan and organise clinical laboratory activities and formulate long term strategic plans and service development
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs
- All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential
- Ability to undertake long periods of intense concentration - ICSI, embryo biopsy
- Must be able to participate in an on -call rota.
Person Specification
Training and Qualification
Essential
- HCPC Registered clinical scientist
- Working knowledge of HFEA code of practice
- Post Graduate qualification or equivalent level of knowledge and expertise in relevant field
- Higher specialist scientist training or fellowship of the royal college of pathologists
- HFEA licensed intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection practitioner
- Participation in Continuing Professional Development
Desirable
- PhD
- Teaching qualification
- Advanced theoretical and clinical knowledge of reproductive science
- MSc (relevant field)
- Degree in Biological Science
Experience
Essential
- Significant previous relevant experience of working in a reproductive fertility laboratory
- Research skills
- Previous experience of statistical analysis
- Detailed knowledge of management
- Proficient in MS Office and Fertility information technology systems
Desirable
- NHS Experience
- Training of embryology staff
- Experience of running sperm donor bank
- High level of patient contact
- Previous use of Fertility Database Software
Communication and Relationship skills
Essential
- Able to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and patients
- Able to present complex, sensitive information to staff and patients, including ability to impart bad news
- Ability to teach, devising training and development plans
- Ability to communicate and receive highly complex information to large groups, including communicating specialist information at conferences
- Staff appraisal experience
Desirable
- Ability to deal with highly sensitive HR issues
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Able to make judgements involving highly complex facts or situations
- Ability to analyse and interpret results and comparison of treatment options
Skills
Essential
- Requires a high degree of hand -eye co -ordination to carry out ICSI and embryo biopsy
- Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures and protocols for the service both locally .
- Ability to interpret and implement national policy
- Ability to initiate research and secure funding (internal/ external)
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly as the service requires
- High level of organisational skills, ability to plan and organise clinical laboratory activities and formulate long term strategic plans and service development
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs
- All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential
- Ability to undertake long periods of intense concentration - ICSI, embryo biopsy
- Must be able to participate in an on -call rota.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
