Tissue Bank Practitioner

Job summary

£31,049 - £37,796 per annum (in accordance with 2025-2026 pay scales, anticipated to be effective as from August 2025)

You will be an integral part of the Eye Bank Team, processing ocular tissue and serum eyedrops into clinical standard products following Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), for use in ocular transplants and dry eye treatments. Working in a fast moving and variable environment your essential role will directly contribute to saving and improving lives. You will undertake an extensive induction and training programme, with ongoing assessment, and receive ongoing development to support you in your role and achieving your career ambitions.

Main duties of the job

In this role you will be responsible for supporting and assisting in the work of the Eye Bank, independently performing a wide range of tasks and processes. Your responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring the efficient functioning of all aspects of tissue receipt, processing and dispatch to the required quality standards using laboratory equipment
• Assisting in developing the service in anticipation of future clinical needs.
• Updating production record written and/or electronic to take receipt of, and account for incoming tissue and materials.
• You will be required to provide specialised training for Tissue Bank Assistant staff in a defined area and supervise their work
• You will be required to process a wide range of tissue products, including corneas, sclera, along with the assessment and tissue manipulation of corneas such as DSAEK Pre-cutting and DMEK Peeling.
• You will be required to perform independent quality control check on batch records You will be able to lift and carry items up to a weight of 15kgs, with and without the use of mechanical aids
• You will be required to participate in a 24 hour on-call rota and routine Saturday and Sunday working.Willingness to work irregular hours and ability to undertake travel and spend time away from base, including overnight stays when required (with appropriate prior notice).

About us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, youll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need. Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever. You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.