Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

The closing date is 18 January 2026

We are seeking a motivated and experienced Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant to join our Toxicology & Specialist Biochemistry team. This role offers the opportunity to work within a highly specialised and dynamic laboratory environment, supporting the work of biomedical scientists to provide testing of clinical and coroner samples.

The successful candidate will play a key role in daily work, providing technical and administrative support to scientific staff, assisting with analysis of patient samples (including drugs of abuse, tacrolimus, FIT testing, amongst others), ensuring high standards of quality and service.

Some of the work involves handling clinical and post‑mortem samples, which can occasionally include sensitive or distressing information. It is therefore important that you can approach this aspect of the job with professionalism, resilience and discretion.

This role is ideal for a proactive individual with strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and previous experience working within a diagnostic laboratory. A commitment to patient‑centred service, continuous improvement, and collaborative working is essential.

This role would particularly suit someone with experience as a medical laboratory assistant, science technician, or similar, who is looking to build on their skills and develop further within a specialist clinical laboratory environment.

Please note this role is
not a training role for biomedical scientists.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Receipt and booking‑in of samples, including coroner and clinical toxicology specimens.

Preparation of reagents and patient samples for analysis.

Stock taking, ordering, and general stock control to support smooth laboratory operation.

Routine maintenance and basic troubleshooting of analysers and laboratory equipment.

Assisting with, and undertaking, routine and specialist analysis of patient samples under the supervision of a Biomedical Scientist – including drugs of abuse, and tacrolimus analysis, as well as FIT testing amongst other tests.

Active participation in the training and support of other staff within the department.

• Participation in quality management processes including raising non‑conformances, assisting with audits and record keeping.

Maintaining high standards of laboratory housekeeping, health and safety, and quality assurance in line with departmental policies and procedures.

• There may be the need to participate in additional weekend cover in the main automated lab, following competency assessment, as required.

For full details please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level
3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role‑specific criteria.

For full details of the job duties and requirements in addition to the above, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification

• Science/laboratory related background and experience
• Previous experience working in a laboratory environment
• Experience as a medical laboratory assistant (min 2 years)
• Experience in clinical biochemistry/toxicology laboratory

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

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.