Job summary
The Northern Care Alliance Microbiology service is currently delivered from two main laboratories situated at The Royal Oldham and Salford Royal Hospital sites. The Royal Oldham site provides services for Bury, Rochdale and Oldham and the surrounding GPs; the laboratory at Salford Royal also provides Microbiology services for The Christie under a Service Level Agreement and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust as part of a joint venture (Pathology at Wigan and Salford - PAWS). The formation of the Northern Care Alliance has led to us transforming service delivery for our patients and Microbiology is actively working towards planning a single service model in the near future.

Main duties of the job
The opportunity has arisen for an Advanced Biomedical Scientist to join our team and actively participate in shaping the future of service delivery for Microbiology in these exciting and challenging times. This post will be initially sited in the Oldham Royal laboratory but applicants should be aware that this may change as part of the transformation agenda.

Applications are invited from HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientists with an IBMS accredited MSc, FIBMS or equivalent. We are looking for an enthusiastic, friendly and well-motivated individual who is a good team player to take charge of a departmental section and assist in the day-to-day organisation, management and supervision of the department as a whole. You will have a wide experience of all aspects of Microbiology diagnostic testing including molecular techniques and a keen interest in future developments and their impact on emerging service provision in the NHS.

About us
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Learn more about us in our Candidate Information Pack.

Details
Date posted: 13 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year, Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 236-CSS-P238-26-A
Job locations: Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road, OLDHAM, OL1 2JH, United Kingdom

Job description
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• FIBMS or MSc/Higher Specialist Portfolio equivalent qualifications
• HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientist
• Evidence of recent Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

• Leadership or Management Qualification

Experience
Essential

• Substantial post registration experience as a Biomedical Scientist.
• Supervisory experience.
• Experience in training
• Evidence of delivering continuous improvement
• Evidence of experience in Quality Management

Skills & Knowledge
Essential

• Team leader and experience of working within a team
• Knowledge of confidentiality issues
• Knowledge of health and safety issues

Other
Essential

• Willingness to undergo training
• Flexible approach to working patterns
• Evidence of commitment to CPD

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust is committed to equality of opportunity and diversity.