Main area
Microbiology
Grade
SYNLAB Pay Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Site
SYNLAB Essex
Town
Basildon
Salary
£39,959 to £48,117 per annum depending on experience
Closing
27/11/2026 23:59

The place to work in pathology
We are looking for top talent to join the UK's leading and fastest growing pathology company – a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose.

Job overview
We are expanding and are looking for an experienced Specialist Biomedical Scientist (BMS) who is ready to advance their career aspirations in a supportive and collaborative environment. At SYNLAB Essex, we believe in building a strong, collaborative team where individuals are encouraged to grow with us, not just work for us.

As a part of this team, you will play a critical role in delivering top-quality laboratory services. We operate a 'hub and spoke' model with non-urgent community samples being analysed at our off-site hub on the outskirts of Basildon and two acute laboratories providing essential services at the hospitals. With your exceptional skills and expertise, you will be an integral part of our team, providing essential support to our laboratory operations. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to advance your career and make a significant impact in the field of healthcare. Apply now and join us on this exciting journey.

We offer ongoing training and mentorship to help you further develop your existing skill set and advance within our organisation (we happen to be the largest clinical diagnostics company in Europe!). We are proud to be the first lab in the UK to offer some of our BMS staff the opportunity to read bacterial cultures from home, using cutting-edge BD Kiestra Synapsys technology. This role is based at our Hub site in Essex.

Main duties of the job
You will join our close-knit team of 25+ Biomedical Scientists (Bands 5–7), serving two general hospitals and the local GP community, and rotate through Kiestra TLA automation (MRSA and urogenital), manual bacteriology (CL3 and mycology), NAATs, urinalysis and serology.

We are UKAS accredited and an IBMS training laboratory, offering ongoing training and mentorship across Registration, Specialist Portfolio, Certificate of Achievement and MSc/HSD routes, as part of Europe's largest clinical diagnostics company. Working at the Hub will give you exposure to a broad routine and specialist repertoire.

This is a 24/7 service operating across a variety of shift patterns, all of which include a 1-hour unpaid lunch break:

• Routine Shift: 09:00 – 17:30
• Early Shift: 08:00 – 16:30
• Late Shift: 11:30 – 20:00
• Weekend Shifts (Saturday – Sunday): 09:00 – 17:30

We also operate an on-call service Monday to Friday (20:00 – 08:00) and over the weekend starting from 17:30.

This role is based at our purpose-built Hub laboratory at Bentalls, Basildon (SS14 3BY), Dobson House at Bentalls, Basildon (SS14 3BY) is easily accessible by car via the nearby A127 and A13 road networks also using public transport you can also reach the site via Basildon Station or by catching local bus routes.

Working for our organisation
SYNLAB UK & Ireland work closely with clinicians, hospitals, occupational health providers and clinical researchers to deliver comprehensive pathology services.

We thrive in diverse environments, which is mirrored in our workforce, clients, customers, suppliers, communities, and partners. We believe that an inclusive workplace culture is essential for attracting and retaining talented individuals, and for building a sustainable, high-performing workforce.

Our staff are crucial to our mission of making a positive impact on healthcare. We foster a culture of continuous personal development, providing scientists and staff with the support and resources needed to acquire new skills and advance their careers through learning and development opportunities, coaching, and clear career pathways.

SYNLAB UK & Ireland is committed to equal opportunities and does not unlawfully discriminate based on any status or condition protected by applicable UK employment law.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Based off-site in Basildon, Essex, our purpose-built, state-of-the-art hub laboratory undertakes consolidated, harmonised, routine testing as well as an increasing range of specialist laboratory work. This leaves the hospital-based 'Essential Service Laboratories' – also run by SYNLAB – to focus on urgent clinical laboratory tests, which require a fast turnaround time

Over 450 employees service a population of over 850'000 people locally, providing over 16 million tests annually.

You will be a fundamental part of our close-knit Microbiology team, providing an efficient and effective service to two general hospitals and the local GP community.

In this role, you will:

• Perform and interpret routine and specialist biomedical investigations.
• Provide professional leadership to Trainee BMS, Associate Practitioners, Laboratory technicians, and MLAs.
• Offer technical advice to clinicians on the appropriateness of tests and timescales.
• Rotate through all areas of Microbiology, including: Automation Laboratory – Kiestra TLA, MRSA, and Urogenital Sections; Manual Bacteriology – CL3 Mycology, and Waste Management; NAATs and urinalysis; Serology

What you will do/Key Responsibilities:

• Participate in and assist with clinical trials, the development of new tests and research & validation of equipment ensuring at all times compliance with all policies as required by regulatory directives, accreditation bodies and local management policies and practices.
• To provide technical advice to clinical staff.
• To perform and interpret routine and Specialist Biomedical investigations and to participate daily in the scientific and technical activities of the laboratory section under the supervision of senior staff.
• Together with Senior staff help ensure compliance with all policies as required by regulatory directives, accreditation bodies and local management, including: iPP policies; MHRA; NHSCSP; HTA; HFEA; United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS); Any other body in area of responsibility
• Utilise the laboratory LIMS, Q-Pulse quality monitoring system and other application software according to authorised protocols including assisting in computer data entry in all areas of the laboratory, document review, non-conformance review and quality assurance processes.
• Communicate efficiently, courteously and with clarity at all times, whether face to face, telephone or electronic methods referring enquiries to senior staff where appropriate. Matters being communicated may include complex information and/or results.
• Attend and participate positively in laboratory and other meetings as directed by Laboratory senior staff.
• As directed by senior laboratory staff, plan and prioritise work allocations, training plans, audits of both yourself and junior staff, responding appropriately to the needs of routine and urgent activities.
• Encourage active participation in continuous professional development and support the introduction of new technologies and / or systems by being a change advocate.
• Report all incidents and adverse events to senior staff.
• Demonstrate on going competency against training plans and participate positively in CPD (continuous professional development) activities.
• Be an ambassador for Diversity and Inclusion.
• Communicate and role model the values and behaviours of SYNLAB.
• Undertake any other reasonable duty, when requested to do so by an appropriate manager.
• Complete all statutory, mandatory and essential training within timeframes specified.
• Observe safety regulations and attend mandatory fire, manual handling and other courses as required.
• Report all incidents and adverse events to managers and assist in the investigations of any incidents.
• Participate in risk assessment monitoring.
• Ensure that the equipment within area of work is maintained and operated as per SOP's.

Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Biomedical Science degree or equivalent and evidence of CPD
• HCPC State Registration as a Biomedical Scientist
• Experience to post graduate diploma level e.g.: Specialist portfolio, BBTS

Desirable criteria

• Progress towards a higher degree or management qualification

Experience
Essential criteria

• Relevant experience post HCPC registration as a BMS with on-going specialist training.
• Previous working experience of Biomedical techniques and practices.
• Scientific knowledge locally, regionally and Nationally.

Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria

• Ability to analyse and technically interpret complex test results.
• Good knowledge and experience of LIMS and computer applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Statistical Packages.