Job Description

Salary: £32,080 to £33,002 with progression to £34,610 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 02 July 2026

The Role

Reporting to the Institute Technical Manager team, and working closely with the Deputy Director of the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU ODT) in Organ Donation and Transplantation (Professor Andrew Fisher) and the Translational Perfusion Facility Manager (Miss Lucy Bates), the postholder will provide high‑quality technical support to research programmes in solid organ transplantation.

The role supports delivery of the NIHR BTRU ODT research programme, primarily focused on ex vivo organ perfusion studies, alongside contributing to a wider range of translational research activity.

This is a hands‑on technical role requiring flexibility, including regular out‑of‑hours working and the ability to respond to time‑critical research needs at short notice. The postholder will apply strong practical and scientific expertise to deliver accurate, high‑quality and compliant research support, and will contribute to associated operational and regulatory processes.

Based across Newcastle University and the Institute of Transplantation at the Freeman Hospital, the postholder will work within a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, scientists and technical staff, supporting research delivery across the transplant research programme. The role also includes collaboration with external partners, including the co‑unit at the University of Cambridge and participation in relevant national meetings.

Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a proactive, team‑oriented approach are essential in this collaborative, and supportive research environment.

This is a full-time position available for the duration of 12 months.

Informal enquiries are strongly encouraged. Please contact Miss Lucy Bates ( lucy.bates@ncl.ac.uk) or Professor Andrew Fisher ( a.j.fisher@ncl.ac.uk) to discuss the post prior to applying.

Key Accountabilities

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Complete a range of routine and complex maintenance activities and repairs
• Provide general and specialist research support, including protocol development
• Prepare, process, and manufacture specimens/samples requiring specialist skills with limited direction
• Maintain equipment, manage bookings, calculate charges, assist with recharging, and advise on equipment capabilities demonstrating how results can be achieved
• Source and negotiate with suppliers for specialist equipment or consumables
• Manage delegated laboratory spaces and oversee compliance tasks, safety records, and access control
• Design, develop and deliver inductions, demonstrations and training on complex techniques and equipment
• Mentor junior staff and assist in identifying training and development needs
• Maintain and share specialist knowledge
• Schedule, prioritise and monitor work in line with deadlines
• Contribute to research programme development, delivery and planning
• Implement procedures to ensure efficient and effective research delivery
• Manage budgets and monitor resource usage

Operations

• Hold delegated responsibility for planning perfusion activities and associated sample collection
• Prepare and support ex vivo organ perfusion runs, including set‑up, monitoring and shutdown of equipment
• Coordinate the collection, processing and storage of perfusion‑derived samples and associated data
• Liaise with multidisciplinary NHS teams, retrieval teams and research staff to coordinate organ access, perfusion scheduling and sample collection
• Act as the day‑to‑day contact for staff involved in perfusion activities and associated research
• Coordinate with couriers and research collaborators for the shipment of perfused organs, samples and materials, including international transport
• Ensure timely response to equipment issues, including acting as an emergency contact for perfusion equipment failure or urgent operational issues
• Work flexibly, including out‑of‑hours and short‑notice activity, to support time‑critical perfusion and research operations
• Review sensitive and potentially distressing clinical information as part of research and perfusion activities

Data and documentation

• Record and manage perfusion run data, ensuring accurate capture of experimental parameters and outcomes
• Maintain and update research databases (e.g. REDCap, Achiever) to track perfusion activity, samples and associated metadata
• Generate summary reports on perfusion runs, sample utilisation and research outputs as required
• Maintain local ethics site files under delegation from the Principal Investigator
• Support the preparation, submission and amendment of ethics applications and regulatory documentation relating to perfusion research studies
• Maintain accurate, complete and auditable records in accordance with research governance and regulatory requirements
• Coordinate the documentation, version control and dissemination of perfusion protocols and standard operating procedures across research and NHS teams

Compliance and safety

• Maintain and implement procedures to ensure a safe and compliant working environment within the perfusion facility and associated areas
• Ensure compliance with the Human Tissue Act 2004, GCP, Caldicott Principles, Data Protection and the Research Governance Framework
• Complete and maintain safety documentation, including project‑specific COSHH, biological COSHH and risk assessments covering perfusion activities and associated areas
• Monitor compliance tasks, ensuring timely completion and maintenance of appropriate records
• Actively identify, report and investigate incidents and non‑conformances, including perfusion‑related equipment or process failures
• Maintain in‑depth and up‑to‑date knowledge of health and safety requirements relevant to perfusion and laboratory activities
• Support safe handling, storage and disposal of human tissue, biological samples and associated materials in accordance with regulatory requirements
• Ensure appropriate use, maintenance and safety checks of perfusion equipment and associated systems

Teamwork and Communication

• Organise and facilitate team meetings to support coordination of perfusion and research activities
• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with multidisciplinary NHS teams, research staff and collaborators
• Act as a key point of contact for perfusion‑related activities, ensuring clear and timely communication across teams
• Work collaboratively within a small specialist team, supporting colleagues and contributing to a positive and effective working environment
• Provide guidance and support to junior staff engaged in perfusion and research activities
• Contribute to the development, update and implementation of standard operating procedures and shared working practices

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Experience in a technical laboratory, clinical research or perfusion-related setting
• Experience of working with human tissue or biological samples within a regulated environment
• In-depth knowledge of Health and Safety procedures, the Human Tissue Act 2004, and Good Clinical Practice
• Experience supporting complex experimental or technical procedures (e.g. perfusion, advanced laboratory techniques)
• Strong communication and teamworking skills, including working with multidisciplinary clinical and academic teams
• Demonstrated ability to solve technical problems and meet deadlines independently, including in time‑critical situations
• Experience of recording and managing research data, including use of databases and sample tracking systems

Desirable

• Experience of ex vivo organ perfusion or related technologies
• Experience with Achiever
• Experience with REDCap
• Experience of working within a clinical environment (e.g. theatres, ICU, transplant settings)
• Ability to adapt to evolving research priorities and experimental demands
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills

Attributes and Behaviour

• Tact and diplomacy, with the ability to handle sensitive or complex situations
• Ability to meet deadlines using effective time and resource management
• Clear communicator and active listener
• Consistent and appropriate approach to colleagues and situations
• Ability to use feedback to support process improvement and team development
• Team player and self‑starter, able to manage a complex and varied workload
• Ability to respond positively and proactively to changing priorities and operational demands

Qualifications

• BTEC HNC / HND; or A’ level (or equivalent) qualification; or broad work experience acquired through a combination of vocational training and considerable on-the-job experience, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding relevant roles
• Professional registration with an accredited professional body (including HEA) or working towards this on appointment (Desirable)

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 29494