Please note, this vacancy is open to current University of Glasgow employees only 

Job Purpose

To oversee and manage the handling material from in excess of 2,000 postmortems per year for Procurator Fiscals of Glasgow and surrounding areas, as part of the Crown Office Contract. You will be responsible for delivering highly efficient and effective Histology laboratories  ensuring the day-to-day management and operation meets the requirements needs across the department. This includes being responsible for the creation/set up and/or operation of all technical resources to aid the delivery of the department objectives. In addition, the post holder will undertake a range of specialist technical support activities in line with both the department, School and College requirements.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.      Responsible for providing a high-quality Histology service to assist 7 Pathologists, in meeting target dates set by the Crown Office, and supervising and training 1 histology technical assistant as required.

2.      To assess incoming tissue samples and use specialist knowledge and expertise to trim these to highlight pathological features as per pathology requirements.

3.      To manage and produce histological slides from post mortem tissues, perform special stains and/or IHC techniques on these tissues to confirm post mortem findings. To monitor and improve these techniques to ensure best laboratory practice.

4.      To lead on the quality control of the slides, complete histology records, archive, and dispose of materials whilst documenting these processes thoroughly to ensure that each case may be managed and retrieved efficiently. This includes liaising with external pathologists, solicitors, Procurators Fiscal and waste contractors to ensure that requisite permissions are in place and all tissue retention issues are dealt with sensitively and according to Standard Operating Procedures and Human Tissue Act.

5.      To actively keep up to date and expand skills and knowledge base through liaising with internal and external contacts to give and receive intellectual and practical advice, membership of online forums’, literature searches, attendance at courses/seminars, and continuous refinement of own skills and knowledge to provide the best possible histology service.

6.      To manage the laboratory consumables to meet workload activities ensuring the smooth and economical throughput of histology slides.

7.      Where relevant, and in consultation with the Local Safety Co-Ordinator, ensure the safe and efficient functioning of the pathology lab. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting the completion of risk assessments and COSHH assessments, ensuring health and safety documentation is completed timeously and recorded accurately and implementing and adhering to all applicable health and safety policies and procedures.

8.      To manage digitisation and delivery of electronic histology slides including maintenance and operation of slide scanner and associated software.

9.      To maintain, review and change  laboratory equipment to ensure the safe and efficient functioning and when required liaise with suppliers to obtain quotations for renewal or repair of equipment and to manage current service contracts.

10.   Be responsible for supporting the management of technical aspects and operation of the laboratory, which will include the delivery of technical resources to optimise and seek to continuously improve the technical service, as well as develop and support technical staff.

11.   Work collaboratively with others, including within the wider College/Institute/School and where relevant with external contacts, to enhance the delivery of the department aims and support the broader strategic aims of the University. Collaborate with colleagues and participate in team meetings/discussions and contribute to the wider College/School/Group activities as required, including the Technician Commitment key themes, https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/technicians/

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1.  Either ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar role

OR: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 8 [Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4, Higher National Diploma] or equivalent, and experience of personal development in a similar role. HND level or above in Applied Biological Sciences or equivalent.

A2.  Specialist knowledge of Histological techniques and problem-solving

A3.  A working knowledge of Human anatomy including tissue identification, post-mortem and disease related changes

Desirable:

B1.  BSc or above in Applied Biological Sciences or equivalent

B2.  Knowledge of basic IT network management as it relates to digital pathology

Skills

Essential:

C1.  Significant IT skills, including proficient user of MS Word, Excel and Access

C2.  Demonstrable specialist technical skills, expertise aligned to the specific field including skills in specialist equipment and techniques.

C3. Proven interpersonal and communication skills to interpret technical requirements to a range of individuals with varying degrees of ability.

C4.  Proven ability of manual dexterity to effectively produce delicate procedures related to quality thin microtome sections.

C5.  Excellent team leading skills with supervisory or line management skills.

C6.  Ability to plan and priorities work of self and others, along with allocation of resources to meet the needs of others. on own initiative.

C7.  Organisational and planning skills for short-, medium- and long-term projects

Desirable:

D1.  Specialised human tissue dissection skills

Experience

Essential:

E1.  Significant relevant experience of working in a Forensic Pathology Laboratory environment.

E2.  Experience of tissue dissection and handling skills.

E3.  Thorough awareness of all routine histology techniques including special stain techniques, cryostat work and immunohistochemistry.

E4. Significant analytical and problem-solving capability, including high degree of accuracy and attention to detail when dealing with information, records and data.

E5. Experience of establishing and managing Standing Operating Procedures to ensure the smooth, efficient, and legal running of the lab, including experience of establishing Health and Safety procedures for internal/external stakeholders.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 6, £33,482 - £37,174 per annum.

This post is full time and open ended.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

Closing date: 23:45 on Tuesday 18th March 2025.