Laboratory Manager

We are seeking an experienced and confident Laboratory Manager to join Care Fertility on a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover basis, leading one of our embryology laboratory services during an important period of continuity and stability.

In this senior leadership role, you will have operational and professional responsibility for the day-to-day management of the embryology laboratory, ensuring the highest standards of clinical practice, quality, governance and patient care are consistently delivered. You will provide strong, visible leadership to a skilled scientific team, working collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary clinic team to support excellent clinical outcomes and an exceptional patient experience.

This role is ideal for a Laboratory Manager or senior embryology leader who thrives in a highly regulated, fast-paced environment, enjoys developing people, and is confident balancing clinical excellence with operational leadership. You will play a key role in maintaining regulatory compliance, supporting service performance and fostering a positive, patient-focused laboratory culture throughout the maternity cover period.

As part of the Care Fertility family, you will embody our values of Compassion, Collaboration and Expertise, contributing to our mission of making family possible for everyone.

Key responsibilities

Clinical leadership

• Lead the embryology laboratory service, ensuring safe, effective and compliant clinical practice
• Maintain high standards of patient care, traceability, confidentiality and data integrity
• Oversee laboratory equipment, consumables, cryostorage and donor sperm management in line with HFEA requirements
• Ensure effective laboratory data collection and reporting
• Participate in flexible working patterns, including weekend and on-call rotas as required

People and operational management

• Provide leadership, supervision and support to embryology and laboratory support staff
• Ensure safe and effective staffing levels and oversee rota planning
• Lead recruitment, induction, training and competency assessment of staff
• Chair laboratory meetings and contribute to clinic and group-wide embryology forums
• Manage day-to-day laboratory operations, prioritising workload and resources effectively

Governance, quality and compliance

• Act as Quality Lead for the laboratory during the fixed-term period
• Ensure ongoing compliance with HFEA, regulatory and quality standards
• Support and participate in internal and external inspections
• Lead incident reporting, investigation and corrective/preventative actions
• Work closely with Quality and PR teams on laboratory-related complaints, concerns and HFEA register activity

Service development

• Support service improvement initiatives, audit activity and research projects
• Contribute to the strategic development of the laboratory and wider embryology services

About you

Essential

• BSc (minimum 2:1 or equivalent) in a relevant life science
• HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist
• Proven experience in a reproductive science leadership role
• Strong understanding of HFEA regulation, quality management systems and laboratory governance
• Experience supervising, training and managing scientific teams
• Excellent organisational, leadership and decision-making skills

Desirable

• RCPath Part I/II or HSST (or working towards)
• Leadership or management qualification
• Experience working within an HFEA-licensed fertility clinic
• STP Train the Trainer certification

This maternity cover role offers the opportunity to:

• Step into a senior leadership position within a leading fertility organisation
• Lead a highly skilled embryology team
• Make a meaningful impact on patient care and service delivery

Key details:

Hours: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week, between 8am – 4pm (with some weekend work on a rota basis).

Benefits include:

• 33 days' annual leave (including public holidays)
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• A range of other benefits, including retail discounts and access to our wellbeing hub

About us:

We’re Care Fertility, we’re the largest private provider of IVF and fertility treatment in the UK.

We draw on the knowledge of our wider team of over 600 dedicated doctors, embryologists, nurses and support teams who all work together to ensure our patients get the very best fertility treatment.

We are leading the future of fertility healthcare, and we help our patients through the most innovative science supported by an exceptional and intuitive digital experience.

We don’t just care, we are Care.

This post is subject to a DBS check.