Medical Laboratory Assistant

About The Organisation
National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating right at the heart of NHSScotland providing invaluable support and advice at a strategic and operational level. NSS supports customers to deliver their services more efficiently and effectively and we offer shared services on a national scale using best-in-class systems and standards. Our priority is always the same – to improve the health and well-being of the people of Scotland. We do this by working in partnership with colleagues across Health and Social Care to deliver fit for purpose solutions and systems, delivering high quality services that help our stakeholders to free up resources so they can be re-invested into essential services.

The Post
As a major Strategic Business Unit (SBU) within NHS National Services Scotland, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) plays a vital role not only in the health of the people of Scotland but also on an international scale – through our leading position in manufacturing, product development, biomedical research and donor services. Our goal is to maintain the highest standards to patient care whilst remaining internationally competitive.

The Candidate
A vacancy has arisen for a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) position within the Blood Processing and Distribution Department. Applications are invited from individuals, who are organised and enthusiastic with excellent interpersonal skills, scrupulous attention to detail and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Full training will be given however experience of working within a Healthcare or Manufacturing environment would be advantageous.

The departmental duties will include undertaking tasks, following controlled documented procedures, to manufacture blood components for transfusion from whole blood and apheresis collections and the subsequent distribution of blood components to hospital blood banks throughout Scotland. This will involve working as part of the team processing blood donations, receiving and making telephone calls, manual lifting and moving of stock, record completion and the operation of various IT software applications. The successful candidate will be working with biohazard material (e.g. untested blood) within a Processing environment whilst adhering to the principles of Good Manufacturing Practice. The successful candidate
must be willing to undertake shift working which will include weekends as well as night working
. (Further information is available on request).

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a Disclosure Scotland check. Any candidate who have lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.

Location and Working Pattern:
The Jack Copland Centre, 52 Research Avenue North, Heriot-Watt Research Park, Edinburgh, EH14 4BE

Monday to Sunday, 37 hours per week (shift work, including weekends and night working).

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NSS.

Benefits
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. HR Benefits Brochure.

Inclusion
NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national board and, as an
anchor institution
, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that
flexible working
creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. NSS has made a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many
learning and development opportunities
to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality
staff networks
in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all
disabled applicants
who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited
Disability Confident Leader
, it is the aim of NSS to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any
reasonable adjustments
, please contact the Recruitment Team on

Further Information
For an informal discussion on the post, please contact
Jordan Moir,
Biomedical Scientist 2 at

Closing date for completed applications is 5th September 2025.
Please note:
This post may close earlier than the above date, once sufficient applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

Further information on NSS is available from:

Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).

NHS National Services Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.