Associate Practitioner
At a glance
- Band
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 09/09/2026
- Closes
- 14/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
Candidates needing sponsorship are encouraged to apply.
HiveMind found a sponsorship-friendly statement in the source advert welcoming applicants who require a visa. Always confirm on the source before applying.
“Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.”Quoted verbatim from the source advert
Role summary
This Associate Practitioner role in Microbiology is based at the Anaerobe Reference Unit in Cardiff. It involves supervising laboratory support workers and performing reference laboratory procedures using molecular and conventional microbiology techniques. The position is suitable for candidates with proven microbiology lab experience or a science degree, offering a launchpad for a professional career in medical microbiology. Duties include sample processing, data entry, and training support staff.
Key responsibilities
- Supervise and support a team of laboratory support workers.
- Undertake reference laboratory procedures with supervision.
- Prepare, check, and process samples.
- Perform data entry into the laboratory information system.
- Undertake training and competency assessments for the support worker team.
Essential criteria
- IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 1 or 2, Vocational qualifications level 4 or 5, foundation degree (e.g. Biological Sciences) or other diploma or equivalent level of knowledge, or equivalent experience.
- Recent experience of working within a UKAS accredited Microbiology laboratory.
- Some understanding of microbiology of disease and disease processes.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of staff supervision.
- Evidence of good manual dexterity and hand/eye co-ordination.
- Knowledge of health and safety
- Previous experience of following written protocols/policies.
- Understands the importance of IT in the laboratory
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 4 at £26,530 – £29,114 a year, across England.
This advert: £28,819 – £31,626 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 5d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Public Health Wales
Associate Practitioner
The closing date is 14 September 2026
Job summary
Public Heath Wales Microbiology operates as a network of laboratories with Regional Laboratories across Wales.
The Band 4 Associate Practitioner post based in the Anaerobe Reference Unit at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff provides supervision and support to a team of laboratory support workers and undertakes reference laboratory procedures with supervision. The successful candidates will gain experience in a reference laboratory service using molecular and conventional microbiology techniques.
This post would suit candidates that have proven Microbiology laboratory experience and associated work based education and competency or a science graduate. We have well established career pathways and so this could be a brilliant launch pad for a professional career in medical microbiology.
Main duties of the job
Duties will include preparing, checking and processing of samples as well as data entry into the laboratory information system. The successful candidate will also supervise and undertake training/competency for the support worker team. The successful candidate will have good communication skills, technical ability and good hand-eye coordination, amongst others.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equall
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