Job Description
Blood Production Officer (known as HHTO)
This vacancy is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. Please do not apply unless you have another means of establishing a right to work.
This post is not eligible for IBMS Portfolio
Job Summary
Join NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) as a Higher Healthcare Technical Officer and play a vital role in helping to save and improve lives. You’ll work as part of a laboratory team, supporting the safe handling, preparation and testing of donor and patient samples. This is a hands-on role where you will carry out a mix of routine and more advanced tasks, using specialist equipment and contributing to the accuracy and quality of results that patients rely on. You’ll also support colleagues, help improve processes and gain valuable experience in a regulated healthcare setting. If you’re looking to build your technical skills, contribute to meaningful work and grow your career in healthcare, this is a great opportunity to do all three.
We are recruiting multiple posts on fixed shift patterns (including weekends and occasional bank holidays) with earliest start time at 5am.
Main duties of the job
• Preparing and handling donor and patient samples safely, helping ensure accurate and reliable testing results for patients
• Carrying out laboratory tests using automated and manual techniques, building your expertise with specialist equipment
• Monitoring storage conditions and respond to alerts, helping maintain quality and safety standards
• Recording and checking data accurately, supporting high-quality results and reducing errors
• Working closely with your team, sharing information and raising any issues to keep work running smoothly
• Prioritising your workload to meet daily targets, ensuring timely delivery of key laboratory activities
• Helping maintain a clean, safe and organised working environment in line with health and safety standards
• Supporting stock control and equipment checks, helping the lab run efficiently and reduce waste
• Contributing ideas to improve processes and supporting continuous improvement in the service
• Supporting and guiding less experienced colleagues, helping others learn and develop
About You
Experience and Knowledge
- Experience of the using computers and basic IT programs.
- Able to communicate clearly in writing and verbally, helping ensure safe handling of samples and effective teamwork
- Able to organise and prioritise tasks to manage competing demands
- Able to keep clear and accurate records, showing attention to detail.
- Able to read, understand and follow written instructions and perform basic calculations.
Qualifications and Training
- A level or NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualifications
- Or Extensive experience working in a logistics/supply chain environment.
- Or Equivalent extensive experience of routine NHSBT procedures and understanding of non routine procedures.
About Us
It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.
Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do.
By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.
You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
What we offer:
- Enhancement for unsocial hours
- Flexible working options – we promote flexible working where the role allows. We’re happy to discuss what flexibility might look like for you.
- Generous annual leave - 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
- Inclusive pension scheme - the NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns). Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/information-about-nhs-pensions
- Supportive learning culture - we’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
- Health and wellbeing support – we offer confidential services including occupational health, employee assistance programme, and wellbeing resources. Our support is available to all colleagues and we endeavour to provide tailored workplace adjustments where possible.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applications from disabled candidates. We will talk with you to explore any adjustments that may help you during the recruitment process.
You can find more information about accessibility, our culture, and how we support applicants on the NHSBT Careers website:
To learn more, please see the job description and person specification. These can be accessed via the link below, or by clicking ‘Apply’ if you are viewing this advert on another site.
Next steps
This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Sunday 31st May 2026, however this vacancy may close sooner than the advertised deadline if we receive a high volume of application.
The assessment process for this role will include: a single interview. Interviews are anticipated to be held on the week commencing 15th June 2026 – subject to confirmation.
For informal enquiries please contact –
Name: Lara Sweeney
Job Title: Regional Testing Manage
Contact Details: lara.sweeney@nhsbt.nhs.uk
