Cadaveric Anatomy Specialist (Newcastle, GB) at None

Salary: £35,608 to £37,694 with progression to £46,049 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 25 November 2025

The Role

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a significant contribution to the training of current and future medical professionals and to further develop our reputation as a centre for excellence in the delivery of Anatomical training to students and staff from Newcastle University and beyond.

You will manage and maintain the Anatomy facility in the Faculty of Medical Sciences with responsibility for embalming cadaveric specimens and willingness to support with the provision of prosections for Anatomy teaching. You will work in collaboration with the Head of Anatomy to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements defined by the Human Tissue Act, holding responsibility as a person designate.

You should have technical expertise in embalming techniques, with the ability to train both staff and students, and a willingness to utilise existing skills, or develop specialist dissection techniques, to produce prosections. It is essential you have a degree or equivalent level qualification in an Anatomical related subject, or significant vocational experience in this discipline. You will act as School H&S officer, with a working knowledge of both the Human Tissue Act and relevant Health and Safety legislation to support the Facility in maintaining legal and regulatory compliance.  

You should be positive, proactive and willing to share your knowledge by training staff, students and visitors to deliver a high quality service in a safe, well managed and compliant facility. You will support a collaborative environment, fostering a culture of trust and mutual respect and championing the University’s values and guiding principles. As a senior colleague within the Faculty, you will act as a visible role model, demonstrating the highest standards of leadership and behaviour and contributing strategically to the development of an outstanding professional service.

If you are interested in the post, please get in touch with Alison Gregory, Technical Manager for Education (email: [email protected]) or Pamela White, Head of Anatomy (email: [email protected]), for more information.

Key Accountabilities

• As a senior Professional Service colleague, have collective responsibility for the vision of the Faculty, fostering a truly inclusive and respectful culture with a commitment to service excellence
• To provide operational oversight and management of the Anatomy Facility, supporting the Head of Anatomy (designated individual) in ensuring the department is fully compliant with the licence requirements of the Human Tissue Act (2004), by acting as a person designate
• To lead and train others in process of embalming cadavers, ensuring the correct method of embalming is used so that structures are preserved in a way most useful for the dissection that will take place
• To work on the production of new prosections using specialist dissection techniques. To develop knowledge in the process of how to create precise prosections via techniques such as: Raising and exposure of vessels and nerves; Transection of muscles; Plastination; Evisceration (Organ Removal)
• To maintain and update the local computerised specimen database, including maintaining a list of prosections most in need of replacement and to discuss priorities with Head of Anatomy and course coordinators
• Maintain a high level of up-to-date specialist knowledge of Anatomy embalming, dissection and prosection procedures and processes, through continuous professional development
• To support with internal audits of samples and body parts for compliance with the Unit’s Human Tissue Authority (HTA) licence
• To have a precise and up to date knowledge of all cadavers in storage and the requirements of upcoming activities, to utilise this information to support decisions on accepting or declining new cadaver donations for future teaching activities
• To manage teaching delivery, external courses, outreach and engagement activities taking place within the Anatomy facility by provision of relevant training, materials, specimens and equipment.
• To manage technical staff operating within the Facility
• To act as Unit health and safety officer, ensuring H&S policies and risk assessments, remain relevant and up to date. To assist or provide training, advice, supervision and competency assessment of facility users in relevant techniques and processes to ensure regulatory and operational compliance and a safe working environment
• To be responsible for the maintenance and servicing of equipment in the Anatomy facility to ensure safe working practices, compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements and service support for all suitably qualified and trained Anatomy users
• To develop educational opportunities and establish links with national and international Third parties and organizations to promote and market the facility for CPD courses, outreach and engagement
• To take the lead in booking, organising and facilitating all external courses. This includes networking with NHS staff and external companies, managing allocation of resources and cadavers appropriately
• Budgetary responsibilities, working with the Finance Business Partner to ensure effective financial planning, management and sustainability of the School infrastructure services, including responsibility where applicable for the approval of defined expenditure within the School
• To assist in the costing and/or monitoring of projects within the Facility being proposed or undertaken for by external agents including liaison with relevant University staff & external suppliers involved in the provision of goods and services
• Any other duties commensurate with grade as agreed with the line manager and Head of Anatomy

The Person 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Practical experience in embalming techniques
• Ability to support with the production of specialised prosection of cadavers
• Working knowledge of the Human Tissue Act and how to ensure a facility meets and maintains licence requirements
• Up-to-date detailed knowledge of relevant Health & Safety policy and procedure in a laboratory-based setting & confident in advising colleagues on policy & procedure
• Ability to train staff in anatomical techniques and support with assessing their competency
• Proven written and verbal communication skills
• High level planning, organising and technical problem-solving skills, with a proactive and innovative approach to problem solving utilising excellent prioritisation skills, and the ability to delegate tasks
• Experience of working collaboratively with academic and technical staff
• Excellent communication skills to be able to motivate staff & implement change
• Management of people (Desirable)
• Evidence of project management and financial budgetary management (Desirable)
• Good numerical skills and the ability to manipulate, analyse and present information for management use (Desirable)

Attributes and Behaviour

• Role model of the University values and guiding principles
• People orientated and approachable, with the ability to motivate, engage and establish networks internally and externally
• Able to act objectively in dealing with complex problems, issues and decision making
• Ability to meet deadlines with effective time and resource management
• Clear communicator and active listener
• Consistent and appropriate approach to staff and situations
• Use of feedback for process improvement and staff development
• Team player, self -starter and able to manage complex workload
• Ability to respond enthusiastically and positively to students, colleagues and external users

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent level qualification in a relevant Anatomical related subject or significant vocational experience, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding relevant roles
• Professional registration with an accredited professional body (including HEA) or working towards this on appointment (Desirable)

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 28787