Band 7 CRF Deputy Laboratory Manager

NHS; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare trust in Birmingham is seeking a Band 7 CRF Deputy Laboratory Manager to ensure compliance with Good Clinical Practice standards and manage a laboratory team. The role involves providing professional leadership, ensuring quality service delivery for clinical research, and maintaining safety compliance in laboratory environments. Applicants must hold a relevant scientific degree and possess significant experience in laboratory management. This position supports a diverse and inclusive workplace while contributing to a critical research facility.

Qualifications

• Significant/previous experience working in a laboratory environment.
• Experience managing a laboratory team or facility.
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice and Research Governance.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional management for laboratory technicians in CRF laboratories.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety and Trust Policies.
• Consult with stakeholders for strategic planning in laboratory research.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Problem solving skills

Team management

Ability to work independently

Good computer skills

Education

BSc degree in science related discipline

MSc in relevant subject or equivalent experience

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Band 7 CRF Deputy Laboratory Manager

The closing date is 15 December 2025

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our expanding laboratory team at the NIHR/Wellcome Trust Birmingham Clinical Research Facility (CRF) as a Band 7 Deputy Laboratory Manager. The CRF provides a quality clinical environment in which patients and healthy subjects can participate in research programmes safely according to robust, ethically approved trial protocols. CRF Labs support a large portfolio of over three hundred studies throughout UHB.

The role will ensure that Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards are maintained and work is compliant with the Medicines & Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA). That QA/QM systems are in place for all processing, storage and shipment of samples. Health and safety and risk assessments are adhered to especially when processing samples from studies using advanced therapy medicinal products (ATIMPS) and or requiring CL3 containment.

The post holder will have daily management responsibilities for CRF Laboratories providing quality pre-analytical processing service for the CRF and delivery teams within Research Development and Innovation (RD&I) at UHB sites. This will include a purposely designed containment 3 (CL3) facility.

The hours are 37.5 hours Monday-Friday between 08:00-18:00. The role is mainly based at the QE but will require going to Heartlands for a maximum of 1 Day per week.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Laboratory Manager Dr Helen Smith [e-mail] prior to applying for this post.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will have daily management responsibilities for CRF Laboratories facility and research technicians providing a quality pre-analytical processing service for the CRF and delivery teams within RD&I at UHB sites. This will include a purposely designed containment 3 (CL3) facility.

The role will provide professional management and leadership for research laboratory technicians throughout CRF laboratories. Consulting closely with the Laboratory Manager, Deputy Clinical/ Deputy Manager, Clinical Manager, and the Program Director for strategic planning. They will provide timely and accurate information concerning all aspects of CRF laboratory research service provision for the longevity of RD&I approved and assigned studies, when communicating with both internal and external stakeholders.

Working together with the nursing, data and admin teams within the CRF or wider RD&I delivery teams to ensure a high standard of delivery for clinical trials/ studies to fulfil existing contracts. This may involve the discussion of complex, sensitive or contentious information.

Negotiation with external stakeholders such as sponsors and Principal Investigators, processing detailed scientific ideas and applying to operational requirements to deliver complex studies.

Ensure that Health and Safety as well as Trust Policies are followed in all duties especially when processing and delivering training.

About us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Job responsibilities

Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BSc degree in science related discipline, and MSc in relevant subject or equivalent experience.

Experience

• Managing a laboratory team or facility.
• Experience of training, supervising and setting objectives for a laboratory team and individual members.
• Competent at implementing a process or role change.
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice, Good Laboratory Practise and Research Governance
• Knowledge of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Human Tissue Act & Data Protection / Confidentiality
• Knowledge of Biological Safety related to CL2/3 and GMOs
• Knowledge of GCP, MHRA and HSE regulations
• Significant/previous experience working in a Laboratory environment.
• Managing a lab team in a Clinical Trial Environment
• Having a multicentre role.

Additional Criteria

• Evidence of team management with significant management & organisational skills
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing
• Excellent problem solving skills and complaints management
• Ability to forecast and plan workload for self and department as a whole
• Ability to manage and work both in a team and under own initiative
• Appreciation of Quality systems
• Good computer skills with an understanding of data entry
• Good interpersonal skills
• Willingness and ability to participate in continuing education in relation to the role
• Ability to cross site work Able to communicate with a diverse delivery team (not just scientists)
• Able to demonstrate reliability, honesty, respect and be innovative.
• Ability to work flexible hours / evenings to cover needs of the department.
• Experience in handling CL3 specimens.
• Resolving complex laboratory issues.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust