Blood Sciences Manager and Deputy Director of Pathology

North Bristol NHS Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Bristol seeks a Blood Sciences Manager and Deputy Director of Pathology to oversee laboratory operations in Haematology, Chemistry, and Immunology. This pivotal role involves strategic leadership, quality assurance, and collaboration across teams. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in management within a healthcare setting and must possess a Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences. This role is vital for maintaining high standards of patient care and operational efficiency within the Pathology department.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership and operational management experience in healthcare.
• Experience managing a substantial budget with savings plans.
• Track record of managing strategic projects and service redesign.

Responsibilities

• Lead and monitor work in laboratory services.
• Manage blood science reception and administration staff.
• Ensure quality assurance and accreditation standards are met.

Skills

Leadership

Operational management

Decision making

Collaboration

Quality assurance

Education

Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (FIBMS)

Postgraduate qualification at Master's level

Current registration with HCPC

Job description

Blood Sciences Manager and Deputy Director of Pathology

Are you a confident Biomedical Scientist leader ready to make a real impact in a fast-paced Blood Sciences pathology environment?

We are seeking a Blood Sciences Manager to guide our department by planning, leading, organising, and overseeing laboratory operations in alignment with the clinical direction of Lead Consultants in Haematology, Chemistry, and Immunology. In this role, you will be responsible for maintaining and enhancing the performance, quality, efficiency, and safety of the laboratory through effective management strategies and continuous improvement.

We are looking for a proactive, assured leader who can make sound decisions under pressure and work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels. Although leadership experience within Blood Sciences is highly desirable, a strong background in Biomedical Science will also provide a strong platform for success.

The post holder will additionally serve as the Deputy Director of Pathology, supporting the Director of Pathology and representing the service at divisional, Trust, and network-level meetings as required.

Main duties of the job

The Blood Sciences Manager and Deputy Director of Pathology hold a central leadership role in shaping and delivering the diagnostic services that form the foundation of our Pathology department.

You will be responsible for optimising the performance, quality, efficiency, and safety of laboratory operations by introducing and overseeing effective strategies and processes that keep workflows running seamlessly and uphold exceptional standards of patient care.

In this position, you will lead and motivate the Blood Sciences team and the broader Pathology leadership group, working collaboratively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. You will contribute significantly to the development of the department's service delivery plans and strategic direction. Additionally, you will champion a culture of continuous improvement, identifying opportunities for innovation and advancing more effective ways of working across the service.

About us

Pathology Services lie at the heart of patient care. Severn Pathology's mission is to provide a best in class, high quality, innovative, value for money pathology service that serves the needs of the healthcare market in the South West region and beyond. In doing so, we will strive to put pathology at the heart of a modern patient pathway, serving an increasingly diverse market.

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Job responsibilities

For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert.

• To lead, coordinate and monitor the work of various Haematology, Chemistry, & Immunology sections involved in laboratory service provision, managing workflows and staffing levels and coordinating with other teams and services to ensure a joined up efficient service focused on maximising quality and speed of service to requesting clinicians.
• Manage and oversee the administration and blood science reception staff (approx. 50 WTE)
• To provide overall management, organisation, and operational problem solving for the laboratory service and its day-to-day operation across relevant Severn Pathology sites.
• Develop and manage effective business continuity management and resilience arrangements.
• Manage quality and quantity of employee productivity, scheduling and coordinating workforce availability, including rostering, training planning, skills development and succession planning. To manage the integration of services from existing arrangements including project managing service moves and introduction of new ways of operating.
• Working collaboratively with Severn Pathology lead roles, accountability for quality of laboratory services, including ensuring accreditation and quality control and assurance standards are met in line with corporate direction from the Severn Pathology Quality Assurance Lead.
• To monitor and report on service and financial performance, driving improvements to ensure targets are met and customer service is maintained and enhanced.
• Laboratory equipment management, including management of consumables and liaison with equipment suppliers over equipment maintenance, performance and fault resolution.
• Working collaboratively with the Severn Pathology Health and Safety Lead, manage and ensure operational health and safety across all aspects of laboratory service provision.
• To support the relevant Lead Consultants to develop and integrate diagnostic and analytical techniques into appropriate patient pathways to improve patient outcomes.
• Scan for new business opportunities, scoping possibilities and supporting bids for new services.
• To plan and implement integrated multi sectional (Immunology, Haematology & Biochemistry) service developments.

Person Specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

• Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (FIBMS) (or equivalent).
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Relevant postgraduate qualification at Masters level and/or extensive specialist experience.
• Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
• Relevant management qualification or demonstrable management skills from a portfolio of evidence.

Work Experience

• Extensive leadership and operational management experience (5 years +) gained within a healthcare provider setting.
• Experience of managing a large budget and delivering significant and challenging annual savings plans.
• Experience of establishing and maintaining relationships with external organisations to ensure the delivery of Trust and wider health economy priorities.
• Experience of managing complex operational situations that involve staff from all levels within the organisation and across a range of professional and organisational boundaries.
• Evidence of significant achievement in managing and delivering strategic level projects or workstreams
• Experience of leading and managing substantial service change and redesign in a complex environment.
• Demonstrable track record in identifying and achieving performance improvement.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent understanding of current NHS strategy and policy framework and the impact on the provision of Pathology services within a large acute Trust.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the Pathology issues currently facing primary and secondary care.
• Clear understanding of one or more the Trust's specialist provider status and the resultant impact on Pathology services.
• Exceptional knowledge of statutory requirements covering health and Safety, COSHH and UKAS Accreditation
• Significant demonstrable experience of leading and working effectively in a multi -professional environment

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.

Pathology Sciences Building, Southmead Hospital