Cellular Pathology Quality Section Manager (Senior BMS) / Trainee

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust; Coventry; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Coventry seeks a Cellular Pathology Quality Section Manager. You will manage quality assurance and ensure compliance with regulations. Required qualifications include an IBMS Specialist Diploma and a level 7 qualification. This role is pivotal to maintaining and improving laboratory services. Join a committed team dedicated to high-quality patient care.

Qualifications

• Must have experience in coordinating quality assurance schemes and supervising compliance with audit schedules.
• Familiarity with ISO standards and HTA regulations is essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage staff performance of routine and specialized diagnostic services.
• Design and plan departmental rotas and allocate work schedules.
• Ensure quality assurance procedures are followed and manage laboratory standards.

Education

Completion of IBMS Specialist Diploma or equivalent

Completion of a level 7 qualification (MSc. IBMS HSD or equivalent)

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Cellular Pathology Quality Section Manager (Senior BMS) / Trainee

The closing date is 24 November 2025

Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Services (CWPS) provide pathology services to University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) in Coventry, George Elliot NHS trust (GEH) in Nuneaton and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) in Warwick.

The Histopathology Department, based at UHCW and SWFT sites consists of over 120 staff members providing dissection, microtomy, molecular and immunohistochemistry services. Sub-specialities include Breast, Gynaecology, Dermatology, Colorectal and Respiratory among others. Mortuary services are also provided across both sites.

Our Histology service has several exciting projects on the horizon including modernisation of automation. This is an exciting opportunity to engage with this on-going transformation of the service and as departmental Quality Lead, you will be pivotal in ensuring the safe and effective delivery of the services as part of the Section Manager (Senior BMS) team.

As departmental Quality Section Manager, you will be responsible for the co-ordination and maintenance of ISO15189 accreditation and compliance to HTA guidelines.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

Completion of IBMS Specialist Diploma or equivalent is required and MUST be stated.

Completion of a level 7 qualification (MSc. IBMS HSD or equivalent) is essential. Applications are also invited from candidates who are working towards this. Such applicants, if successful, will be appointed as a Trainee Section Manager and paid at Band 6 until completion of the qualification.

• Co-ordinates quality assurance schemes and supervises compliance with the departmental audit schedules, reviews findings, and implements service changes and improvements where necessary.
• Manages the propagation and maintenance of all laboratory aspects of the ISO standards, HTA regulations and any other statutory regulations.
• Ensures quality assurance procedures are adhered to and all necessary internal records are maintained. Collates data for and leads departmental meetings and proposes and implements change as appropriate, ensuring clear lines of communication at all times.
• Takes responsibility within the laboratory for achieving and maintaining all local and national performance targets. Management of KPIs (key performance indicators) including prioritising work to achieve turnaround times, managing staff attendance, and attaining and sustaining PDR and mandatory training compliance.
• Oversee and develop the implementation of new techniques, equipment and working practices including supporting management of change processes which require implementation

About us

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Job responsibilities

• Daily manage and monitor staff in the performance of routine and specialised diagnostic services on patient and environmental samples containing potentially infectious material including blood, urine, faeces, sputum and tissue specimens using complex and highly specialised techniques to exacting medical and scientific standards according to standard operating procedures. Perform such diagnostic tests when necessary.
• Design and plan departmental rotas, allocate and reallocate work schedules for themselves and the team and determine work priorities to meet service needs.
• Support the Department Manager in the planning, development, co-ordination and evaluation of the pathology service, and deputise for the Pathology Department Manager as required.
• Record, and validate results when required. Interpret complex results, and authorise individual reports from the team in electronic form and / or verbally to persons authorised to receive them e.g. Medical, nursing and non-medical staff.
• Is proficient in the use of the Quality Management system, ensuring the effective development and/or management of all controlled documentation, non-conformities and audit reports within the system.
• Co-ordinates external and internal quality assurance schemes and supervises compliance with the departmental audit schedules, reviews findings, and implements service changes and improvements where necessary.
• Manages the propagation and maintenance of all laboratory aspects of the ISO/CPA standards and MHRA requirements, HTA regulations, HSE requirements and any other statutory regulations, and ensure the delivery of services in line with the principles of these standards and requirements throughout CWPS.
• Ensures quality assurance procedures are adhered to and all necessary internal records are maintained. Collates data for and leads departmental meetings and proposes and implements change as appropriate, ensuring clear lines of communication at all times.
• Manages and monitors maintenance on routine and complex equipment to ensure accuracy and precision of results. Provides specialist support for staff to troubleshoot faults and take appropriate action to maintain the patient service.
• Takes responsibility within the laboratory for achieving and maintaining all local and national performance targets. Management of KPIs (key performance indicators) including prioritising work to achieve turnaround times, managing staff attendance, and attaining and sustaining PDR and mandatory training compliance.
• Collect, interpret and collate in an agreed format, information when required for presentation e.g. for departmental Operational Board reports and quality meetings
• Propose, oversee and develop the implementation of new techniques, equipment and working practices including supporting any management of change processes which require implementation.
• Provide and receive specialist departmental knowledge, to and from staff and service users.
• Manage and maintain stocks of materials, reagents, consumables and equipment, ensuring the most economical use of non-pay resources, identifying areas of cost improvement.
• Deal with difficult and complicated telephone enquiries, such as complaints, record information and complete follow up reports when necessary.

We are looking for a dynamic, organised individual who is able to communicate with a wide array of staff, as well as someone who is able to work well within a team and who can also work autonomously when needed. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work with and have exposure to a wide range of stakeholders as well as development opportunities.

For further details of the job role please see attached job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• see supporting documents

Experience

• see supporting documents

Knowledge

• see supporting documents

Skills

• see supporting documents

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

• See supporting documents

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 Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Address

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire