Histology Laboratory Manager

GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an ambitious, experienced leader to head the Histology Department within Paediatric Laboratory Medicine. You will provide strategic and operational leadership of the Histology Laboratory service, drive quality improvement, and ensure delivery of a high-quality diagnostic service for children.

The role requires HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientist status, and holders of the FIBMS, MSc or equivalent advanced qualification.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a diagnostic Histology service.
• Experience delivering service development and quality improvement.
• Strong understanding of ISO 15189 and related regulatory standards.
• Proven ability to manage workforce planning, performance and wellbeing.
• Ability to build effective internal and external stakeholder relationships.
• Experience in budgeting and resource management.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational and strategic leadership for the Histology Laboratory service.
• Lead service development, innovation and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure service continuity, resilience and workforce planning.
• Manage staff performance, development and wellbeing.
• Support budgetary and resource management.
• Develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 15189, HCPC, IBMS and regulatory standards.
• Lead education, training and competency programmes within the department.

Skills

Histology leadership

Quality management

Stakeholder engagement

Education and training

Budgeting and resource planning

Education

HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientist

FIBMS / MSc or equivalent

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, experienced and dynamic individual to join the Histology Department within Paediatric Laboratory Medicine at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH). GOSH is a national centre of excellence for specialist children's healthcare, delivering the widest range of paediatric specialties of any hospital in the UK. Our laboratories play a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of children with highly complex, rare and life-limiting conditions. The laboratories are housed within a purpose-built facility and provide a unique range of fully accredited (ISO 15189) diagnostic services. In addition to supporting GOSH, the department acts as a nationally and internationally recognised specialist referral centre. The Histopathology Service comprises a consultant-led multidisciplinary team providing a comprehensive tissue diagnostic service, supported by a well-established Digital Pathology programme. This is a senior leadership position responsible for the effective and efficient management of the Histology Laboratory Service. You will work closely with the senior laboratory leadership team to deliver high-quality services, drive continuous improvement, and ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory and accreditation requirements.

• Providing operational and strategic leadership for the Histology Laboratory service.
• Leading service development, innovation and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensuring service continuity, resilience and workforce planning.
• Managing staff performance, development and wellbeing.
• Supporting budgetary and resource management.
• Developing effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensuring compliance with ISO 15189, HCPC, IBMS and all relevant regulatory standards.
• Leading education, training and competency programmes within the department.
  HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientists.
• Holders of the FIBMS, MSc, or an equivalent advanced professional qualification.
• Highly experienced within Histology services.
• Able to demonstrate recent leadership or supervisory experience within a diagnostic laboratory environment.

You will be an ambitious, forward-thinking leader with a passion for delivering excellence in patient care and laboratory services. A strong understanding of contemporary NHS pathology services, quality management systems, workforce challenges and service transformation is essential.

We are committed to recruiting the best person for the job through a fair, open and consistent process that is free from bias and discrimination. We are working towards becoming an anti-racist organisation. This means creating a workplace where every colleague feels seen, heard and valued, and where racism in any form has no place. Our anti-racism commitment is backed by action through our Anti-Racism Statement and action plan, developed in collaboration with our REACH staff network. We actively challenge discrimination, dismantle barriers and embed equity across all aspects of our workforce, including recruitment, progression and development. All applicants will receive equal consideration regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, health condition or employment history. We particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, and LGBTQ+ community members. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Business Disability Forum, and a Stonewall Diversity Champion. Our staff networks, including REACH, PRIDE, ENABLED and Women's Networks, are active and executive supported. These employee-led networks play a vital role in shaping an inclusive culture at GOSH and are open to all colleagues. Together, we are building a culture where inclusion is not optional - it is essential.