Laboratory Manager - Adult Histopathology

NHS; Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A major health service provider is seeking a Laboratory Manager for Histopathology in Manchester. The ideal candidate will lead the laboratory team, ensuring high-quality operations and compliance with regulatory standards. Responsibilities include managing staff, improving workflows, and implementing new technology. A degree in Biomedical Science, HCPC registration, and significant leadership experience in histopathology are essential. The role offers a salary between £55,690 to £62,682 per annum.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in histopathology and laboratory management.
• Proven leadership skills and ability to manage diverse teams.
• Knowledge of ISO accreditation and health safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the histopathology laboratory.
• Manage and support laboratory staff, including recruitment and training.
• Ensure compliance with quality management and accreditation standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic Planning

Quality Management

Team Management

Education

Degree in Biomedical Science or related subject

HCPC registration

Management / Leadership qualification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Overview

Go back Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Laboratory Manager - Adult Histopathology

The closing date is 01 October 2025

Are you the leader we are looking for to oversee the work of Histopathology at our Oxford Road site and who will ensure that we continue to offer high-quality services to the Trust? In conjunction with the Clinical Director, Cellular Pathology General Manager, Lead Healthcare Scientist, and Clinical Leads you will be responsible for the overall operation and development of the Histopathology laboratory service at our Oxford Road site, ensuring that the service is of high quality and that it functions in an efficient and safe manner. You have the responsibility for managing a team to successfully deliver all aspects of laboratory operations, from motivating staff to maintaining the department's finances; this is a multi-layered role that requires an ambitious leader.

As Histopathology evolves, we wish to embrace technological developments and are currently implementing the X120 Rapid Processors to work alongside our A120 Automated Embedder to improve workflows in the laboratory. The department has recently successfully bid for funding to purchase an Axlab AS-410M Slide Preparation System due to be installed in early 2026. Whilst you will be central to this exciting work, you won't be on your own. You will be supported by the Cellular Pathology Senior Leadership Team including the Cellular Pathology General Manager, Lead Healthcare Scientist for Histopathology, as well as Advanced BMS staff, hence achieving can be a result of a rewarding team effort.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a visionary leader with excellent communication skills and a management qualification, or evidence of developed management skills honed along your career path. HCPC registered, you will have significant Histopathology experience, with a good awareness of current issues in the pathology service, health and safety legislation and UKAS standards. You will be a leader with strategic capability, who can drive forward modernisation in the context of financial efficiency. You must have tactical ability and the necessary skills to fully understand the financial position facing the NHS and be willing to change the face of Pathology by being innovative and creative. This post holder must have drive and tenacity and be able to deliver the necessary changes to keep the department at the forefront of Pathology.

About us

MFT is one of the largest NHS Trust In England with a turnover of £2.6bn & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We're creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.

Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 28,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you'll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.

We've also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research, and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our Electronic Patient Record system which launched in September 2022.

We're proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What's more, we're excited to be embarking on our Green Plan which sets out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.

At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open, and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.

Job responsibilities

In conjunction with the Lead Healthcare Scientist for Histopathology the post-holder will be responsible for the planning and day to day running of this large and diverse department.

The post holder will provide leadership, strategy and day to day support to the Deputy Lead Biomedical Scientist at ORC, as well as the Advanced BMS team and the BMS and support teams. Managerial support will be provided to the Lead BMS by the Lead Healthcare Scientist for Histopathology.

They will provide scientific services to patients and clients as an aid to clinical diagnosis. Accuracy and attention to detail is essential.

They will provide highly complex and specialist advice to the staff in the histopathology department, other healthcare professionals and senior managers. The post holder will line manage the BMS staff and lead on staff recruitment, workload planning, career developments and quality performance of the services in accordance with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Health Safety Executive (HSE) and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA).

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at [e-mail].

Were looking forward to hearing from you!

Person Specification

Education and Qualification

• Degree in Biomedical Science Related Subject acceptable to the HCPC
• HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist in a relevant pathology discipline
• Relevant qualification to FIBMS, Masters level degree in relevant field or HCS Apprenticeship level 7 or IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma or demonstrable equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Recognised Management / Leadership qualification or attendance at short courses on relevant management issues
• Training for Trainers Qualification
• Training in quality management

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of managing a departmental section/ team at a senior level
• Proven leadership, supervisory and management experience.
• Experience of supervising and training junior medical staff
• A wide knowledge of current methodology and developments in Pathology
• A through understanding of ISO accreditation
• A thorough understanding of Health & Safety legislation.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of working within a Quality Management System
• Experience of managing a laboratory through a formal accreditation process (e.g UKAS ISO)
• Proven experience of contribution to Clinical governance processes
• Evidence of strategic planning
• Evidence of accuracy and attention to detail

Skills

• Able to communicate effectively with colleagues and patients
• Able to build and maintain working relationships with others
• Able to offer encouragement and support to others to foster both personal and professional development
• Able to plan and organise work effectively to achieve agreed objectives.
• Good negotiating and leadership skills
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Competent user of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Evidence of collaborative working

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.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

£55,690 to £62,682 a year, per annum, pro rata