Laboratory Quality Lead

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Laboratory Quality Lead on a fixed-term basis to oversee quality, governance and regulatory compliance across the Wessex Genomics Laboratory Service in Southampton and Salisbury.

The role focuses on leading UKAS assessments, maintaining ISO 15189:2022 compliance, and driving continual improvement of quality processes while promoting patient safety across laboratories.

Qualifications

• Significant clinical laboratory experience with ISO 15189 and regulatory standards.
• Experience in maintaining a QMS, audits, incident management, change control and quality improvements.
• Postgraduate qualification (MSc or IBMS) with registration to a professional body.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality management across Southampton and Salisbury sites.
• Coordinate UKAS assessments, regulatory inspections and non-conformances.
• Deliver internal audits against ISO 15189 and drive continual service improvements.
• Support risk management and promote a culture of quality and patient safety.

Skills

Quality management

Audit & change control

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Risk management

Education

MSc or IBMS Higher Specialist Certificate

HCPC/AHCS registration

Tools

Laboratory IT systems

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Laboratory Quality Lead

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Fixed Term Contract End Date: November 2027

Purpose for Fixed Term: Career break or covering a secondment backfill

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as the Quality Lead for the Wessex Genomics Laboratory Service (WGLS) on a 12-month fixed-term basis. Working across our laboratory sites in Southampton and Salisbury, you will lead quality, governance, risk management, and compliance activities, supporting the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality genomic laboratory services.

Reporting jointly to the WGLS Operations Manager and the Pathology Risk and Governance Manager, you will be responsible for maintaining and overseeing the quality management systems operating across both sites, ensuring ongoing compliance with ISO 15189:2022 and other regulatory requirements. You will lead the service through UKAS assessments and accreditation activities, providing expert guidance on quality assurance, governance, and regulatory compliance across both laboratories, while supporting alignment and consistency of quality processes across the service.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

In this role, your key responsibilities will include

• Leading and overseeing the quality management systems across the Southampton and Salisbury laboratory sites, ensuring compliance with ISO 15189:2022, UKAS requirements and other relevant regulatory standards.
• Coordinating and leading UKAS assessments, accreditation activities and regulatory inspections, ensuring effective management of non-conformances, corrective actions and quality improvement plans.
• Leading and overseeing the internal audit programme, delivering audits against ISO 15189 and other applicable standards, and driving continual improvement across the service.
• Supporting risk management activities across WGLS, including the identification, assessment and management of organisational and operational risks, while promoting a culture of quality, safety and continuous improvement.

What Experience/skills Are Needed

• Significant experience working within a clinical laboratory environment, with a thorough understanding of ISO 15189, laboratory accreditation and regulatory requirements.
• Experience of maintaining and developing a Quality Management System (QMS), including audit, incident management, change control and quality improvement processes.
• A relevant MSc, Higher Specialist Certificate (IBMS) or equivalent qualification, together with registration with an appropriate professional body such as HCPC or AHCS.
• Excellent organisational, analytical and communication skills, with the ability to work autonomously, build effective working relationships across multidisciplinary teams and influence positive change.
• A flexible and proactive approach, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and support a rapidly evolving service through a period of significant transformational change.

A key aspect of the role will be leading risk management processes, supporting the identification, assessment, and management of organisational and operational risks. Working closely with scientific, clinical, operational, and governance colleagues, you will drive the quality agenda across WGLS, ensuring robust quality and risk management systems are embedded throughout the service and promoting a culture of continuous improvement, patient safety, and compliance.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent organisational and communication skills, a flexible and proactive approach, and the ability to work effectively across multiple sites and multi-disciplinary teams. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to quality excellence within a rapidly evolving service during a period of significant transformational change.

Additional information

This role requires regular travel and cross-site working between the Wessex Genomics Laboratory Service laboratories in Southampton and Salisbury.

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Relevant MSc, Higher Specialist Certificate (IBMS) or equivalent.
• Registration with relevant professional body e.g. HCPC, AHCS
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
• Postgraduate practical, technical and theoretical experience in relevant clinical laboratory discipline.
• Working knowledge of ISO15189 standard and discipline specific regulatory requirements.
• . Experience with Laboratory IT and QM systems

Desirable criteria

• Quality Management qualification
• Working knowledge of laboratory bench areas.
• Experience of working within a Clinical Laboratory Setting
• Experience of managing and operating a Quality Management System

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patient First
• Working Together
• Always Improving