Laboratory Services Manager

The Methodist Church in Britain; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Outer HCAS allowance

Job summary

The Methodist Church in Britain seeks an experienced management lead for the Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory. You will plan, lead and organise services for Addenbrooke's, Royal Papworth and NHS labs, including staffing, budgets, equipment and safety.

You will deputise for the Regional Head of Laboratory Operations, ensure ISO/HTA/compliance and drive service development, with a focus on patient pathways and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in infection sciences or IBMS Fellowship.
• HCPC registration as biomedical scientist.
• Recent managerial experience in an infection sciences lab.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coordinate and monitor clinical/public health microbiology services.
• Deputise for Regional Head of Laboratory Operations.
• Manage workforce, rostering, training and productivity.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, policies and working practices.
• Oversee budgets, costing, procurement, and cost-effectiveness.

Skills

Leadership

Infection sciences knowledge

Quality & safety

Budgeting

Staff management

Education

IBMS Fellowship

MSc Infection Sciences

HCPC registration

Job description

This management post sits in the Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, serving Addenbrooke's and Royal Papworth hospitals and other NHS laboratories. The postholder plans, leads and organises the laboratory service, managing workflows, staffing, budgets, equipment, quality and safety, and deputises for the Regional Head of Laboratory Operations. The role is lab-based, reports to a regional head and is clinically accountable to lead consultants. Fit depends on HCPC biomedical scientist registration and Counter Terrorism Check clearance, which normally needs three years' UK residence.

What the job involves

• Lead, coordinate and monitor clinical and public health microbiology services, managing workflows and staffing for quality and timeliness
• Deputise for the Regional Head of Laboratory Operations
• Manage workforce availability, rostering, training, skills development, succession planning and productivity
• Develop and maintain SOPs, policies and working practices, and advise on new guidance
• Manage departmental budgets and delegated finances, and contribute to costing of services
• Ensure adequate supply of reagents and non-capital equipment and review cost-effectiveness
• Oversee laboratory equipment and consumables, including supplier liaison on maintenance and faults
• Ensure compliance with ISO 15189, IDPS, HTA, HCPC/IBMS requirements, clinical governance and External Quality Assurance
• Ensure health and safety compliance, report dangerous occurrences and arrange staff training
• Lead asset management, capital procurement, maintenance contracts, estates liaison and facilities, including future accommodation planning
• Lead business and strategic plans, service development, new technologies and continuous improvement, and business continuity arrangements
• Support lead consultants in integrating diagnostic techniques into patient pathways and perform complex and specialist testing and reporting

What’s required

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in infection sciences equivalent to Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences or an MSc

Registration & licences

• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a biomedical scientist

Experience

• Recent technical and managerial experience in an infection sciences diagnostic laboratory
• In-depth postgraduate technical experience and scientific knowledge of microbiology, including in a service management role
• Knowledge and experience of staff management, including recruitment, training, supervision, appraisal, performance management, grievance and disciplinary

Skills & knowledge

• High-level knowledge of laboratory policies, regulatory standards, SOPs, codes of practice, legislation and professional guidelines, including health and safety
• High-level theoretical and practical knowledge of microbiological techniques and their clinical applications
• Technical competence in specimen processing and interpretation
• Robust understanding of the public health requirements of a clinical microbiology laboratory

Checks & eligibility

• Basic DBS check
• Counter Terrorism Check clearance, normally requiring three years' UK residence
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard

What’s offered

• Outer HCAS allowance up to 15% of salary, between £4,870 and £6,137