Microbiology Operations Manager

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust seeks an experienced Microbiology Operations Manager to lead day-to-day delivery of Infection Sciences across Basingstoke and an Essential Services Laboratory in Winchester. The role oversees bacteriology, molecular testing, serology, CAP/ISO readiness and staff development.

You will deputise for the Department Manager, manage budgets, drive improvements and collaborate with clinical, IT and external partners to enhance patient care.

Qualifications

• Degree in Biomedical Science.
• HCPC registration.
• Evidence of CPD.
• Recognised leadership, management, quality-improvement or project-management qualification, or equivalent development.
• Training in internal auditing, incident investigation, coaching or competency assessment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support staff, coordinate workforce and resources, oversee service performance and workload management.
• Ensure quality management and UKAS accreditation readiness, patient safety, risk, business continuity, equipment and laboratory information systems.
• Staff management and development, budget and resource management, service improvement and project delivery, including introduction of new methods, technologies and changes to laboratory services.
• Collaborate with clinical, scientific, quality, IT, Estates, Procurement and external partners to resolve operational issues and continually improve services for patients and users.

Skills

Microbiology experience

Quality management

Workforce management

Laboratory diagnostics

Procurement & budgeting

Education

Biomedical Science degree

HCPC registration

CPD evidence

Leadership/management/quality-improvement qualification

Internal auditing / incident investigation training

Job description

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Microbiology Operations Manager

The closing date is 22 November 2026

As one of two Operational Managers, you will lead the day-to-day delivery of a safe, reliable and high-quality Infection Sciences service, based at Basingstoke with an Essential Services Laboratory at Winchester. The service comprises bacteriology, molecular testing, serology, Containment level 3 working, mycology, and supports point-of-care testing (POCT). Working with the Department Manager, Clinical Leads and laboratory teams, you will support staff, coordinate resources and drive continuous improvement to meet patient and service-user needs. You will work within delegated authority and professional competence, deputising for the Department Manager on agreed operational matters and escalating issues beyond your remit.

Main duties of the job

You will lead and support staff, coordinate workforce and resources, oversee service performance and help ensure effective management of workload, turnaround times and service pressures. You will have key responsibilities for quality management and UKAS accreditation readiness, patient safety, risk, business continuity, equipment and laboratory information systems.

The role also includes staff management and development, budget and resource management, service improvement and project delivery, including the introduction of new methods, technologies and changes to laboratory services. You will work collaboratively with clinical, scientific, quality, IT, Estates, Procurement and external partners to resolve operational issues and continually improve services for patients and users.

About us

Our vision is to provide outstanding care for every patient. Patient care is at the heart of what we do at our three sites: Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and Andover War Memorial Hospital. Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides medical and surgical services to a population of approximately 600,000 people across Hampshire and parts of West Berkshire.

Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.

We provide specialist services to people across the UK and internationally. We are one of only two centres in the UK treating pseudomyxoma peritonei (a rare form of abdominal cancer) and we are leaders in the field of tertiary liver cancer and colorectal cancer.

The trust employs more than 9,000 staff and has a turnover of over £500 million a year. As a Foundation Trust, we are directly accountable to our members through the governors. The Council of Governors represent the interests of their constituencies and influence the future plans of the Foundation Trust.

We understand relocating can be a big step. Hampshire Hospitals may be able to provide accommodation options for successful candidates, depending on availability. If this something you would like to explore please contact Southern Housing on 02080 360017

Job responsibilities

Happy to Talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible and part time working will be considered.

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached.

Person Specification

Training And Qualifications

• Has degree in Biomedical Science
• Has HCPC registration
• Evidence of CPD
• Recognised leadership, management, quality-improvement or project-management qualification, or equivalent development
• Training in internal auditing, incident investigation, coaching or competency assessment.

Experience and knowledge

• Post-registration experience in diagnostic microbiology or Infection Sciences, including senior operational responsibilitye agreed post scrutiny
• Practical experience of quality management, internal audit, nonconformity investigation, corrective action and preparation for accreditation assessmentWorking knowledge of ISO 15189:2022 and its application to laboratory processes, staff competence, equipment, methods and information systems
• Experience of workforce deployment, staff supervision, recruitment and development, including managing attendance, performance, appraisals and operational staffing pressures, applying HR policies and seeking advice appropriately
• Experience across bacteriology, serology and molecular diagnostics, including multi-site or Essential Services Laboratory working
• Experience of managed-service contracts, procurement evaluation, business-case development and delegated budget monitoring

Skills & ability

• Clear written and verbal communication: explain complex issues professionally, negotiate priorities and elevate concerns constructivelygreed post scrutiny
• Lead and work effectively in teams across professional and site boundaries, including alongside fellow managers.
• Organise own and team workloads, balancing competing demands and maintaining patient-focused decisions under pressure.
• Experience of coaching, mentoring or assessing competence.

Other role requirements

• Commitment to respectful leadership, staff development, confidentiality and equitable access to high-quality services.

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.

Address

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust