Office Manager

Southend University Hospital NHS Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A community health service provider in Chelmsford seeks an experienced Office Manager to join the Cellular Pathology team. The role involves ensuring effective management of the office, providing administrative support, and leading the clerical team. Candidates should possess strong leadership and communication skills, contributing to the high-quality service standard expected in the department. This position offers a supportive environment with opportunities for career development. The advert closes on Wednesday 21 Jan 2026.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Career development and training access

Qualifications

• Experience in office management or team leadership.
• Ability to communicate effectively within a team.
• Organizational skills to manage departmental operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the Cellular Pathology Admin & Clerical team.
• Provide professional support to the Operational Manager.
• Monitor performance and escalation of service issues.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team management

Administrative support

Job description

We are looking for an experienced office manager or team leader, to join the friendly team in Histopathology at Broomfield Hospital.

Cellular Pathology at Broomfield Hospital is a busy department that incorporates Histology and Non-gynae sample preparations. The department handles over 30,000 specimens p.a.

Role Overview

You will be responsible for ensuring robust systems are in place for the management and co-ordination of the Cellular Pathology office, providing comprehensive administrative support and knowledge to the Consultant Histopathologist team and junior doctors. Working closely with the laboratory team, cancer pathway trackers and Pathology management team and colleagues across MSE.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent leadership to the Cellular Pathology Admin & Clerical team and support the department in order to successfully achieve the current Histology cancer waiting times target.
• Provide high level, professional and confidential support to the Operational Manager and Service Unit manager covering all aspects of the service provision, ensuring the delivery of high quality histology service.
• Communication and escalation to the senior Pathology management team regarding the Histology Department’s performance and trends monitoring the 2 week waits turnaround times (2WW TAT).
• Liaison with service users including the team external to pathology sensitive information including breaches to local and national benchmarks.
• Responsible for working with colleagues across Pathology MSE and maintaining the Trust’s good relationships with external agencies including other Trusts.
• Use a variety of approaches in liaising with histology users and colleagues within the laboratory to gain the best outcome for the service in line with Departmental objectives.
• Produce, review and finalise high quality responses to complaints and incidents, working closely with the governance team in line with the Trust’s procedures and protocols.
• Regularly promote and encourage open communication to ensure good wellbeing in the workplace.
• Provide support, motivation and clear guidance to the A&C team in line with Trust core values and expected behaviours.
• Develop and maintain the management of training and development and competency plans for the A&C team ensuring appropriate cover of tasks and rotas are in place.
• Support the essential tasks carried out by the medical secretary Histopathology team.

About the Team

We work together, and in conjunction with MSE Health and Care Partnership, to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients in a compassionate way, and provide a respectful, but vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

From facilities through to consultant specialists we want to be the best, to achieve this we need to recruit not just those who are the finest in their field but also those who have the potential to be. Yes, experience is important but so is outlook – if you are dynamic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic we want you to join us.

What We Offer

We not only offer you a good working environment with flexible working opportunities, but also the opportunity to develop your career with access to appropriate training for your job and the support to succeed and progress.

Are you looking for an exciting Office Manager role using your unique qualities, then we want you to hear from us.

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description.

We look forward to your application.

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a suitable number of applications. This advert closes on Wednesday 21 Jan 2026.