Regional Head of Laboratory Operations

NHS; Bristol; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS is seeking a highly qualified Lead Consultant for the UKHSA Bristol Laboratory. This pivotal role involves providing leadership, operational management, and microbiological expertise to support public health functions in the Southwest. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in medical microbiology alongside strong financial and managerial skills, contributing to critical public health policies and practices.

Qualifications

• Significant postgraduate experience in Medical Microbiology.
• Extensive managerial experience across various fields.
• Willingness to pursue continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Overall operational management of the UKHSA Bristol Laboratory.
• Budget holder for public health laboratories.
• Lead role in providing microbiological support to Health Protection Teams.

Skills

Leadership

Microbiology

Financial Management

Public Health Expertise

Education

MSc Biomedical Science

State registration with HCPC

Job description

In partnership with the UKHSA Public Health Microbiologists (PHM) and the Southwest Consultant in Public Health Infection (CPHI), Lead Consultant Severn Pathology Laboratory, Clinical Lead for Mycology Reference Laboratory and Laboratory Manager; the post holder will provide vision, leadership and direction to the Public Health Laboratory Southwest. Additionally, the post holder will provide microbiology support to the Southwest Health Protection Teams and Local Authorities, as well as provide expert microbiology advice during outbreaks and incidents of communicable disease.

The post-holder will have overall responsibility for the efficient and effective operational management of the UKHSA Bristol Laboratory. This is currently done in conjunction with the CPHI for the Southwest, Clinical Lead for UKHSA Bristol.

Salary information: Grade 6 (£68568-£78886) or Afc Band 8c (£76965-£81652)

Main duties of the job

It is anticipated that the post holder will take a leading role in support of UKHSA activities across the Southwest.

In conjunction with senior bacteriology and virology colleagues, the appointee will be expected to participate in and support the provision of a comprehensive diagnostic and advisory service to local clinicians and other users of the UKHSA Bristol. This will include regular site visits and consultations with key stakeholders across the Southwest which will form a key component of the job. Additionally, the post holder will have a role in teaching and training, audit, surveillance, and research.

The UKHSA Public Health Laboratory, Bristol is situated on the Southmead Hospital main site and provides services to the North Bristol NHS Trust, UHBristol and Weston Hospitals and the Royal United Hospital Bath in Collaboration with North Bristol NHS Trust as Severn Pathology. The UKHSA laboratory has provided public health services for Bristol for more than 40 years and currently also provides microbiology services to approximately 250 general practitioner surgeries. Public Health services are also provided to the Southwest, and mycology reference services to the UK. The laboratory provides important business continuity for the rest of the UKHSA regional network and Southwest Region.

About us

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Having overall responsibility for the efficient and effective operational management of the UKHSA Bristol Laboratory, in accordance with UKHSA and Laboratory policies and procedures, and in line with the relevant accreditation schemes. This work is done in conjunction with the Lead Consultant UKHSA Bristol Laboratory, and CPHI for the Southwest.
• In partnership with the senior teams to provide vision, leadership and direction to the Public Health Laboratories and to lead in strategic development, including identification, prioritisation of, and support for specific service developments and research areas
• Be the budget holder for the public health laboratories, taking primary responsibility for the financial management of the services. This includes having responsibility for budget setting in collaboration with the senior leadership teams and UKHSA Senior Finance Officers and ensuring compliance with UKHSA Standing Financial Instructions.
• In collaboration with UKHSA clinical scientists, ensure that the standing financial instructions, professional standards of conduct and other UKHSA policies and procedures including health and safety are observed and operated within the UKHSA managed sections of the laboratory.
• Providing technical and professional support to the Lead Consultant and CPHI as well as the Deputy Director and Head of Technical and Scientific Services of the UKHSA Specialist Microbiology Services and represent the CPHI as required.
• Ensure full compliance with clinical governance and clinical effectiveness requirements of the UKHSA and Trust sites where co-located.
• To support the Lead Consultant in the performance monitoring of UKHSA Microbiology assets within UKHSA Bristol.
• In partnership with the CPHI, organise a comprehensive microbiological service to support UKHSA Health Protection Teams, Consultants in Communicable Disease Control, Local Authority Directors of Public Health and Chief Environmental Health Officers in in the Southwest.
• In partnership with the Lead Consultant and CPHI organise the provision of laboratory support for other agencies involved in potential infection hazards e.g. FSA, BWI, Environment Agency, VLA, HSE, MBA, DEFRA, and the Armed Forces.
• Be expected, with the Lead Consultant, CPHI and Laboratory Manager, to lead in any UKHSA coordinated response or activity of a national/international nature, such as a bioterrorism incident or a major disease outbreak.
• Work with the Trust and UKHSA information analysts to ensure adherence to the requirements of the Data Protection Act and conformity to the Caldecott Guardian requirements of both the UKHSA and any host Trust.
• Facilitate the implementation of regional and national UKHSA strategy as specified in relevant Business Plans.
• Participate in UKHSA national and regional scientific and managerial activities, as required by the Lead Consultant and CPHI for the Southwest and Deputy Director, Network Laboratories.
• Liaise with NHS and commercial microbiology laboratories throughout the Southwest.
• Provide technical and financial support for other laboratories, where appropriate, in development of clinical and public health networks and project groups.
• In collaboration with the laboratory manager, organise the arrangements for routine surveillance and reporting from UKHSA Bristol, including participation in enhanced surveillance programmes and "look-back" surveys.
• Liaise closely with the Southwest CPHI, UKHSA Information Analysts and Field Epidemiologists and report promptly any local information which may affect the function of the UKHSA.
• Collaborate with UKHSA reference and epidemiological facilities in the reporting and investigation of infections, control of outbreaks, assessment of vaccines, development of the laboratory methods and involvement in surveys.
• Be involved in research activities consistent with the priorities of the Public Health Laboratory, subject to the availability of funding and resources.
• Be involved in the training of medical, nursing, clinical scientist, biomedical scientist and administrative staff.
• Contribute, as required, to the teaching of medical microbiology and epidemiology to undergraduates and postgraduate students in the Southwest region Clinical Governance, audit and professional activities
• To participate in clinical audit.
• Fulfil the requirements of a recognised scheme of continuing professional development (CPD) such as that of the Institute of Biomedical Science or Royal College of Pathologists in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.
• Participate in annual appraisal and in the UKHSA Job Planning and Appraisal schemes.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your knowledge and experience, and/or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 15 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)

1500-word supporting statement

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essentialcriteria

Meets some essential criteria

Piles Meets all essentialcriteriawill be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Significant postgraduate practical, technical and theoretical experience in Medical Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Sciences

Please do not exceed 1500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our site in Bristol.

If based at one of our labs, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Person Specification

• MSc Biomedical Science, Microbiology or Biological Science or equivalent experience in a laboratory management role
• State registration with HCPC as a Biomedical Scientist or Clinical Scientist
• Willingness to continue the learning process through academic or practical experience
• Significant postgraduate practical, technical and theoretical experience in Medical Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Sciences
• Extensive knowledge and expertise in various managerial fields, including finance, HR, business, project management, planning, leadership, procurement etc., gained both by qualifications and lengthy experience
• In-depth working knowledge and competency in laboratory bench areas, as appropriate
• Sound knowledge of common IT programme and excellent keyboard and IT skills
• Experience of interviewing and recruiting staff
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD)
• Ability to initiate changes in procedures or policies to induce service development
• Thorough knowledge of laboratory health and safety legislation and practice
• An understanding of microbiology and its application in clinical practice and public health
• Evidence of using technical experience to assess new and existing systems and processes to initiate change in laboratory
• Experience of critically assessing current ways of working and introducing efficient and cost effective practices
• Experience of performance indicators including workload statistics and costing

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.

£68,568 to £81,652 a yearPer annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

5 months

Working pattern

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working