Virology and Molecular Pathology Training Section Manager

UHCW; Coventry; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Part time

Job summary

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust invites applications for the Virology and Molecular Pathology Training Section Manager role. The post oversees the departmental training programme to ensure staff competencies and CPD, maintaining a safe, high-quality service across UHCW and George Eliot Hospital.

The role is part-time, 22.5 hours weekly. You will join the senior Biomedical Scientist team, act as shift manager, and drive staff development with strong leadership and

Qualifications

• HCPC registration is required.
• MSc, FIBMS or IBMS Special Examination or equivalent.
• IBMS Specialist Diploma or equivalent (e.g. CPSM logbook) expected.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage the departmental training programme for all staff grades and coordinate across the CWPS Network.
• Maintain records of training and competence for staff in all sections.
• Act as part of the senior Biomedical Scientist team and rotate as shift manager addressing operational and HR matters.
• Lead external training/meetings and integrate learning into service improvements.
• Deliver formal training sessions to groups and develop specialist knowledge as agreed.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

People management

Quality and accuracy

Planning and organisation

Problem solving

Negotiating and influencing

Digital literacy

Education

HCPC Registration

MSc, FIBMS or IBMS Special Examination

IBMS Specialist Diploma or equivalent

Evidence of CPD

Job description

Virology and Molecular Pathology Training Section Manager

NHS AfC: Band 7

Main area Virology and Molecular Pathology Training Section Manager Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 22.5 hours per week (Working Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays on site across UHCW and George Eliot Hospital laboratory sites.) Job ref 218-HSS-B7-8310984

Site University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Town Coventry Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 08/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 27/10/2026

Job overview

Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Service (CWPS) is a well established Pathology Network in the South Midlands. The Virology and Molecular Pathology services are across two main sites; University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust in Coventry and the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.

The department is multi-disciplinary with responsibility for the operational delivery of infectious disease Serology and Molecular testing and Genomics testing for both Blood Sciences and Cellular Pathology. The department operates a 24/7 service.

The post is a role share with an existing Training Section Manager who works two days a week. The working days for this post will be Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

As Training Section Manager you will be responsible for managing the departmental training programme for all grades of staff ensuring that appropriate competencies, qualifications and CPD are completed to maintain a safe service.

In addition you will be part of the department's senior Biomedical Scientist team and act as shift manager on a rotational basis being the point of contact on a daily basis for laboratory operational and HR matters. Experience of working in a Virology, Serology or Molecular laboratory is required.

The successful applicant will be a dynamic, organised individual with excellent communication skills and the ability to motivate staff. There is a requirement to work effectively as part of a departmental and Pathology wide Section Manager team as well as managing individual work streams and deadlines.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care.

We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Manage the departmental training programme for all grades of staff as directed by the Pathology Department Manager and ensure these are co-ordinated across the Network.
• Manage the completion and maintenance of records of training and competence for staff in all sections.
• Participate in and encourage continual professional development to maintain high standards of knowledge and skills for all staff.
• Organise, participate in and perform personal development reviews, supporting and working to an agreed set of objectives, both personal and departmental/CWPS.
• Attend external training/meetings as agreed with Pathology Department Managers and incorporate learning into Network service improvements.
• Organise, prepare and deliver formal training sessions to groups to ensure a high level of specialist theoretical knowledge.
• Develop specialist knowledge in a departmental section, as agreed with the Pathology Department Manager, but be able to undertake duties at a Band 7 level, in any area, on any site within relevant departments as required.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Person specification

Qualifications

• HCPC Registration
• MSc, FIBMS or IBMS Special Examination
• Completion of IBMS Specialist Diploma or equivalent (such as CPSM logbook)
• Evidence of CPD

Experience

• Evidence of experience working in a Clinical Laboratory as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist.
• Comprehensive understanding of NHS services/systems and NHS context (e.g. modernising pathology services).
• Demonstrates ability in producing written reports/papers/documents to a high standard (in English).
• Commitment to change management to develop more innovative ways of working to improve service delivery.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, and the ability to motivate and develop staff.

Knowledge

• Demonstrates an in-depth knowledge in required discipline

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (in English).
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to train other staff.
• Ability to communicate technical information and results to other health professionals and be able to use telephone and email.
• Advanced IT and keyboard skills.
• Supervisory skills.
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• Problem solving skills, including lateral thinking and ability to find creative solutions.
• Negotiating and Influencing skills.
• Consistently achieves against targets.
• Ability to cope with a wide range of complex issues, prioritising effectively when dealing with competing demands.

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s values. (As detailed in UHCW’s Values in Action document below)
• Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience

To ensure that we provide world-class patient care, UHCW recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values and Behaviours in their everyday life. Therefore, if you are invited to interview, you will be undertaking a Values Based Interview/Assessment, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours which can be accessed on the right side of this page under the job description.

The Supporting Information Section in your application should therefore reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated Behaviours. You will be expected to provide us with examples from work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviour.

The Trust is committed to Equal Opportunities within the workplace. All vacancies will be considered for Job Share unless otherwise stated. All applicants who have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be interviewed. Where a post has an overwhelming response, this Trust may use random selection in order to reduce numbers to interview, any disabled applicants will automatically be guaranteed an interview and will be exempt from this process.

In submitting an application form, you authorise University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust to confirm from your previous or current NHS employer and other prior employers; previous NHS service details and personal data held about you, including Occupational Health data (inoculations and screening tests). This data will be transferred using NHS Electronic Staff Record and third-party systems via an automated process and only used for the purposes of obtaining and maintaining accurate employment records, should you be appointed to the post.

UHCW NHS Trust, by virtue of its Green Plan, is committed to ensuring that the way we provide services minimises the impact on the environment and the future health of the public e.g. zero waste to landfill, reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our recycling and reuse percentages.

If you are successful at interview you will receive a conditional offer of employment and we’ll ask you for information so that we can carry out pre-employment checks. You must successfully complete all pre-employment checks to progress to a final unconditional offer.

We must confirm the identity of our staff and their right to work in the United Kingdom. We will ask you to submit proof of your identity and right to work documents via a secure digital platform approved by the Home Office, named TrustID. Alternatively, you may be asked to attend our office with original documents.

Depending on you level of exposure with patients you may be required to undertake a Standard or Enhanced DBS. The cost of this check will be charged to you and will be deducted from your salary over the first 3 months of employment at the current rate.

All correspondence will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk/SPAM folders

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Name Helen Keyworth
Job title Virology and Molecular Pathology Manager
Email address [e-mail]
Telephone number 02476 965358
Additional information

For an informal conversation regarding this post, please contact Helen Keyworth.