Job overview
Are you ready to take the next step in your cellular therapy career? The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, a world-renowned centre for cancer care and innovation, is seeking a Deputy Head for our Cellular Therapy Laboratory (CTL). This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the UK’s most advanced transplant and cellular therapy services and help shape the future of cell-based treatments.
As Deputy Head of the Cellular Therapy Laboratory, you will work closely with the Head of CTL to ensure the safe, effective, and compliant operation of a cutting-edge service that supports adult and paediatric stem cell transplantation. You will act as the laboratory Quality Lead, ensuring adherence to HTA and JACIE standards, and will deputise for the Head of Department, including acting as Person Designate (PD) for the Human Tissue Authority when required.
Your responsibilities will span operational management, technical expertise, quality leadership, and mentoring of the Cellular Therapy team.
The Royal Marsden is a global leader in cancer care, treatment innovation, and translational research. As part of our team, you will work in a supportive and forward-thinking environment where your expertise will directly impact patient outcomes and the future of cellular therapies.
Main duties of the job
To work with the Head of Department to be responsible for the operational management of the Cellular Therapy Laboratory. The post holder will also act as the laboratory quality lead to ensure operational and regulatory compliance. They will work in close partnership with the transplant quality management team to feed into the quality management programme and will ensure delivery of training to CTL staff and other clinical and nursing personnel within the Trust.
The post holder will deputise for the Head of the Cellular Therapy Laboratory including acting as Person Designate (PD) for the Human Tissue Authority.
The post holder will be involved in the core work of the laboratory and is required to play a major role in the development and validation of new techniques.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• The post holder will act as the Quality lead for the Cellular Therapy Laboratory, ensuring with the Head of Department, that a robust Quality Management programme is in place. Participate in the integration of quality control across the clinical transplant programme to ensure effective service provision and the maintenance of the Trust HTA licence and JACIE accreditation.
• Liaise daily with the Head of the Cellular Therapy Laboratory to ensure that the agreed quality standards of service are maintained as outlined in the CTL Quality Manual and in accordance with clinical requirements.
• Deputise for the Head of Department in their absence, supervising and taking responsibility for the timely and efficient service provision of all aspects of the clinical, scientific and technical work of the Cellular Therapy Laboratory
• Service Planning: Contribute to future service planning, business cases, and integration of research and clinical innovations.
About You
• Extensive experience in cellular therapy, stem cell processing, and laboratory quality systems.
• Strong knowledge of GMP standards, HTA requirements, and JACIE accreditation.
• Proven leadership and team development skills in a clinical laboratory setting.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities with a variety of clinical stakeholders.
• A proactive, organised, and quality-driven approach to service delivery.
• Collaborative Engagement: Work with multidisciplinary teams including transplant coordinators, consultants, and quality managers to deliver high standards of patient care.
• Training and Development: Mentor and supervise staff, ensure up-to-date training records, lead appraisals, and foster an environment of continuous professional development.
• Operational Leadership: Support the Head of CTL in daily operations, staff management, and service continuity.
• Quality Lead: Drive and maintain a robust laboratory Quality Management System, support audits, manage non-conformances, and oversee document control.
• Technical Expertise: Maintain competency in cleanroom procedures, stem cell processing, and GMP-compliant practices including cryopreservation and product release.
Person specification
Skills
Essential criteria
1. Ability to lecture and facilitate learning meetings
2. Ability to produce documents of publishable standard
3. Ability to use in-house IT systems
4. Competent in use of main Microsoft software applications
5. Educational qualification in mathematics
6. Ability to perform complex scientific calculations & data analysis
7. Ability to perform statistical analysis of data & interpretation
8. Able to deal with advanced trouble shooting in all laboratory areas
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
9. Evidence of proven commitment to continued personal and professional development
10. Enthusiasm for job and profession
11. Specific career plan and educational aspirations
12. Authoritative in dealing with staff
13. Confident liaising with other areas
14. Proven leadership skills
15. Ability to motivate & influence laboratory staff
16. Decision maker, can deal with unexpected situations
17. Proactive, receptive to new ideas Ability to present concepts imaginatively and clearly
18. Ability to formulate laboratory policies
Specific Experience
Essential criteria
19. Relevant scientific degree, HCPC registration
20. Evidence of continuing post registration study
21. Higher degree or equivalent
22. Experience post registration in relevant field(s)
23. Evidence of leadership/supervisory skills
24. Evidence of maintenance of practical skill
25. Full understanding of Trust and National policies
26. Knowledge of risk management and clinical governance issues
27. Ability to organise rotas and work plans with a view to managing changing deadlines or situations
28. Ability to plan for Trust targets
29. Full understanding of departmental quality management, internal & external
30. Full understanding of JACIE/HTA accreditation standards
31. Ability to deal with incidents and plan follow up actions
Desirable criteria
32. Chartered Scientist status
33. Qualification in specific area of laboratory service or expertise
34. Mentoring skills
35. Aware of NHS plans, Cancer Plan
Management Experience
Essential criteria
36. Full understanding of relevant departmental and NHS Trust organisational and logistical issues
37. Understanding of relevant current financial issues
38. Ability to manage a budget and identify/deliver CIP plans
39. Full understanding of HR policies, issues and their management
40. Ability to manage change
41. Experience in staff recruitment and selection
Clinical Responsibility
Essential criteria
42. Understanding of relationship between laboratory investigations and clinical practice
43. Awareness of clinical significance of laboratory findings and implications for patients
The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.
Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.
Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff
At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.
The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.
Employer certification / accreditation badges