Overview
Main area Pathology Grade NHS AfC: Band 8b Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (37.5 hours per week) Job ref 216-AM-C7467266
Employer University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Employer type NHS
Site Derriford Town Plymouth
Salary £64,455 - £74,896 Per annum, Yearly
Closing date 11/11/2025 23:59
Microbiology Laboratory Manager
NHS AfC: Band 8b
Job overview
Are you a suitably qualified and motivated individual looking to develop your career as a Lead Biomedical Scientist for University Hospitals Plymouth Microbiology service? We currently have an exciting opportunity to join our Microbiology team, supporting and serving our clinical partners throughout the South West Peninsula.
Reporting to the Deputy Pathology Service Line Manager, you will be a part of the Senior Pathology Management & Leadership Team. This is an opportunity to utilise your existing experience and develop your knowledge and skills working within a progressive Peninsula Pathology Network.
This is an exciting time for Pathology where we are in the process of upgrading our current LIMS to an EPR and preparing a full Pathology transition to a newly designed, purpose-built laboratory facility.
Our laboratories are UKAS accredited, have full HCPC/IBMS training accreditation and support a range of educational pathways to professional success.
You will hold a post graduate qualification or be a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Scientists and will be State Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You will be self-motivated with excellent communication skills and have significant experience in the discipline of Microbiology.
If this opportunity is the next step for your development and you would like an informal discussion, please contact us: Tim Mclean - tim.mclean@nhs.net
Main duties of the job
1. Overall responsibility for the operational planning, organisation and delivery of the quality diagnostic Microbiology service in collaboration with the Pathology Service Line Manager, Deputy Pathology Service Line Manager, Consultant Head of Department and Pathology Service Line Clinical Director.
2. Managerial responsibility for the following Pathology Services in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Trust: Bacteriology, Serology, Mycology, Molecular & Virology.
3. Will participate as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) within Microbiology and the wider Pathology service supporting the Pathology Service Line Manager, Deputy Pathology Service Line Manager, Consultant Head of Department and Pathology Consultant Service Line Clinical Director in the strategic development of services which impact across the health community both locally and within the peninsula.
4. Responsibility for managing all resources in Microbiology ensuring the resources are used effectively and efficiently whilst adhering to Trust Standard Financial Instructions (SFIs) and delivering agreed cost improvements allocated by the Trust. The post holder will have delegated responsibility for managing the departmental budget of £7 million.
5. Responsibility for effective liaison between the Microbiology service, the Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) service and the Trust.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.
Please note that all communication will be electronic. If you have issues applying online or require reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission.
We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. To prioritise Microbiology service plans and workload to ensure the efficient, safe, and timely provision of results for direct patient care, both in primary and secondary care.
2. To be responsible for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) for all services delivered by the department.
3. To ensure all services are provided within the current legal and ethical frameworks, as directed by senior managers / clinical directors.
4. To assist the operational management teams within the trust to meet and deliver targets and agendas.
5. To identify and promote best practice in all areas.
6. To establish and develop processes for the setting of standards for the provision of Pathology services, within allocated areas of responsibility.
7. To be responsible for the maintenance and development of all departmental equipment and any future technological developments
8. To manage the work of senior staff in the operational area and develop a culture in which members of staff are continuously improving the delivery of high-quality services.
9. To be responsible for ensuring all relevant contractual obligations to ICB’s, NHS Trusts and all commercial contracts are met with appropriate income generated.
10. To delegate authority, as appropriate, to ensure all other staff contribute effectively to the service and to patient care.
For further details please see attached JD&PS.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘ Priority ’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Person specification
Qualifications
* Educated to BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences or a degree acceptable to the Institute of Biomedical Sciences and the Heath & Care Professions Council. The latter will require a Post Graduate Certificate, a Post Graduate Diploma or an MSc in Biomedical Sciences. Or recognised equivalent qualification.
* MSc in Biomedical Sciences or Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (FIBMS) by examination (MSc equivalent)
* Proven evidence of Continual Professional Development
Knowledge and Experience
* Significant demonstrable experience of staff development and performance management
* Significant managerial demonstrable experience in a Microbiology laboratory, which handles a total workload of >500k patient samples per annum.
* Proven demonstrable experience as a training officer
* A willingness to undertake study leading to qualifications required for career advancement
* Proven knowledge of the principles of LEAN, 6s and 6 sigma
* Demonstrable experience of Oracle procurement systems.
* Ability to manage one’s own schedule with frequent and conflicting interruptions whilst completing priorities on a daily basis.
* Interprets national plans e.g. Pathology Modernisation Plan and develops local strategies and projects to implement them
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.
If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.
We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.
Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests. This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.
For Doctors Roles:
Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details
University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.
We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.
In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.
We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.
Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.
Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.
In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Name Tim Mclean
Job title Deputy Service Line Manager for Pathology
Email address tim.mclean@nhs.net
Telephone number 01752433914
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