Deputy Pre-Analytical Manager
Closing date: 03 May 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust as a Deputy Pre-Analytical Manager within Blood Sciences. This role provides operational leadership for the Specimen Reception service across both the Queen's Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital campuses.
Specimen Reception is a critical gateway for diagnostic testing within Blood Sciences, processing a high volume of samples that support patient diagnosis and treatment across the Trust and the wider region. The Deputy Pre-Analytical Manager will play a key role in ensuring the service operates safely, efficiently and in line with quality and accreditation standards.
Working closely with the Pre-Analytical & Quality Manager and the wider Blood Sciences leadership team, the post holder will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of Specimen Reception services. This includes overseeing staff, equipment and processes while ensuring the service provides a reliable interface between clinical services and the laboratories.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced laboratory professional with strong leadership skills who is passionate about quality, service improvement and delivering safe and efficient diagnostic services.
Main duties of the job
The Deputy Pre-Analytical Manager will lead the operational delivery of Specimen Reception services across both NUH campuses, ensuring a high-quality, patient-focused service is maintained at all times.
* Coordinate daily workflow, manage staff and resources, and ensure the service responds effectively to operational pressures within a busy 24/7 diagnostic environment.
* Provide line management for the Pre-Analytical Leads and support the wider Specimen Reception workforce including Associate Practitioners and Medical Laboratory Assistants.
* Support the implementation of service improvements, modernisation initiatives and new models of service delivery within the pre-analytical pathway.
* Contribute to departmental planning, support automation developments and ensure the service continues to meet the needs of patients and clinical teams.
* Ensure that quality management systems, governance processes and accreditation standards are embedded within the service.
* Contribute to staff training, workforce development and the continuous improvement of operational processes across both campuses.
About us
With over 19,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.
We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!
We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.
Job responsibilities
The Deputy Pre-Analytical Manager will provide operational leadership and management of the Blood Sciences Specimen Reception service across Nottingham University Hospitals.
* Manage the day‑to‑day delivery of services within Specimen Reception, ensuring effective coordination of staff, workflow and resources to maintain service continuity.
* Oversee the Specimen Reception leadership team, including Pre-Analytical Leads, and provide management support for Associate Practitioners and Medical Laboratory Assistants.
* Play a key role in maintaining a safe, efficient and quality‑driven service by resolving operational and technical issues, supporting service planning and contributing to departmental development.
* Support workforce management processes including recruitment, appraisal, attendance management, training and staff development.
* Ensure compliance with quality management systems and regulatory standards; support the development and implementation of policies, procedures and SOPs, as well as lead audits, incident investigations and quality improvement initiatives within the pre‑analytical pathway.
* Work closely with scientific, medical and operational colleagues to ensure Specimen Reception functions effectively as the interface between clinical services and the laboratories.
* Maintain technical knowledge of specimen handling and laboratory processes to provide specialist operational advice when required.
* Work flexibly across both NUH campuses and support a busy diagnostic service that operates continuously to meet patient and clinical needs.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
* Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience in a pathology, biomedical, healthcare science or laboratory‑related discipline.
* Management or leadership qualification or training.
* A level qualification preferably in Maths and English; evidence of good written English.
* Demonstrates a commitment to continuing education and training.
* Knowledge of quality management systems within a pathology or healthcare environment.
* Training in health and safety, risk management or quality assurance.
Experience
* Significant experience working in a pathology laboratory environment, particularly within specimen reception or pre‑analytical services.
* Experience of supervising and/or line managing staff, including performance management and appraisal.
* Experience of staff training, competency assessment, and workforce development.
* Experience of working within quality, governance, and accreditation frameworks (e.g. UKAS, ISO standards).
* Experience of managing operational workflows and resolving service delivery issues.
* Previous relevant experience of working in the NHS.
* Experience of managing large multidisciplinary teams across multiple staff bands.
* Experience of recruitment and selection processes.
* Experience of service improvement, change management, or automation projects.
* Experience of rota management within a 24/7 service.
Communication and Relationship Skills
* Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
* Excellent professional, confident communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to understand and relay complex information to people at all levels.
* Good numerical and analytical skills – ability to write reports with inclusion of complex data and formulate procedures.
* Ability / experience of training others in own field of expertise.
* Ability to use Microsoft Office to a high standard, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.
* Experience of chairing meetings, delivering presentations, or facilitating training sessions.
* Experience of responding to staff concerns, complaints, or mediation.
Analytical and Judgement Skills
* Ability to obtain, absorb, analyse, interpret and communicate complex information rapidly, while retaining attention to detail.
* Able to take responsibility for own work and work without direct supervision where appropriate.
* Able to work using own initiative where applicable, knowing own limitations.
* Be able to respond to service demand and prioritise work effectively.
* Experience of audit design, data analysis, and trend identification (e.g. Datix, quality metrics).
* Experience of developing business cases or service improvement proposals.
Planning and Organisation Skills
* Ability to work under pressure to competing challenging deadlines.
* Ability to effectively manage a wide variety of tasks at any one time and manage changing work priorities accordingly.
* Excellent time management skills and can work to conflicting deadlines.
* Experience of workforce planning, rota production, and resource allocation.
* Ability to plan and deliver service improvements while maintaining day‑to‑day operational delivery.
* Experience of contributing to annual service plans or departmental reviews.
* Experience of managing change within a complex healthcare environment.
Physical Skills
* Advanced keyboard skills with a working knowledge of using a variety of software packages.
* Hand / eye coordination accuracy for handling variety of samples.
* Must be capable of sitting for prolonged periods of time, either at a computer or in meetings.
* Requires daily regular use of VDU keyboard use.
Other
* Ability to work flexibly across a 24/7 service, including weekends and bank holidays.
* Commitment to maintaining patient confidentiality and compliance with Data Protection legislation and Caldicott Guidelines.
* Awareness of health and safety requirements within a laboratory environment.
* Ability to work under pressure and respond effectively to service demands.
* Willingness to support service modernisation, automation, and new ways of working.
* Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion within the workplace.
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.
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