Job overview
The Royal Marsden has a vital role in championing change and improvement in cancer care through research, innovation, education, and leading-edge practice. We are proud of our international reputation for pushing boundaries and ensuring patients receive the very best and latest in cancer treatment and care.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Quality Support Officer to join our Clinical Genomics department, based at the Centre for Molecular Pathology in Sutton — a state-of-the-art facility bringing together molecular diagnostics and translational science to support personalised cancer treatment.
In this key role, you will support the Quality Officer and wider Clinical Genomics team in maintaining and developing the department’s Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with ISO 15189 accreditation standards. Responsibilities will include coordinating audits, managing document control, monitoring non-conformances, and supporting quality improvement initiatives. You will also help prepare for UKAS inspections, maintain accurate quality data, and assist in training and communication around compliance processes.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join one of the world’s leading cancer centres and contribute to delivering the highest standards of quality and patient care. The Trust offers excellent opportunities for professional development and a range of staff benefits and wellbeing initiatives.
Main duties of the job
The Quality Support Officer will play a key role in supporting the Quality Officer and enhancing the department’s Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure compliance with ISO 15189 accreditation standards and Trust policies.
Key responsibilities will include all the administration and clerical functions to assist with compliance management for the Clinical Genomics laboratories department in conjunction with the Quality Officer and laboratory staff in Clinical Genomics. The post holder will understand and participate in the maintenance and development of the department’s quality activities and will support the implementation of Quality improvements.
The post holder will provide specialist administrative duties and quality support to the Clinical Genomics team, including audit coordination, document control, incident management, KQI reporting and quality improvement initiatives. The post holder will be expected to assist in data management relating to the technical aspects of the service and therefore needs to be fully IT literate. Good communication and team working are essential.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Take ownership of monitoring the monitor departmental quality management activities such as internal audits, turn around time (TAT) monitoring and non-conformance tracking.
Take ownership of updating departmental quality policies and SOPs. Act as the lead for policy compliance reviews and ensure integration of new regulatory requirements into departmental processes.
Take responsibility for registering the department with external quality assurance (EQA) schemes, liaising with external suppliers to coordinate registration and payment for EQA schemes
Coordinate and organise the preparation for UKAS inspections, ensuring required documentation and evidence are available.
We are seeking a highly organised and detail-oriented individual with excellent communication and IT skills. You should have a degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field, and experience working with Quality Management Systems or within a healthcare or laboratory environment.
Person specification
Education/Experience
Essential criteria
1. Educated to degree level or equivalent in years’ experience
2. Strong IT skills, including MS Office and database management
3. Demonstrable experience with Quality Management Systems (QMS)
Desirable criteria
4. Previous NHS or healthcare quality role experience
5. Knowledge of ISO 15189 standards
6. Experience supporting audits and inspections
Skills and abilities
Essential criteria
7. Proven organisational and prioritisation skills
8. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
9. Ability to work autonomously and use initiative
10. Attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to produce quality reports
Desirable criteria
11. Experience in training or mentoring staff
12. Experience with laboratory information management systems (LIMS)
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.
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