Job summary
- Main area
- Genomics
- Grade
- Band 9
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 001-HS008-0326
- Employer
- Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- CIGC (Canolfan Iechyd Genomig Cymru)
- Town
- Longwood Drive, Whitchurch
- Salary
- £110,818 - £127,523 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 09/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Laboratory Director
Band 9
WHO WE ARE:
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Board in the UK, employing over 16,000 staff and providing over 100 specialist services. Serving a population of around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst also working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone and to delivering excellent care and support.
Our mission is “Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together”. We have recently refreshed our strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, which sets out the Health Board’s Vision for improving the health and wellbeing of the populations we serve by 2035 through the delivery of our strategic objectives; Putting People First, Providing Outstanding Quality, Delivering in the Right Places, and Acting for the Future. We have challenging times ahead, but we are confident that by tackling these challenges together, we can support people to live healthier lives and reduce the unfair differences in the prevalence of illness and health outcomes we see in our communities today. We aspire to deliver outstanding care and treatment for people when they need it, where they need it; care that compares well with the best in the world, but to do so, we need to transform how we deliver services over the next decade and beyond.
We are a values-driven organisation and out goals will only be realised if our values are at the heart of everything we do. Created by colleagues, patients and their families and carers, our values are:
· We are kind and caring
· We are respectful
· We have trust and integrity
· We take personal responsibility
OUR REGION:
Wales has much to offer with miles of stunning coastline, UNESCO world heritage sites and beautiful countryside. Cardiff, the thriving Welsh capital, has something for everyone. It is a fantastic city to live and work in with an abundance of sports, arts and cultural attractions. Situated to the west of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan offers a combination of beautiful Welsh countryside and a dramatic natural coastline, as well as charming towns including Penarth and Cowbridge. Those seeking more culture may find themselves drawn to the National Museum, St Fagan’s Museum of Welsh Life or the Millennium Centre, home of the Welsh National Opera. Whether city life or rural living, Cardiff and the Vale offers the best of both worlds.
The Agenda for Change Pay Award for 2026/27 is effective from 1st April 2026.
Please note successful applicants with a start date from 1st April onwards the salary will be as per the 2026/27 pay award. For further detail the pay circular is available via this link https://www.nhs.wales/files/pc-resources/afc-w-02-2026-pdf-pdf?ts=1773244958086
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to apply for the All Wales Medical Genomics Service (AWMGS) Laboratory Director (AfC band 9), based at Canolfan Iechyd Genomic Cymru / Wales Genomics Health Centre in Cardiff. This permanent post is responsible for a rapidly expanding national genomics laboratory delivering cancer services, inherited genetic services including rare disease, pharmacogenomic and neuropsychiatric services, and provides genomic population health testing services commissioned in Wales.
The AWMGS Laboratory Director is responsible for the strategic direction of the genomics laboratory service at an all Wales, UK and international level. This includes the identification and development of all aspects of strategic relationships required for leading business, research and service development.
The AWMGS Laboratory Director is supported by a very experienced and talented team of Clinical Scientists, Bioinformaticians, Genetic Technologists, Biomedical Scientists, quality, training, business and admin staff working closely with researchers and clinicians. The service is leading the delivery of nationally and internationally innovative and competitive genetic and genomic clinical and research services throughout Wales.
We are searching for someone who strongly shares our values:
•We care about the people we serve and the people we work with
•We trust one another
•We respect each other
•We take personal responsibility
•We treat people with kindness
•We act with integrity
Main duties of the job
The AWMGS is hosted by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) and reports directly into the Executive team via the Executive Director of Allied Health Professionals and Healthcare Scientists. The AWMGS provides comprehensive clinical and laboratory services to the population of Wales. The AWMGS laboratory service delivers cancer services, inherited services including rare disease, pharmacogenomic and neuropsychiatric services and provides population health testing services commissioned in Wales.
The post holder is responsible for the strategic direction of the AWMGS laboratory service at a local, Welsh, UK national and international level. This includes the identification and development of strategic relationships and alliances leading to business, research, innovation and service developments in all aspects of operational AWMGS laboratory service delivery.
The post holder will be responsible for the provision of comprehensive high quality, value based and cost effective laboratory genetics and genomics services for the population of Wales. The AWMGS laboratory service budget is approximately £28m and the laboratory employs approximately 220 staff. The service is provided to the population of Wales of 3.2 million.
The post holder may delegate selected duties and /or responsibilities to persons of appropriate competence and seniority, whilst retaining ultimate responsibility and professional accountability for the overall operation and direction of the service.
Working for our organisation
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 17,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving over 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone, delivering excellent care and support.
Our mission is “Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together”, and our vision is that every person’s chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. Our 10-year transformation and improvement strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, is our chance to work collaboratively with the public and our workforce to make our health board more sustainable for the future.
Cardiff is the vibrant capital city of Wales and a great place to work and live. Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay with their many amenities, are easily accessible. Cardiff has excellent transport links to the Vale of Glamorgan with its beautiful countryside and seaside towns and villages. It is also easy to access the beautiful scenery in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, the Gower peninsula, and the Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire coastline in South West Wales.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.
If you would like to discuss the post in more detail, please contact:
Mr Clive Morgan, Managing Director, AWMGS
Email: [email protected]
Person specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- FRCPath (Genetics)
- HCPC state registered Clinical Scientist
- 1st or 2nd class honours degree in biological sciences, genetics or related subject
- Masters degree (or assessed equivalent level of knowledge) in Genetics
- Evidence of CPD
- Detailed knowledge of the pathophysiology of disease
- Excellent skills in the interpretation and reporting of highly complex DNA analysis and/or chromosome abnormalities
- Able to critically analyse and interpret highly complex scientific data where there are a wide range of opinions
- The ability to critically appraise new published information and apply this to the development of the specialist areas provided by the Laboratory Genetics Service
- The ability to devise appropriate and effective protocols to scientifically evaluate and appraise results and to present findings to a wider audience.
- The skill to appraise new laboratory digital systems and both evaluate their acceptability and supervise their incorporation into the Department.
- Digital skills, including use of the laboratory computer systems, safe and ethical use of AI programmes, common software packages (Word, Excel, Access) to use and present data and a range of appropriate specialist applications.
- Advanced problem solving skills and the ability to apply these to the clinical interpretation of results, research activities managerial functions and financial management.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience in analysis and interpretation in all areas of Laboratory Genomics / Genetics to ensure the post holder can act as an expert within the Cardiff and Vale UHB, and as a subject matter expert for the service.
- Extensive experience of managing a genetics / genomics laboratory or major section of a laboratory or hold a relevant management qualification with supporting practical experience.
- To have demonstrable experience in successfully managing complex system level change.
- To have demonstrable experience of research – as evidenced by research grants and published papers in peer-reviewed journals.
- In depth experience in training various grades of Medical, Clinical Scientist, technical staff and other relevant health care professionals
- Experience of successful budget management.
- Experience of developing strategy both within and outside the NHS
Skills and Attributes
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication and presentational skills, as required in the presentation of research findings, at scientific meetings and to clinicians.
- Extensive knowledge of human genomics / genetics and clinical applications. Up to date knowledge of genetic diagnostics tests
- Up to date and comprehensive awareness of national Welsh, UK an international policies and legislation affecting the NHS and genetic / genomic testing
- Extensive expert knowledge of management practice including staff management.
- Extensive expert knowledge and experience of successfully managing statutory regulatory and UKAS accreditation standards including Health and Safety.
- Excellent communication skills which are effective for all stakeholders in services.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, both verbal and written, in order to maintain good working relationships and networks with managerial, clinical and professional colleagues within and beyond Cardiff and Vale UHB
- The ability to communicate results and their complex interpretation to both experienced senior and inexperienced junior clinicians in a clear and concise manner.
- Excellent and proven leadership skills.
- Effective management skills, with the ability to resolve highly complex staff issues, provide leadership and mentor junior staff.
- Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to apply these to individual and team leading activities.
- The ability to lead on complex and frequently challenging service development and delivery programmes at departmental level for specialist services and research and development.
- Show demonstrable competence in the use of specialist data analysis and management packages, bioinformatic systems, browsers and in their functionality and inter-relationships.
- Ability to work independently, managing own workload and that of others in line with clinical and departmental objectives and relevant professional guidelines.
- Enthusiasm
- Ability to motivate and inspire staff
- Self confident and emotionally resilient. Able to deal with distressing situations such as closing laboratories and terminating contracts of employment.
- Innovative and able for frame persuasive arguments for development of value based initiatives which benefit patients.
Desirable criteria
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh (please delete as appropriate)
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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.
Welsh language skills are desirable
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Clive Morgan
- Job title
- Managing Director
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07761756128
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