Job vacancy: Deputy Laboratory Manager - Microbiology, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth

Job summary

Main area: Biomedical Sciences
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Full time - 37.5 hours per week)
Job ref: 216-LT-DB8237202

Employer: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Derriford
Town: Plymouth
Salary: £57,528 - £64,750 Per Annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 17/09/2026 23:59

Deputy Laboratory Manager - Microbiology

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Assists and deputises for the Laboratory Manager as required.
To assist the Microbiology Laboratory Manager in the management of the clinical technical service provided by the Bacteriology Department and ensuring that this meets the requirements of the clinical leads.
To be responsible for planning and prioritising the scientific workload of the Bacteriology Laboratory on a day-to-day basis.
Achieve, demonstrate, maintain and promote scientific & technical excellence, and by example ensure high professional standards amongst the scientific, technical and support staff in your sections within the Laboratory.
To ensure that all staff meet the necessary standards of speed, quality and accuracy, appropriate to the level of experience and training.
Ensuring the release of staff to attend Essential Skills and Knowledge Training annually.
Support and help to develop the training of the Department’s technical and scientific staff.
Working with relevant Clinical Leads, will be responsible for the evaluation of new equipment, new/replacement test methods and new techniques within the Laboratory. This will include leading on the development of test cost models, working with service users to improve test ordering and supporting the implementation of a new LIMS.
To be responsible for implementing any procedural changes required by the Laboratory Manager and disseminate information relating to them.

For further information please see attached job description

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (FIBMS) by examination or hold an MSc in Biomedical Sciences or hold an equivalent qualification in a Clinical Pathology discipline or demonstrable experience.
Hold A Post Graduate Management Diploma or demonstrable equivalent management experience
State registration with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Desirable criteria

A willingness to undertake study leading to qualifications required for career advancement.
Trust recognised trained risk assessor.
Leadership course, Trust or equivalent.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

Proven ability to demonstrate and apply knowledge of the Pathology of disease in one or more disciplines within Blood Sciences.
Specialist proven knowledge and demonstrable experience in the technical field of a Pathology discipline.
Advanced analytical, scientific and technical skills commensurate with the Pathology speciality and seniority of the post-holder.

Desirable criteria

Participation in the Institute of Biomedical Sciences CPD scheme.
Advanced Computing skills.
Demonstrable experience LIMS and in particular Epic/Beaker

APTITUDE & ABILITIES

Essential criteria

Excellent communication skills, being able to deal with patients and staff at all levels of the organisation with tact and diplomacy.
Excellent influencing and interpersonal skills.
Excellent negotiating and motivational skills.

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.