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

Job summary

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 £64,455 - £74,896 Per Annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 11/11/2025 23:59

Microbiology Laboratory Manager

NHS AfC: Band 8b

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

Essential criteria

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

Essential criteria

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

Desirable criteria

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.

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential criteria

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.