Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and values-driven Microbiology Laboratory Manager (Band 8b) to join the Pathology Directorate at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.

This is a senior operational leadership role within a clinically led service model, responsible for the day-to-day delivery of safe, effective and high-quality Microbiology diagnostic services. Reporting to the Directorate Manager, the postholder will work in close partnership with the Service Clinical Lead and the Directorate Professional Lead as part of a collaborative leadership team.

The role provides visible, credible leadership to the Microbiology workforce and ensures that clinical, infection-related and operational priorities are translated into effective, resilient and sustainable service delivery.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is a member of the Peninsula Pathology Network, which is undertaking work to agree future models for pathology services across Devon and Cornwall. This may, in time, result in changes to how Microbiology services are delivered across the network, including the balance between urgent and non-urgent work.

No final decisions have been made, and any future changes would be subject to appropriate engagement and consultation processes. This role offers an opportunity to provide strong operational leadership during a period of system transformation and to help shape future service and leadership arrangements within a networked pathology model.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will be accountable for the operational leadership of Microbiology services, including workforce, performance, quality, governance and delegated budgets.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the day-to-day operational delivery of Microbiology services, ensuring safe, timely and resilient diagnostic provision
• Managing service performance, turnaround times, demand and capacity, and operational risk
• Providing visible, credible leadership to a multidisciplinary workforce, supporting engagement, wellbeing and development
• Ensuring compliance with accreditation, regulatory and governance requirements, including UKAS and relevant specialist frameworks
• Leading responses to incidents, complaints, audits and inspections, ensuring actions are completed and learning embedded
• Managing delegated budgets and resources, delivering value for money and agreed efficiency plans
• Working closely with Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) and wider Trust teams to support infection-related decision-making and operational integration
• Leading and supporting service improvement and modernisation initiatives, including productivity, pathway improvement and service resilience

Contributing to network-level planning and transformation activity in collaboration with Peninsula Pathology Network partners, as future service models are developed

Working for our organisation

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. 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.