Job summary
- Main area
- Quality Manager
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 216-LH-DB8251613
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- University Hospitals Plymouth
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/09/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Pathology Quality Manager
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated professional to join our Pathology Directorate as a Pathology Quality Manager. This is an excellent opportunity to make a significant impact on service quality, regulatory compliance and patient safety within one of the South West's largest pathology services. You will join a supportive and collaborative team committed to innovation, continuous improvement and delivering the highest standards of care.
This is a key leadership role within the Pathology Quality Team, supporting the effective operation, development and continuous improvement of the Pathology Quality Management System (QMS). Reporting to the Pathology Governance & Compliance Manager, you will play a vital role in ensuring compliance with ISO 15189, UKAS accreditation standards and wider regulatory and governance requirements across Pathology services.
To support the effective operation, development and continuous improvement of the Pathology Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with ISO 15189 and other relevant regulatory, accreditation and governance requirements.
***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.***
Main duties of the job
The post holder will report to the Pathology Governance & Compliance Manager and work closely with the Directorate Manager, Deputy Directorate Manager, Laboratory Operational Managers, Lead Biomedical Scientists and Consultant Leads, providing specialist advice and support on quality and compliance matters.
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
General Quality Management
1. Support the Pathology Governance & Compliance Manager and Quality Manager colleagues in the management of quality and compliance matters and represent the Quality Team at appropriate operational and management meetings.
2. Develop, review and maintain overarching Pathology quality policies, procedures and associated QMS documentation, ensuring they remain current, effective and compliant with relevant standards.
3. Support continuing compliance across Pathology with ISO 15189 Medical laboratories – Requirements for quality and competence and other applicable regulatory, accreditation and governance requirements.
4. Act as a specialist point of reference for Pathology staff and service users on quality management matters, providing advice and interpretation of QMS requirements.
5. Oversee and support Quality Officers in the coordination of technical audit schedules and delivery of the internal audit programme across Pathology.
6. Monitor QMS performance and quality information, identifying trends, areas of non-compliance, risks and opportunities for improvement and reporting these through appropriate governance arrangements.
7. Provide specialist interpretation of quality information to operational and technical teams and make recommendations for corrective action, service improvement and risk reduction.
8. Prepare and present quality information, reports and assurance for relevant Pathology management and governance meetings.
9. Support the development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives, investigating complex issues, identifying underlying causes and working with operational teams to develop sustainable solutions.
10. In conjunction with Quality Manager colleagues and Laboratory Managers, coordinate and support management review processes, ensuring relevant quality information, actions and outcomes are appropriately documented and communicated.
11. Coordinate and support the development, administration and effective use of Q-Pulse/electronic QMS across Pathology, representing Pathology requirements within wider Divisional arrangements where required.
12. Work with the Pathology Governance & Compliance Manager and Quality Team to identify and appropriately escalate significant or serious non-conformities, including notification to UKAS or other regulatory/accreditation bodies where required.
13. Liaise with UKAS and other relevant external bodies to support assessments, surveillance activity, changes to scope and other accreditation requirements.
For further details please see the attached JD & PS
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • Masters level qualification, relevant professional qualification or proven knowledge and demonstrable experience equivalent to Masters level. Or
- • Post graduate qualification in Quality management
Desirable criteria
- Recognised management qualification or evidence of relevant management development.
- HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist or Clinical Scientist.
- Relevant additional qualifications in quality management, audit, governance or accreditation.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- • Extensive demonstrable experience of working in a regulated healthcare or laboratory environment working with UKAS, MHRA, HTA or equivalent regulatory/accreditation requirements.
- • Significant demonstrable experience of quality management systems, quality audit and continuous improvement.
- • Comprehensive understanding of relevant UK legislation and professional guidance applicable to Pathology, including ISO 15189 and relevant data protection and information governance requirements.
Desirable criteria
- • Specialist proven knowledge and experience of methodologies and processes employed in medical laboratories.
- • Demonstrable experience of FMEA and other structured risk models
- • Demonstrable experience of supporting or managing external assessments of medical laboratory services.
Aptitudes & Abilities
Essential criteria
- • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex or sensitive information effectively and diplomatically to staff and stakeholders at all levels.
- • Ability to communicate effectively with external organisations, professional bodies, suppliers and other NHS organisations.
- • Ability to organise and chair meetings and communicate decisions and actions effectively.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Kate Prior
- Job title
- Pathology Governance & Compliance Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752430097
- Additional information
For further information or an informal discussion, please contact the Pathology Governance & Compliance Manager, Kate Prior, or Pathology Directorate PA, Chantelle Lea at [email protected].
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