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Job summary

Main area
317 Cell Path Non Medical Staff
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Participation in Saturday morning rota (usually 1 in 6))
Job ref
317-2025-35-12-DR
Employer
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Town
317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/09/2025 23:59
Interview date
22/09/2025

Employer heading

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Office Manager

Band 5

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.

We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.

We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders. 

Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.

Job overview

The Cellular Pathology department within the Royal Victoria Infirmary has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our team as Office Manager working with the administrative, consultant and scientific teams, leading the office. 

Cellular Pathology supports tissue diagnostic pathways across all pathology specialities for histology, diagnostic cytology, neuropathology and autopsy. We are part of the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Pathology Network and host the regional Cellular Pathology Genomic Centre which supports genomic testing pathways, working closely with the NEY Genomic Laboratory Hub (NEYGLH). We have approximately 240 Consultant, scientific and laboratory support staff to deliver our UKAS ISO15189 and HTA licensed activity.  We also support research and innovation through our dedicated clinical trial, tissue bank and commercial project laboratories.

The successful candidate will have excellent organisational and communication skills, as to be successful in this role, managing a team of approximately 15 staff. Applicants must meet the essential criteria of the job description. 

The laboratory is open Monday – Friday between the hours of 7am and 6pm, however a flexible approach to working will be supported in this role. Enquiries are welcomed. 

  • Interview Date Monday 22 September 2025
  • 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be responsible for the day to day management of administrative and clerical staff within the department of Cellular Pathology.  You will have previous experience of managing a team and have experience in recruitment & selection, conducting appraisals and performance management, although training can be  supported. 

You'll work closely with the Departmental Management Team, supporting the Department Manager and Clinical Leads in the effective management of day to day operational issues. 

Working for our organisation

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you. 

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites: 

  • Freeman Hospital
  • Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
  • Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
  • Newcastle Dental Hospital
  • Newcastle Fertility Centre
  • Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
  • Northern Genetics Service
  • Cramlington Manor Walks 

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS. 

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’. 

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Be responsible for supporting the Department Managers and Clinical

Leads in the effective management of day-to-day operational issues. 

 

Facilitate the delivery of an effective, responsive, and timely clinical

service for the administration  team based in Cellular Pathology

 

Co-ordinate and manage administrative and clerical staff in the team.

 

Liaise with other administration teams and managers within directorate,

clinical board, and Cellular Pathology services as required across the

region.

 

Ensure that the Department Management Team are provided with

relevant information in a timely and accurate manner. 

 

Co-ordinate and lead on certain Local and National developments for

the Department and to be a member of key Trust panels. 

 

Provide effective and efficient administrative support to the various

sections of the Department. 

 

Be the first contact in dealing with complaints/queries that are admin

related. 

 

Take the lead role in the development and introduction of new methods

of working within the admin team.

 

Work with the Cellular Pathology IT team and Trust IT departments on

the production of new systems and services. 

 

Ensure the Trust/Directorate/Departmental objectives, policies and

directives are communicated and implemented in a timely and

appropriate manner to all administrative and clerical staff. 

 

Manage a comprehensive efficient and effective administration and

clerical service to the Department. 

  •  Design, implement and monitor service improvements.
  •  Staff appointments.
  •  Staff training and development.
  • Governance compliance from administration processes to assure sustained e.g. UKAS ISO15189, Human Tissue Authority standards. 

Contribute as a member of the Department Management team.

  • Communicate with Senior Clinicians/Consultant Pathologists/Resident Doctors/Managers/Scientists/Support staff.
  • Oversee and coordinate preparation for multi-disciplinary team meetings, liaising with Tumour group leads as required.
  • Contribute to the Departmental Business Planning process.

You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy.  Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy 

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential criteria
  • Degree in relevant subject or equivalent qualification / relevant experience
  • English Language GCSE 4 or equivalent qualification / relevant experience

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria
  • Extensive secretarial experience o Secretarial procedures o IT Skills to include office software packages
  • Previous line management experience
  • Understanding of the systems of working within the NHS
  • Experience of introducing new methods of working
Desirable criteria
  • Previous NHS experience or University experience

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal and organisational skills
  • Team worker
  • Ability to work without supervision
  • Ability to cope with pressure and flexible demands of post
  • High accuracy levels in own work
  • Ability to manage, train and motivate staff

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardRIDI Awards Finalist 2021Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall Gold 2022Better Health at Work Award - Maintaining ExcellenceDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldCycle Friendly Employer

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sarah Leigh Nicholson
Job title
Laboratory Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0191 2829120
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