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

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
Documents to download
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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