Job summary
- Main area
- Pathology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Fixed term: 11 months (Maternity leave cover - Part-time working may be considered, please specify on application.)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 423-8298461
- Employer
- Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Harrogate District Hospital (some Cross site cover)
- Town
- Harrogate
- Salary
- £57,528 - £64,750 pro rata per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 04/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Pathology Operations Manager (Band 8a)
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Be part of our future landscape
At Airedale, we are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. We actively encourage applications irrespective of people’s age, lived experience of living with a disability or long-term conditions, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.
Increasing our diversity and supporting our organisation to be more inclusive is a key priority here at Airedale and our teams are at the centre of how we work towards this.
We appreciate all people may have diverse and individual needs and we pride ourselves on supporting all people to thrive and flourish at work. We have frameworks in place that support reasonable adjustments and flexible working for colleagues throughout their working lives which starts at recruitment.
These are exciting times for Airedale. We have the once-in-a-career opportunity to be involved in the planning and building of a completely new hospital here on our Steeton site by 2033. By joining us now you’ll be a key part of our journey over the next few years, with the chance to input into a state-of-the-art, modern healthcare facility that will deliver care to our communities for decades to come. We are also on the journey to a new electronic patient record, part of our wider ambition for our digital future – a future that builds on our significant telemedicine and digital care success. Ultimately, what makes Airedale special is our people. Not just our staff, but our volunteers, patients, visitors, and wider population who make up the Airedale family. This is a Trust that sits at the heart of our community, and our communities are very proud of their Trust.
Please read the attached AI statement prior to submitting any application
Job overview
Pathology Operations Manager (primary base Harrogate District Hospital)
Integrated Pathology Solutions LLP (IPS) is seeking an experienced and motivated manager to join us as Pathology Operations Manager. The role will provide operational and HR leadership across a range of pathology teams, with a particular focus on Phlebotomy and Point of Care Testing (POCT) services.
This is an exciting opportunity to broaden your experience within a busy, multi-site pathology department of more than 400 staff. IPS is committed to developing its people and promoting personal development at every level. Candidates will need a strong foundation in people management, staff development and team leadership. During this fixed-term post, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to support staff through periods of service transformation, contribute to meaningful consultation processes, and help strengthen team morale and individual development.
Based primarily at Harrogate District Hospital, with the need for some cross-site working and travel, the postholder will work closely with the Pathology General Manager for the Harrogate site, and the Director of Operations, to maintain effective operational support. We are looking for an enthusiastic problem solver and confident communicator who is keen to contribute as part of the Pathology Senior Leadership Team and further develop their strategic leadership experience.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will work closely with the Phlebotomy Manager and POCT Managers, and other colleagues to support delivery of comprehensive, high-quality and safe services.
Demonstrable experience of managing staff and services is essential. Candidates should be well motivated, innovative and highly organised, with strong practical abilities, excellent IT skills and confident use of productivity tools. Detailed experience of Microsoft 365, including Teams, is essential, alongside well-developed communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to support both individual and team working.
Pathology experience is an advantage however candidates with a strong track-record of general staff management and leadership, and/or experience of leading service transformation are encouraged to apply.
Visits to the department and discussions regarding the role are strongly encouraged. For further information please contact Mark Harrison, Director of Operations, [email protected] 01535 293459.
Working for our organisation
IPS is a joint venture providing a high-quality pathology service to Airedale NHS Foundation Trust (ANHST), Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT) and Harrogate District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT). The successful candidate will be employed directly by ANHST, although secondments from current HDFT staff maintaining HDFT contracts would be supported.
We are delighted to offer a wide range of benefits to employees including:
- Cycle to Work
- Travel Scheme
- Childcare Vouchers with Salary Sacrifice
- Onsite Nursery
- Buying and Selling Annual Leave
- Car Leasing
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee Health and Wellbeing
- Extensive Reward Scheme
- Counselling Service
- Financial packages including Vivup and Wagestream
- Staff Networks, Enable, Rainbow, Gender, Race Equality Ecoaware & Admin Network.
Our values:
We understand that it’s down to the hard work, effort and dedication of our staff that makes a difference for our patients. Our people really do make our Airedale experience – we take pride in fostering a friendly, effective and caring work environment. Our values are part of our DNA, which are:
- Committed to Quality of Care
- Compassion
- Working together for patients
- Improving Lives
- Everyone Counts
- Respect and Dignity
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For further details including the Job description and full person specification please see the attached documents.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Holds suitable Level 6 (Undergraduate degree level) qualification in field of expertise.
- Holds a suitable Level 7 (Master’s degree level) management qualification and/or has demonstrable relevant experience equivalent to this level of knowledge.
Desirable criteria
- ECDL
- Professional body membership
- Chartered Manager status
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable management experience
- Demonstrable Human Resource management experience and skills
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Evidence of proven people skills, particularly in dealing with individuals of different grades
- Experience of procurement and implementation of equipment
- Demonstrable experience and skill in the initiation and implementation of organisational change
- Experience in developing, implementing and monitoring policies, procedures and standards
- Experience of implementing new techniques and technologies
- Experience in training staff
Desirable criteria
- Experience of dealing with complex HR management issues, with detailed knowledge of sickness and performance management
- Experience of implementing transformational project work and conducting staff consultations
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Mark Harrison
- Job title
- Director of Operations
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01535 293459
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