Job summary
- Main area
- Routine Chemistry
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent: 37.5 hours per week
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Participation in pathology duty managers roster (On Call) is expected.)
- Job ref
- 358-7176177-CSI
- Employer
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Leicester Royal Infirmary
- Town
- Leicester
- Salary
- £53,755 - £60,504 per annum / pro rota for part time hours
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 10/07/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Scientific Laboratory Manager
NHS AfC: Band 8a
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Job overview
The Routine Chemistry service at UHL is one of the largest services in the UK, providing a service to both UHL, and other hospitals within the southern cluster of the ME2 pathology network. The UHL routine Chemistry laboratory offers a full range of routine chemistry testing.
As State Registered Biomedical Scientist, the post holder will be a member of the departmental team and assist in the delivery of a quality driven, cost effective, patient focused service consistent with the University of Leicester Hospital Trust’s objectives. To provide that in a manner commensurate with the profession
The post holder’s main role is to be responsible for a significant sub-division of the service, providing leadership, management and specialist scientific guidance. The post holder will manage the delegated budget for the area.
The post holder will be expected to manage the area while maintaining a high level of scientific knowledge, leading others to perform (and where appropriate performing) specialised analyses of pathological samples using various technologies and reporting the results as appropriate.
The post holder will be leading service wide activities for their specialty area according to the needs of the Department
Main duties of the job
The post holder will:
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Manage the provision of service delivery in the specified area according to agreed departmental objectives by appropriate allocation of staff and material resources.
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Contribute to the strategic development of the service, providing expert advice on service delivery and resource requirements, including manpower planning.
Working for our organisation
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
-
Manage the provision of service delivery in the specified area according to agreed departmental objectives by appropriate allocation of staff and material resources.
-
Contribute to the strategic development of the service, providing expert advice on service delivery and resource requirements, including manpower planning.
-
Ensure management and training of staff in their area is in accordance with the department’s training plan and ensure that staff’s duties are consistent with their competence.
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Manage staff in the area to include sickness absence, disciplinary, grievance and counselling issues.
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Develop effective communication channels with managed staff and other areas, both internal and external.
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Lead the area’s staff recruitment and selection process as required; ensuring appropriate vacancy management policies are followed.
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Take an active role in departmental education activities including supervision and teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
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Assist medical staff in the interpretation of complex technical and scientific issues.
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Be responsible for ensuring the correct operation and control of instrumentation and equipment is undertaken.
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Be responsible for process management of the assigned area by resolving complex scientific and technical issues to ensure continuity of service.
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Act as Quality Manager/or in conjunction with the Quality Manager, be responsible for the application of the Quality Management System of the designated area. Lead the development and maintenance of quality standards for the designated area as required by national accreditation and monitoring organisations.
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Act as Health and Safety systems manager/or in conjunction with the Health and Safety Manager, and departmental Health and Safety Lead, be responsible for the application of the Health and Safety policy/standards of the designated area. Lead the development and maintenance of standards for the designated area as required by national accreditation and monitoring organisations.
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Be responsible for the production, implementation and ongoing review of Standard Operating Procedures and policies for use in the designated area, introducing changes as necessary and contribute to the development of departmental policies.
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Be responsible for monitoring internal and external quality assurance taking appropriate action to identify and correct problems. To take corrective action or escalate as appropriate.
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Be responsible for the evaluation and implementation of new equipment, methods, and practices for the section as appropriate.
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Maintain expert knowledge of current technological and scientific developments.
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Where appropriate, be responsible for the provision of 24/7 service provision within the area. Senior point of contact for emergencies in the designated area
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Maintain continual professional education and promote lifelong learning for managed staff.
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Perform, when necessary, the more complex or specialised analytical work of the section.
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Be responsible for the production and maintenance of statistical reports in the section.
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Ensure that personal work activity is managed to make effective use of time and resources.
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Contribute to discussions/forums etc affecting and the parent trusts as appropriate.
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Provide specialist knowledge as required for the parent trusts and Pathology wide service.
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Represent the service at Trust/wider Health Community meetings as appropriate.
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Be a member of Trust wide and Pathology Service wide groups as appropriate.
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Undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required, including deputising for the General Manager as appropriate.
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Participate in the Pathology Duty managers on call rota
Please see job description/ person specification for further details
Person specification
Qualification and Experience
Essential criteria
- HCPC registration
- MSc. or equivalent postgraduate qualification e.g. FIBMA
- Evidence of formal management training/recognized management qualification
- Significant experience of effectively managing day to day HR processes e.g. appraisal, absence management, recruitment, and performance management.
- Experience of managing and leading a significant section within the service.
- Awareness / knowledge of national and local Pathology and NHS agendas
Desirable criteria
- Good working knowledge of specialist areas other than own.
- Experience of NHS financial and admin systems
- Experience of working in a teaching hospital or other busy environment
Planning and organisation skills
Essential criteria
- Able to carry out workforce planning for a section of the service.
- Evidence of organisation of a broad range of programs pertaining to a section
- Demonstrable ability to develop strategies to meet objectives and work load demands
Other skills
Essential criteria
- Able to provide and receive highly complex information and able to communicate effectively with staff at all levels
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
- Jil Bowskill
- Job title
- Pathology Operational Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0116 258 6521
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