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Job summary

Main area
Clinical Research
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (12 month with view of extension)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
391-RFL-8403848
Employer
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Hampstead
Town
london
Salary
£58,133 - £65,261 per annum inclusive of HCAS
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
25/11/2026 23:59

Employer heading

NHS

Band 7 Laboratory Manager

NHS AfC: Band 7

Our trust has over 17,000 staff serving 2 million patients every year. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and more than 30 services in the community.  This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.

Our mission is to deliver world class care and expertise in our clinical services, underpinned by world class teaching and research and we will continue to measure our progress against our five governing objectives: excellent outcomes, excellent patient and staff experience, excellent value for taxpayers’ money, being safe and meeting our external duties, and building a strong organisation.

Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technology that can perform various tasks that typically required human intelligence. Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey. Further guidance can be found in the NLPSS Applicant Toolkit https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1.

Click here to view our video Welcome to the Royal Free

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is committed to ensuring that its recruitment processes are carried out with integrity, transparency, and fairness for all applicants. To help maintain these standards, we ask candidates to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the recruitment process.

If incorrect or misleading information is identified, this may affect the progression of an application, any employment offer, or continued employment. As part of our due diligence, the company may verify the information provided by applicants and take appropriate action where necessary.

We do not charge applicants any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including applications, interviews, sponsorship arrangements, pre-employment checks, or employment offers. All vacancies are advertised through TRAC/NHS Jobs and candidates are assessed solely on their skills, qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role. If you are asked to make a payment in connection with an NHS job opportunity, please treat this as suspicious and contact the organisation directly using the details published on our official career's website

Applicants can refer to the Fraud Act 2006 for further information: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/35/contents

 

Job overview

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL) is looking for a motivated, ambitious and dynamic Laboratory Manager to lead day-to-day laboratory operations in Research and Development Sample Services (RADSS). This is a 12-month fixed term, full-time post, with a view to extension subject to funding.

RADSS brings together Tissue Access for Patient Benefit (TAPB), the RFL Biobank and the Sample Processing Laboratory. We support academic, NHS and commercial studies, from spin-out companies to major pharmaceutical partners. All clinical trial samples taken at the RFL Trust pass through the Sample Processing Laboratory, which processes, stores and ships them.

Samples are donated by patients who have given informed consent for research. You will help ensure every sample is used only within the scope of that consent and ethical approvals, and is handled with dignity and respect, accurately recorded, securely stored and link-anonymised, in line with the Human Tissue Act 2004.

You will turn the service's strategy into daily delivery, supervise a team of Band 4 to 6 laboratory staff, own Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and risk assessments, contribute to Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) accreditation and help implement our informatics strategy.

You will have biobank or research laboratory experience, working knowledge of the Human Tissue Act and Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and experience of managing a team.

Main duties of the job

The Laboratory Manager will lead day-to-day laboratory operations within RADSS, reporting to the TAPB Manager and the GCLP and Cryogenic Storage Manager.

Main duties:
Oversee the processing, storage and shipment of human samples in line with study protocols, the Human Tissue Act 2004, GCP and UK GDPR.
Ensure consent is in place before any sample is handled, and maintain sample integrity, traceability and link anonymisation.
Write and maintain SOPs and risk assessments, including for liquid nitrogen.
Develop and validate new laboratory methods.
Manage Band 4 to 6 staff: rotas, absence, appraisals, competency and training.
Act as operational contact for studies, monitoring timelines and risks.
Coordinate study set-up, costing and feasibility, and UN3373-compliant shipping in the UK and abroad.
Contribute to GCLP accreditation and to implementing informatics strategies that increase efficiency.

Skills and experience sought:
Life science degree and an MSc or equivalent specialist experience; PhD desirable.
Substantial experience in a human biomedical or clinical research laboratory, including blood, tissue and cryogenic storage.
Experience of managing staff in a GCP or other regulated environment.
Sound knowledge of the Human Tissue Act 2004, UK GDPR and research governance.
Strong organisation, attention to detail and communication skills.
Desirable: commercial research, quality accreditation (GCLP, ISO 15189) and UN3373/IATA transport.

Working for our organisation

Working for your organisation

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top.

For more information please follow  link https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description for more information about this role and working at royal free London NHS foundation Trust

Person specification

Education and professional qualifications

Essential criteria
  • BSc (Hons) or equivalent degree in a life science, biomedical science or related scientific discipline
  • Master's degree (MSc) in a relevant life science discipline, or equivalent specialist knowledge gained through substantial relevant experience
  • Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training certificate, or willingness to complete within 3 months of appointment
Desirable criteria
  • PhD in a relevant life science discipline or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to laboratory science or research management

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Substantial post-qualification experience in a human biomedical or clinical research laboratory
  • Experience processing, storing and shipping human biological samples (blood, tissue)
  • Experience with cryogenic sample handling and storage, including use of liquid nitrogen
  • Experience developing and implementing laboratory assay protocols and validation procedures
  • Experience writing and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions and risk assessments in a regulated laboratory
  • Experience managing or supervising laboratory staff day to day, including rota management and performance oversight
  • Experience working within clinical trials, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) or other regulated research environments
  • Experience of project monitoring, including tracking timelines, deliverables and study metrics
Desirable criteria
  • Experience working with commercial research clients (spin-out companies, contract research organisations or pharmaceutical organisations)
  • Experience preparing or contributing to progress reports for research sponsors or governance bodies
  • Experience contributing to Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP), ISO 15189 or equivalent quality accreditation

Skills and aptitudes

Essential criteria
  • Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent studies and competing priorities
  • Excellent attention to detail in documentation, sample handling and data recording
  • Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements, SOPs and research protocols
  • Knowledge of the Human Tissue Act 2004, UK GDPR and governance frameworks for research using human biological samples
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including conveying technical information to scientific and non-scientific audiences
  • Competent with Microsoft Office and laboratory information management systems or equivalent databases
  • Ability to independently troubleshoot and resolve laboratory and operational issues
Desirable criteria
  • Familiarity with UN3373 and International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations for transport of biological substances

Other requirements

Essential criteria
  • Understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities for vulnerable groups
  • Ability to undertake occupational health clearance for work with human biological materials
  • Willingness to work flexibly in line with study demands, including occasional early or late starts, and to travel between sites

Royal Free shared commitments

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust shared commitments

Personal qualities and attributes

Essential criteria
  • Proactive and self-motivated, able to work independently and use initiative
  • Collaborative and effective team worker with strong interpersonal skills
  • Demonstrable leadership ability, including the ability to motivate, develop and support staff
  • Commitment to continuous quality improvement and inspection readiness
  • Resilience and ability to manage competing demands in a dynamic, complex research environment
  • High degree of professionalism and discretion when handling sensitive patient and commercial information
  • Curiosity and an innovative approach to improving laboratory processes and systems

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Nursing TimesApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleDisability confident employerTimewise PartnerCare Quality Commission - Requires improvementEnei MemberArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Amir Gander
Job title
Head of Service
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07807 582 461
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