Job summary
- Main area
- Microbiology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 249-7477581
- Employer
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Great Western Hospital
- Town
- Swindon
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 14/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Laboratory Manager
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.
Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.
We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.
The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.
If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.
Job overview
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Microbiology laboratory manager to lead our Microbiology team . This role is a unique opportunity to contribute to a service undergoing significant digital and workflow transformation. You will play an active part in leading on day-to-day diagnostic services while also contributing to the development of the department .
This post is ideal for an experienced Biomedical Scientist who can lead the Microbiology department and is also interested in supporting change, quality improvement, and the future of digital diagnostics.
Main duties of the job
Responsible for the operational management of the Microbiology Department - managing, motivating and effectively leading the technical and support staff in the delivery and development of a high quality safe service to users within the Trust and externally such as GPs. The post holder is expected to bring innovation and highly developed, specialised skills to the role.
Responsible for Quality Management within the department and participation in Quality Management across the departments of Pathology. Responsible for ensuring the Microbiology department meets UKAS ISO15189:2022 Quality standards, and complies with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) requirements for category 3 facilities.
As a registered Biomedical Scientist make interpretive judgements using Masters (MSc) Degree level of Biomedical Sciences and management skills to ensure the service meets local and national standards.
Working for our organisation
Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Lead the Microbiology Service with a culture which embeds the principles of a high quality
professional service and ensures the delivery of services which are safe, effective, caring,
responsive and well led achieving financial balance.
Accountable for the financial performance of Microbiology Services and monitoring the delegated
management of individual departmental budgets. Financial accountability includes identifying and
supporting processes aimed at improving financial information and control mechanisms.
Represent the Microbiology Department, Pathology Services, and the Trust as required, both locally
and nationally.
Working with the Clinical Leads to lead and direct the clinical and managerial services of the
Department.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- MSc. In Microbiology or related subject / FIBMS or equivalent knowledge
- HCPC Registration
- Management experience and knowledge of specialist Microbiology procedures to higher specialist diploma level or equivalent knowledge acquired through experience, participation in CPD, managerial qualifications, short courses and on-going specialist training.
- Up to date evidence of continuing professional development (CPD)
Desirable criteria
- Formal general management qualification
- Project Management qualification
- A recognised health and safety qualification / evidence of Health & Safety training
- Evidence of training in change management
Experience
Essential criteria
- n-depth experience of working at a senior level within the discipline
- Track record of leading and achieving significant changes
- Leadership of service development
- Experience in the recruitment of staff
- Experience in Delivering staff training and staff development
Desirable criteria
- Experience of budget and project management
- Experience of Quality Management System assessments
- Experience of Health & Safety Executive inspections
- Operating as a deputy manager
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
- Noman Manzoor
- Job title
- Laboratory Director
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01793 607442
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