Deputy Laboratory Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

As the Deputy Laboratory Manager your main responsibilities will include:

• To provide support for the efficient and effective operational management of UKHSA Porton Labs. This is done in conjunction with other site Lab Managers, Operations Manager, Head of RIPD and the Porton Site Management teams.
• To deputise for the Laboratory Manager
• To deputise for the Operations manager in the absence of the Laboratory manager
• The post holder is a member of the RIPL Senior Management Team
• In partnership with the Head of RIPD, Laboratory manager and other RIPL Senior Management Team Members to provide vision, leadership and direction to the Laboratory, and to lead in strategic development, including identification, prioritisation of, and support for specific service developments and research areas
• To have responsibility for the provision of efficient and effective services by the Laboratory, in accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures, and in line with the various accreditation schemes
• To participate in national UKHSA activities as required; policy development, health and safety, training, procurement, audit etc.
• To advise on diagnostic assay developments with the Diagnostic Assay Lead and Diagnostic Support staff linked to the Laboratory to ensure that the laboratory makes an effective contribution through improved service delivery.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form and a Statement of Suitability of 1250 words. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

Please ensure that your statement of suitability contains no personal identifiers e.g. name in either the file name or content of the document.

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This competition will involve an interview by video or Face to face

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. . This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. .

Please note, as part of the selection process, you may be asked to prepare to deliver a presentation or take a test.

Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close:23:55hrs on the 27th April unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist:Week commencing 1st May 2023

Interviews:TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• MSc or higher qualification in an appropriate medical / microbiological/biological science or equivalent experience
• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
• Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Biomedical Scientist

Desirable

• Higher Specialist certificate (IBMS)

Experience

Essential

• Significant postgraduate practical, technical and theoretical experience in Medical Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Sciences
• Extensive knowledge and expertise in various managerial fields, including Finance, HR, business, project management, planning, leadership, procurement etc., gained both by qualifications and extensive experience.
• In depth working knowledge and competency in laboratory bench areas eg serology and molecular biology as appropriate.
• Sound knowledge of common IT programmes, LIMS systems and excellent keyboard and IT skills.
• Experience of interviewing and recruiting staff
• Ability to initiate changes in procedures or policies to induce service development
• Thorough knowledge of UK Laboratory Health & Safety legislation and compliance.
• Experience of Quality Systems, laboratory accreditation and compliance for clinical diagnostic laboratories.
• Evidence of using technical experience to assess new and existing systems and processes to initiate change in laboratory practice.
• Experience of critically assessing current ways of working and introducing efficient and cost effective practices.
• Experience and understanding of planning and project management.
• Experience of performance indicators, including workload statistics and costing.
• Experience of day to day running of a large clinical diagnostic laboratory with multiple workflows and complex tests.
• Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders and RIPL team on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups
• Adept at problem solving though analysis of complex facts and situations to deliver solutions to practical problems in laboratory workflows and workloads
• Financial management skills for short, medium and long term planning and assessment of changes in laboratory activity, workload, reagents etc.
• Willing to lead on-call team as needed and work on extended hours shift including emergency response to surges in sample numbers/incidents
• Willing to undertake vaccinations where appropriate and Security Clearance
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Porton Down

Salisbury

SP4 0JG

Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)