Laboratory Section Manager

Job overview

We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced HCPC-Registered Band 7 Biomedical Scientist to lead our Specialist Protein Analysis (SPA) Section in the role of Section Manager.

The Laboratory Medicine Service is a diverse service spread across four hospital sites in Swansea Bay in a hub (Morriston) and spoke (Singleton, Princess of Wales and Neath/Port Talbot) model.

The Laboratory Medicine Team seeks to modernise our service by embracing new ways of working, committing to developing our knowledge and skills and actively seeking to develop a professional multidisciplinary team across the Service that provides a 24/7, year-round, service for our patients. The laboratories are well equipped with Roche Biochemistry Analyser, and more specifically Sebia and Binding Site instrumentation for proteins analysis.

Candidates that have successfully completed the IBMS Specialist Diploma or have relevant equivalent experience and hold a relevant Masters or Level 7 qualification are eligible for the full Section Manager Band 7 post. This must be clearly indicated on your application form.

Main duties of the job

As the SPA Section Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operational activities of the section to ensure the smooth running of all analytical services and to ensure quality is maintained to ISO 15189:2022 standards. The tests performed in SPA include protein electrophoresis and associated tests, alpha-1 antitrypsin quantification and phenotyping, sweat chloride measurement, qualitative G6PD assessment, xanthochromia analysis, HbA1c analysis and oversight of our Faecal Calprotectin Service.

The post-holder must possess and maintain highly developed skills in these specialist assays, which includes principles of analytical methods, result interpretation, assay validation and verification and troubleshooting where poor performance is identified. Good knowledge, understanding and experience in quality related tasks such as IQC and EQA management, controlled documentation and incident reporting and investigation, is also essential for the post-holder. You will be responsible for ensuring departmental turnaround times are adhered to and where required, escalate any concerns about delays or service failures to the Service Management Team.

You will work as part of the Laboratory Medicine Section Manager Team alongside the Senior Management Team, helping to develop our Service and assisting with the training and development of our Team. You will directly manage a small team of staff within SPA, some of which are rotational within the Department.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Personal Specification for details information about the main responsibilities of this role.

The Laboratory Medicine Service comprises of Automation Services (Biochemistry, Haematology and Blood Transfusion), Point of Care Services and Specialist Services (Cellular Haematology, Immunology, Specialist Coagulation and Haemoglobinopathies, Toxicology and Specialist Analytical Techniques).  We have full accreditation with UKAS, MHRA and IBMS training status for Registration and Specialist Portfolios.

As a hub and spoke network of laboratories, we have the hub laboratory based in Morriston Hospital and spoke laboratories at Singleton Hospital (7 miles from hub) and Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend (25 miles from hub). We also have a Reception Facility at Neath/Port Talbot Hospital (10 miles from hub). The Specialist Laboratories are located at Morriston, Singleton and Princess of Wales Hospitals.

Candidates who do not hold all the essential qualifications will be considered but will be subject to Annex 21 of Band 7 and a condition of employment is the completion of required qualifications within a designated timeframe, which will be supported by the department. Where post holders fail to achieve the qualifications in the designated timeframes, the service may look to redeploy individuals.