Regional Head of Laboratory Operations

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 406578

**Salary**:

- £74,290 - £85,601
- Per annum, pro rata

GBP

**Job grade**:

- Other
- NHS AfC: Band 8c

**Contract type**:

- Permanent

**Type of role**:

- Science

**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

**Number of jobs available**:

- 1

**Contents**:

- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know

**Location**:

- Birmingham, West Midlands (England), B9 5SS

**About the job**:
**Job summary**:
The Public Health Laboratory in Birmingham is a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) microbiology laboratory working in partnership with University Hospitals Birmingham Trust (UHB). The microbiology partnership provides comprehensive microbiology services and specialist services to Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, Solihull Hospital and general practitioners throughout the area. It is one of the largest microbiology laboratories in the West Midlands NHS Region and is the Regional Public Health Laboratory of UK Health Security Agency. It is fully accredited with UKAS and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

The Regional Head of Laboratory Operations UKHSA has responsibility for the efficient and effective operational management of the Regional UKHSA Birmingham Public Health Laboratory. This is done in conjunction with the Laboratory Clinical Lead and the Laboratory Management team. BPHL hosts the National Mycobacterial Reference Service (North and Central) and the Regional Head of Operations will be responsible, together with the NMRS laboratory manager and Clinical Lead, for the delivery of mycobacterial reference services. This will require working closely with the Regional Head of Operations for London, the South East and NMRS-South.

The post holder will provide vision, leadership and direction to the Birmingham Public Health Laboratory. Additionally the post holder will provide microbiology support to the Midlands Health Protection Teams and Local Authorities, as well as provide expert microbiology advice during outbreaks and incidents of communicable disease.

It is anticipated that the post holder will take a leading role in support of UKHSA activities across the Region.

In conjunction with senior bacteriology and virology colleagues, the appointee will be expected to participate in and support the provision of a comprehensive diagnostic and advisory service to local clinicians and other users of the Laboratory.

This will include regular site visits and consultations with key stakeholders across the Midlands which will form a key component of the job. Additionally, the post holder will have a role in teaching and training, audit, surveillance, and research.

**Job description**:
Your key responsibilities will include:

- Having overall responsibility for the efficient and effective operational management of the UKHSA Birmingham Laboratory, in accordance with UKHSA and Laboratory policies and procedures, and in line with the relevant accreditation schemes. This work is done in conjunction with the Clinical Lead for UKHSA Birmingham Laboratory, and CPHI for The Midlands.
- In partnership with the senior management team to provide vision, leadership and direction to the Public Health Laboratories and to lead in strategic development, including identification, prioritisation of, and support for specific service developments and research areas.
- To be the budget holder for the public health laboratories, taking primary responsibility for the financial management of the services. This includes having responsibility for budget setting in collaboration with the senior leadership teams and UKHSA Senior Finance Officers and ensuring compliance with UKHSA Standing Financial Instructions.
- In collaboration with senior managers, ensure that the standing financial instructions, professional standards of conduct and other UKHSA policies and procedures including health and safety are observed and operated within the laboratory.
- Provide technical and professional support to the Clinical Lead and CPHI as well as the Deputy Director and Head of Technical and Scientific Services of the UKHSA Clinical Laboratory Network.
- Ensure full compliance with clinical governance and clinical effectiveness requirements of the UKHSA and Trust sites, where co-located.
- To support the Clinical Lead in the performance monitoring of UKHSA Microbiology assets within UKHSA Birmingham.
- In partnership with the CPHI, organise a comprehensive microbiological service to support UKHSA Health Protection Teams, Consultants in Communicable Disease Control, Local Authority Directors of Public Health and Chief Environmental Health Officers in in the Midlands.
- In partnership with the Clinical Lead and CPHI organise the provision of laboratory support for other agencies involved in potential infection hazards e.g. FSA, BWI, Environment Agency, VLA, HSE, MBA, DEFRA, and the Armed Forces.
- The post hol