Deputy Lab Manager – Specialist Biochemistry/Toxicology Lead BMS

We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated so whilst you care for our patients and clients, we’ll take care of you. We offer many different ways of helping staff including career development opportunities, flexible working, good annual leave and pension schemes , health and wellbeing packages and financial support systems. Joining the Trust also allows you access to a number of saving options via our salary sacrifice schemes and a wide range of discount opportunities with retailers and service providers.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Deputy Laboratory Manager – Specialist Biochemistry/Toxicology Lead BMS to join our team in the Specialised Clinical Chemistry & Toxicology department at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.

This ISO 15189 accredited department provides an analytical toxicology service to hospital physicians, pathologists and Coroners across England and Wales, as well as a toxic metal/trace element and therapeutic drug monitoring service.

The successful candidate will be working with state of art equipment including high-resolution mass spectrometers (HRMS), LCMS, GCMS, ICP-MS and much more.

South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Pathology (SYBP) is on a transformational journey to fully integrate our existing pathology services, providing the best possible service for patients and clinicians across the Integrated Care System.

Our mission is to deliver high-quality and innovative laboratory medicine solutions to patients, clinicians, and partners to improve health, add value to patient care, safeguard best clinical outcomes, and support the transformation of healthcare across SYB and beyond.

Main duties of the job

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Expert Knowledge and Leadership: Provide expert knowledge of the local Immunology service, acting as the senior subject matter specialist.

• Effective Management: Manage day-to-day operations of the Blood Sciences Immunology Laboratory Service, ensuring efficient service delivery.

• Procedure and Technique Assessment: Regularly assess and update Immunology procedures and techniques according to new guidelines and demands.

• Service Development Collaboration: Work with leaders to develop and deliver a cohesive Immunology service and SYBP Immunology strategy.

• Quality Service Delivery: Oversee analytical activities to ensure a timely, high-quality service.

• Staff Management and Development: Implement delegation schemes, ensuring staff understand their roles and engage in professional development.

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure the Immunology service complies with regulatory standards and maintains an effective quality management system.

• Complaint and Incident Management: Investigate and resolve complaints, litigation issues, and adverse incidents, sharing learning across the network.

• Equipment and Safety Management: Ensure proper management of analytical equipment and adherence to health and safety regulations.

• Strategic Planning and Communication: Collaborate on policy development, produce reports, assist in business case preparation, and ensure appropriate staff cover

Working for our organisation

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes a firm commitment to professional development of it’s staff together with the provision of an excellent health and well-being support service.

Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust operates with a budget of £1.2 bn, has a workforce of over 18,500 employees, covers 5 hospital sites, provides care from over 40 community settings and has an excellent reputation for research.

As an organisation we value and respect our staff and the community we serve. We provide excellent staff benefits; this includes commitment to professional development but also many initiatives to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

The SYB Pathology network includes:

• Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (STHFT)

• Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT)

• Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (DBTHFT)

• The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust (TRFT)

• Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT)

Person specification

Education and Qualification

Essential criteria

• Relevant BSc Degree

• FIBMS (Blood Science) or MSc (in Blood Science discipline or equivalent) or IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma (Blood Science) or Post Graduate Diploma or Demonstrable Experience

• Registration with HCPC as Biomedical Scientist or Clinical Scientist.

• Leadership / Management qualification or post graduate diploma, or equivalent experience.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of managing at a senior level in an Blood Sciences Immunology department

• Proven knowledge and experience of a range of highly specialised analytical laboratory techniques.

• Experience in routine Human Resource issues including, engagement, communication, leadership and management.

• Experience of laboratory IT systems and a thorough understanding of departmental systems management.

• Experience of managing risk within a Pathology service.

• Experience of quality management systems and processes.

• Experience of service and policy development.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of budget management.

• Experience of leading of service improvements.

• Experience of developing and delivery of business plans and business development cases.

• Experience of the clinical governance agenda including clinical risk and safety.

• Experience of workforce planning and recruitment and retention strategies.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Relevant and recent scientific knowledge appropriate to Immunology

• Knowledge of the relevant standards, legislation, national and local policies and accreditation requirements relating to all aspects of service.

• Able to communicate complex, sensitive, contentious or emotive information to individuals or groups in a clear and concise manner.

• Analytical and judgemental skills in evaluating complex ranges of issues including but not limited to Quality, Service Development, Organisational and Staffing Issues.

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to deal with a number of conflicting priorities in a calm and professional manner working to demanding timescales.

• Ability to anticipate problems, appraise risks and make effective decisions.

• Knowledge of health and safety and procedures for dealing with hazards and emergency situations (COSHH legislation, fire regulations, infectious, chemical and radioactive materials, data protection, risk assessment).

• Strong analytical skills; literacy, IT and numeracy skills with the ability to produce and deliver a range of documents or presentations for a wide variety of audiences.

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

• Have personal commitment, enthusiasm and professional drive to lead and innovate.

• Behave in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures designed to ensure governance and probity.

• Demonstrate commitment to the NHS and Trust values, and have a patient focussed approach to service delivery.

• Strong but inclusive leadership style, promoting diversity and inclusion amongst the team.

• Display tact and diplomacy.

• Committed to working across all SYB Pathology sites as required.