Deputy Manager and Technical Lead

• Communicate service issues, incidents, risks, and potential service failures to the Laboratory Manager and/or Laboratory Director.
• Liaise with laboratory staff, clinicians, service users, educational bodies, professional organisations, and NHS partners to support service delivery, training, and workforce development.
• Participate in departmental, laboratory, clinical, and management meetings, providing specialist advice, feedback, updates, and recommendations.
• Possess specialist knowledge of therapeutic monitoring of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory drugs, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, renal disease, and transplantation, supported by MSc-level education and advanced specialist training.
• Ensure the accuracy, quality, and authorisation of laboratory results.
• Exercise professional judgement regarding assay performance, quality assurance, IQC failures, equipment faults, maintenance activities, and service continuity.
• Coordinate the day-to-day operation of the laboratory, including staff allocation, workload prioritisation, and rota management to meet turnaround times.

Essential

• BMS accredited honours degree in Biomedical Sciences or IBMS equivalent.
• HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist or Clinical Scientist.
• MSc or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Biomedical Science, Clinical Science, Analytical Science, Pharmacology or related discipline.
• Evidence of significant Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Specialist post-registration training in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and/or LC/MS.

Desirable

• Fellowship or higher professional membership of IBMS or equivalent.
• Management qualification or leadership programme

Essential

• Significant post-registration experience in a clinical diagnostic laboratory.
• Extensive experience of LC/MS operation, troubleshooting, maintenance and assay optimisation.
• Experience of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring services.
• Experience of staff supervision, training and competency assessment.
• Experience of quality management systems within an accredited laboratory.
• Experience of audit, quality improvement and service development.
• Experience participating in recruitment and performance management processes.
• Experience of assay development, validation/verification and implementation.
• Ability to critically evaluate scientific literature and apply findings to practice.
• Experience participating in research, audit or quality improvement projects.

Desirable

• Experience within a specialist renal/transplant laboratory or equivalent
• Experience of introducing new technologies into clinical service.
• Experience of chairing meetings
• Experience of presenting at departmental meetings

Essential

• Expert knowledge of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring principles and practice.
• Advanced knowledge of LC/MS theory and application in clinical diagnostics.
• Knowledge of pharmacokinetics and pharmacology of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory drugs.
• Detailed understanding of quality assurance, IQC, EQA and laboratory accreditation requirements.
• Knowledge of UKAS ISO 15189 standards.
• Knowledge of laboratory health and safety, COSHH and risk management requirements.
• Thorough understanding of NHS governance and clinical risk management.
• Ability to provide technical leadership within a specialist LC/MS laboratory.
• Ability to develop, validate and implement complex analytical methods.
• Expert interpretation of complex analytical, pharmacokinetic and clinical data.
• Advanced problem-solving and troubleshooting skills in LC/MS and TDM services.
• Competent in laboratory information systems, statistical software and data analysis tools.
• Ability to manage laboratory workflow and prioritise workload to maintain service delivery.

Desirable

• Specialist knowledge of transplantation medicine and immunosuppression management.
• Knowledge of laboratory information system development and integration.
• Experience using specialist statistical software.