Closing date: 15 November 2026

Job summary
UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping is looking for a Centre Manager to help lead one of the largest external quality assessment providers in haematology and immunology. We are based in the Department of Haematology at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, part of South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Pathology, and support laboratories in the UK and overseas in flow cytometry and molecular haemato-oncology.

This is a senior post at the heart of the service. You will deputise for the Director and take day to day charge of scientific, operational, financial and personnel matters. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of scientific, quality and administrative staff, hold delegated budget responsibility, and maintain our accreditation to ISO 17043.

There is real scope to shape the service. Alongside running established programmes, you will help plan new EQA programmes, develop our data handling and reporting systems, publish our work, and build relationships with professional bodies, manufacturers and international partners. You will also present our data at national and international meetings.

We are looking for an HCPC registered Biomedical or Clinical Scientist with a higher degree, strong management experience, deep expertise in flow cytometry and knowledge of molecular haemato-oncology. Above all, we want someone who wants to raise the standard of testing across our participant laboratories.

For an informal chat, contact Stuart Scott, Director, Stuart.scott8@nhs.net, 0114 2673603.

Main duties of the job

• Deputise for the Director and take day to day responsibility for the Centre, covering scientific, operational, financial and personnel matters
• Lead and develop our scientific, quality and administrative teams, setting objectives and building the skill mix we need
• Hold delegated budget responsibility for a service with a turnover of around £1m, including forecasting, fee setting and business planning
• Oversee the design, production and distribution of EQA material, statistical analysis of returns and timely issue of participant reports
• Maintain accreditation to ISO 17043, lead quality audits and prepare the Annual Management Review
• Advise participant laboratories on assay performance, troubleshooting and poor performance, and work with manufacturers on standardisation
• Plan new EQA programmes as diagnostic practice changes
• Represent the Centre at Steering Committee, Specialist Advisory Group, NQAAP and Consortium meetings
• Present data at national and international meetings, publish in peer reviewed journals and organise our annual scientific meeting

About us
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 employees. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year pa/ pro rata for part time staff
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 190-1998-DIR
Location: Pegasus House, UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping, 4th Floor, Pegasus House, 463a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2QD

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications

• Essential: Fully registered with HCPC as a Biomedical Scientist/Clinical Scientist, or an equivalent and relevant professional body
• Essential: Higher degree such as MSc in relevant subject
• Essential: Post graduate management qualification or significant relevant experience

Experience

• Essential: Evidence of proficiency and effectiveness in a relevant professional/scientific area. Extensive relevant laboratory experience at higher level
• Essential: Experience of managing diverse groups of staff. To include ability to manage change and ability to manage staff
• Essential: Experience of the workings of the UK NEQAS organisation
• Essential: Experience of presenting data to other scientific staff. Experience of presenting data at National and International meetings via PowerPoint presentations, posters etc
• Essential: Experience of presenting data and taking questions from a large audience of peers
• Desirable: Speciality specific expertise in scheme disciplines. Author of peer-reviewed publications. Nationally and internationally recognised as an expert in the field
• Desirable: Track record of delivering results
• Desirable: Experience of developing, organising, supporting and delivering events/projects/training

Skills and Knowledge

• Essential: Good scientific and statistical skills
• Essential: Ability to interpret, weigh, distil and summarise complex datasets
• Essential: Knowledge of latest guidelines and best practices as they apply to field
• Essential: Good time management, organisational and project management skills
• Essential: Ability to work at a high level as an independent scientific practitioner in flow cytometry or molecular haemato-oncology
• Essential: High level of technical, analytical, communication and judgemental skills (including troubleshooting with complex systems) in suitability of samples for analysis, quality control data, solving technical/analytical problems and clinical significance of results
• Essential: Good written and oral communication skills
• Desirable: Knowledge and understanding of ISO 17043 and ISO 13528
• Desirable: Awareness of current quality and service issues in the NHS and laboratory practice
• Desirable: Ability to initiate and manage service development projects
• Desirable: Ability to build strategic relationships with external organisations
• Desirable: Leadership experience

Personal Qualities

• Essential: Evidence of actively seeking relevant knowledge and learning. A commitment to CPD as an individual. Promotion of CPD for other staff
• Essential: Committed to and understands the principles of clinical governance and quality in the relevant area
• Essential: Integrity, discretion, confidentiality, impartiality

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer's website: https://www.sth.nhs.uk

For questions about the job, contact: Stuart Scott, Director, stuart.scott8@nhs.net, 01142673603

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice is available on the Trust website.