Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and visionary Healthcare Science leader to join University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust as our Pathology Professional, Technical and Transformational Lead.

Working as part of the senior Pathology leadership triumvirate alongside the Directorate Clinical Director and Directorate Manager, you will provide strategic professional, technical and transformational leadership across our multi-site pathology service. You will act as the senior professional authority for Healthcare Science within Pathology, helping shape the future direction of services whilst ensuring the highest standards of scientific practice, quality, innovation and patient care.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of pathology services across Plymouth and the wider healthcare system. You will work alongside ambitious clinical and operational leaders to deliver transformational change, improve patient outcomes and develop a sustainable workforce for the future.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job
The Pathology Professional, Technical and Transformational Lead provides directorate-wide professional, technical, strategic and transformational leadership for Biomedical Science and the wider Healthcare Science workforce across Pathology.

Working as part of the Directorate senior leadership triumvirate alongside the Directorate Clinical Director and Directorate Manager, the postholder provides professional and scientific leadership, expert advice and assurance across all pathology services, ensuring high standards of scientific practice, technical excellence, workforce capability and transformational delivery.

The postholder contributes to the development of, and leads the professional, technical and transformation components of, the long-term strategic direction of pathology services, ensuring professional standards, technical developments and transformation programmes support Directorate, Trust and system-wide objectives.

Acting as the Directorate's senior professional authority across all pathology disciplines, the postholder provides strategic leadership for professional standards, quality management, clinical governance, workforce capability, education and training and line management of the Pathology Education, Training and Research Lead.

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job responsibilities

• Directorate-wide professional, technical and transformational leadership across multi-site and 24/7 pathology services.
• Senior professional authority across all pathology disciplines, providing strategic leadership and assurance for standards of scientific practice, professional quality and governance and workforce capability.
• Senior technical authority for laboratory standards and accreditation, diagnostic technologies, digital systems, automation, innovation and future service capability.
• Strategic responsibility for the development and delivery of pathology transformation programmes and major change initiatives.
• Strategic leadership of education, training and professional development across pathology services, including line management responsibility for the Pathology Education, Training and Research Lead.
• Support pathology business planning, strategic service development, productivity improvement and long-term service sustainability.
• Responsibility for developing and delivering digital transformation, technical modernisation and quality management system transformation programmes.
• Responsibility for establishing and delivering benefits realisation frameworks arising from transformation programmes and service developments.
• Provide professional leadership and expert contribution to quality governance, risk management, patient safety and regulatory compliance across pathology services.
• Responsibility for complex programme delivery, resource planning, business case development and investment proposals.
• Responsibility for identifying and developing collaborative, commercial and partnership opportunities that improve service resilience, innovation and value for money.
• Responsibility for presenting highly complex professional, technical and transformational matters directly to Trust Board, Executive Committees and senior decision-making forums.
• Representation of Pathology at Trust, regional, network and system level, contributing to the development of professional standards, workforce sustainability and service transformation.
• Lead efforts to reduce unwarranted variation, promoting standardisation and integration and driving continuous improvement across pathology services.
• Lead the development of technical and productivity measures and indicators to support improvements in quality, efficiency, workforce capability and patient outcomes, working in partnership with the Directorate Manager.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist (or other appropriate Healthcare Science registration)
• Master's Degree or equivalent Postgraduate qualification, or equivalent demonstrable expertise in pathology leadership.
• Significant specialist knowledge acquired through postgraduate study and extensive experience across pathology services.
• Evidence of sustained CPD and senior professional leadership development

Desirable

• Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science (FIBMS) or equivalent
• Formal leadership or management qualification
• Qualification or training in quality management, audit or investigation methodologies
• Demonstrable experience in business development, commercial negotiations, or partnership building
• Involvement in research, innovation networks, or industry collaborations.
• Demonstrable coaching experience/qualifications

Knowledge & experience
Essential

• Demonstrable extensive senior experience within multi-specialty pathology and 24/7 services.
• Demonstrable experience providing directorate-wide professional leadership and authority across multiple pathology disciplines.
• Demonstrable experience leading complex transformation programmes and organisational change.
• Demonstrable experience providing professional and technical leadership.
• Demonstrable experience leading education, workforce development and succession planning strategies.
• Demonstrable experience shaping organisational strategy and delivering strategic plans.
• Demonstrable experience presenting complex strategic matters directly to Boards and Executive Committees.
• Demonstrable experience delivering benefits realisation from large-scale transformation programmes.
• Extensive demonstrable experience in advanced laboratory technology, digital solutions, and complex analytical platforms.
• Expert understanding of UKAS, ISO 15189, and regulatory frameworks.

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience working within pathology networks or system-wide collaborations
• Demonstrable experience supporting research, innovation or academic partnerships
• Demonstrable experience of Lean, Six Sigma or equivalent continuous improvement methodologies.

Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Highly developed leadership, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Exceptional communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Highly developed analytical and numerical skills.
• Highly developed project and programme management skills.
• Proven ability to provide strategic scientific and technical leadership across pathology services.
• Proven ability to translate strategic objectives into measurable benefits and outcomes.
• Proven ability to present highly complex and contentious matters confidently to Trust Board and Executive Committees.
• Proven ability to provide strategic leadership for education, workforce capability and professional sustainability.

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.

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 (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).