West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Band 8d - Director, UK NEQAS BTLP
The closing date is 15 November 2026

Job summary
We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate UK NEQAS Director to lead the UK NEQAS BTLP team. Applicants should be expert in blood transfusion and in the provision of EQA. The post holder will organise and be accountable for the clinically focused and cost-effective and delivery and development of UK NEQAS BTLP services to UK and non-UK participants, working with Scheme specialist advisors and professional oversight bodies, with the primary aim of improving performance in immunohaematology and pre-transfusion testing through education and advice. The post-holder must maintain participant confidentiality and high standards of technical and professional support in keeping with international accreditation standards (ISO 17043). The post holder will be expected to become a Director of QED Transfusion Limited. This company, which is Limited by Guarantee and is operated as not-for-profit is used to manage income from non-NHS laboratories and supplements the NHS income to fund EQA activities on behalf of UK NEQAS BTLP. This is a full-time post, working 9:00am-5:30pm, Monday to Friday, although flexible working arrangements will be considered. Full details will be discussed at interview.

Main duties of the job

• Writing in depth review and supplementary survey reports, with detailed analysis and clinically relevant specialist opinion, for participants and external advisors.
• Reviewing participant performance against criteria agreed with the relevant quality assurance panels, communicates with participants where performance is deemed unsatisfactory and offers evidence based expert advice for improvement.
• Refers participants to the relevant oversight bodies, where intervention does not improve performance.
• Managing of the staff within UK NEQAS BTLP and the management of the staff jointly employed with the UK NEQAS Haematology, in accordance with Trust policies and procedures, including disciplinary action, recruitment, appraisal and performance management.
• Managing of the budget and other physical resources of UK NEQAS BTLP, in accordance with Trust policies and procedures and NHS Standing Financial instruction
• Running the scientific operation of the UK NEQAS BTLP programme of surveys and the development of pilot schemes.
• Operation of UK NEQAS BTLP services in accordance with the UK NEQAS Unit Quality Manual and for ensuring that UK NEQAS BTLP meets and maintains current national and international accreditation standards.

About us
With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Job responsibilities

• You will be responsible for providing expert scientific advice and interpretation to participants, professional bodies and other organisations on quality assurance, clinical laboratory performance and other issues, including use of techniques, reagents and equipment, in accordance with national guidelines.
• You will be responsible for representing UK NEQAS BTLP and the wider UK NEQAS organisation in a professional capacity on external national committees and organisations.
• You will be responsible for UK NEQAS BTLP business planning and for business continuity policy.
• You will be responsible for security of information held by UK NEQAS BTLP, in line with current information governance legislation.
• You will be responsible for planning and undertaking a programme of research designed to identify and monitor trends in hospital blood transfusion laboratory practice, as well as research and development to improve the Schemes services, including project planning, costing and identifying funding.
• You will be accountable to the Trust and the UK NEQAS Board of Trustees for the delivery of UK NEQAS BTLP services in accordance with the UK NEQAS Code of Practice, Department of Health guidelines for the management of EQA schemes within NHS trusts, and the advice of the recognised national oversight bodies.

Person Specification
Your application will be scored against the person specification. Essential: 2 - Meets all essential criteria 1 - Partially meets essential criteria 0 - Does not meet essential criteria

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. 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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address: Croxley Business Park / Watford Hospital, Watford General Hospital, Watford, WD18 0HB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Scheme Director, UK NEQAS Haematology, Bashori Rahman, bashori.rahman@nhs.net, 01923587111

Details
Date posted: 06 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8d
Salary: £96,626 to £111,084 a year inc HCA
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 360-C-11977
Job locations: Croxley Business Park / Watford Hospital, Watford General Hospital, Watford, WD18 0HB, United Kingdom

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