Microbiology Manager

Go back Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 04 March 2026

As a Band 8a laboratory manager in the Microbiology Department the post holder will be responsible for the operational and technical delivery of the service and management of all sections of Microbiology including Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology and Molecular Diagnostics, as well as maintenance of UKAS accreditation to ISO 15189. The post holder is the Microbiology budget holder and will take a lead role in the management and development of all staff within the Department.

The role involves leading the operational, technical and workforce management of the Microbiology Department, ensuring high quality service delivery across Bacteriology, Virology, Molecular Diagnostics, Parasitology and Mycology, maintaining UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation, managing the budget and developing staff.

The Pathology Department at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals is part of the Lancashire & South Cumbria Pathology Service, a 4-Trust collaborative network focussed on coordinating services, adopting new technology, achieving best value and improving patient outcomes whilst maintaining pathology services across all sites.

The post holder will work to meet the objectives of the Pathology Directorate and the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust through effective teamwork, communication, planning, staffing and resource management. As a Band 8a in the Microbiology Department the post holder will be responsible for the operational and technical delivery of the service and management of all sections of Microbiology including Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology and Molecular Diagnostics, as well as maintenance of UKAS accreditation to ISO 15189.

The post holder is the Microbiology budget holder and will take a lead role in the management and development of all staff within the Department. Additional duties will be undertaken as directed by the Pathology Directorate Manager in consultation with the post holder.

The Pathology department at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is member of the Lancashire & South Cumbria Pathology Service which is a collaborative pathology network made up of four partner Trusts , they are University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The aim is to transform pathology services and patient pathways by ensuring a coordinated approach for local services that drives the adoption of new technology, seeks best value, service quality and investment to improve patient outcomes. Pathology is essential to the delivery of all patient pathways and will be continued to be delivered on all 4 hospital sites.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty-five-minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac, Haematology and Cystic fibrosis patients.

As one of the United Kingdom's largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents
- it's not just a good place to work; it's a great place to live
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To ensure the department is operating in accordance with national guidance and maintain UKAS accreditation ISO 15189 standards & regulatory requirements.

To be responsible for the technical leadership for service developments which clinical teams and Consultant Microbiologists or Clinical Scientists may wish to introduce.

To monitor and maintain the high professional standards of the Microbiology service and initiate remedial action where necessary.

To plan, oversee, perform, and technically validate all Microbiological investigations to a high level of competence.

To oversee the technical validation of test results prior to reporting, ensuring the standard operating procedures as agreed by the Consultant Microbiologists are followed.

To be responsible for the data management of results on the laboratory computer systems to ensure they are reported accurately and in a timely manner.

To implement and monitor Internal and External Quality Assurance Schemes.

To ensure the effective and timely commissioning of new equipment in Microbiology to ISO 15189 standards.

To give technical support and guidance to all Microbiology staff, clinical staff and for research / clinical trials involving Microbiology.

To implement Microbiology polices and maintain all documentation.

To ensure stock levels are maintained to the required level within Microbiology.

To ensure equipment within the department is fit for purpose, monitored, working at optimal performance and support collation of maintenance records.

To implement new methodology into Microbiology in accordance best practice and…