Job summary
The Department of Microbiology and Virology is looking for an experienced and motivated leader to join our Serology team. This key role involves providing senior leadership and operational management, overseeing day-to-day laboratory operations, and ensuring effective collaboration across teams. You will lead and support the serology team through line management responsibilities, deliver advanced scientific and technical supervision including troubleshooting, and drive staff development through training and mentorship. In addition, you will champion research and innovation within your scope of practice to enhance service quality.
- Interview Date: 18th December 2025
- 37 hours 30 minutes/week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will oversee the Serology service, which delivers a wide range of tests for diverse healthcare settings including Trust hospitals, GP surgeries, community diagnostic hubs, private healthcare, and research trials. The role involves managing specialised testing portfolios such as confirmatory work for blood-borne viruses, syphilis, and transplant serology, as well as playing a key role in Infectious Disease in Pregnancy Screening (IDPS).
The post holder will ensure quality management, lead operational and strategic planning, and maintain a sustainable service through innovation and the introduction of new equipment and methodologies. They will act as the scientific lead for Serology, providing expert guidance, coordinating clinical links, and responding effectively to unexpected events to maintain service continuity. The role requires the individual to work closely with departmental colleagues, consultant virologists and other service users.
About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
o Freeman Hospital
o Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
o Newcastle Dental Hospital
o Newcastle Fertility Centre
o Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
o Northern Genetics Service
o Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description
Job responsibilities
- In collaboration with the Clinical Head of Department, Laboratory Manager andOperational Manager, lead the day to day functions in designated laboratory section to ensure the technical and managerial functions are delivered efficiently and effectively, in order to provide a high-quality scientific service, so meeting service and Trusts objectives
- To provide specialised scientific knowledge and act as scientific and operational lead and provide oversight in performing highly specialised tests within adesignated section and wider laboratory areas as required
- To devise and coordinate research and development in the field of clinical diagnostics
- To provide advice and interpretation and to perform final scientific authorisation of clinical reports for patients in hospital, community and private sector
- Income generation related to services under direct responsibility
- Provide scientific and operational support for other areas of the laboratory as required
- To act as scientific and operational lead in designated section
- To plan and deliver services in that section
- To provide specialised scientific knowledge to directly support treatment pathways
- To ensure laboratory diagnostic tests are performed and results validated, and judgement used in determining further tests that may be required.
- To interpret laboratory results and apply these to ensure individual patient needs are met.
- To ensure the maintenance of automated laboratory equipment is performed and takes prompt and appropriate action to ensure continued running of the section.
- To manage other sections, when necessary, within the department and deputise for Operational Manager where appropriate.
- To lead the section Quality Assurance programmes and to report any non-compliant events to the Quality Manager.
- To give technical and operational advice during and routine working hours as necessary.
- To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for self, colleagues and visitors.
- To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to the department Health and Safety Team
Please refer to the Job Description, Person Specification and Role Descriptor for all essential and desirable criteria required for the role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- In collaboration with the Clinical Head of Department, Laboratory Manager andOperational Manager, lead the day to day functions in designated laboratory section to ensure the technical and managerial functions are delivered efficiently and effectively, in order to provide a high-quality scientific service, so meeting service and Trusts objectives
- To provide specialised scientific knowledge and act as scientific and operational lead and provide oversight in performing highly specialised tests within adesignated section and wider laboratory areas as required
- To devise and coordinate research and development in the field of clinical diagnostics
- To provide advice and interpretation and to perform final scientific authorisation of clinical reports for patients in hospital, community and private sector
- Income generation related to services under direct responsibility
- Provide scientific and operational support for other areas of the laboratory as required
- To act as scientific and operational lead in designated section
- To plan and deliver services in that section
- To provide specialised scientific knowledge to directly support treatment pathways
- To ensure laboratory diagnostic tests are performed and results validated, and judgement used in determining further tests that may be required.
- To interpret laboratory results and apply these to ensure individual patient needs are met.
- To ensure the maintenance of automated laboratory equipment is performed and takes prompt and appropriate action to ensure continued running of the section.
- To manage other sections, when necessary, within the department and deputise for Operational Manager where appropriate.
- To lead the section Quality Assurance programmes and to report any non-compliant events to the Quality Manager.
- To give technical and operational advice during and routine working hours as necessary.
- To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for self, colleagues and visitors.
- To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to the department Health and Safety Team
Please refer to the Job Description, Person Specification and Role Descriptor for all essential and desirable criteria required for the role.
Person Specification
Qualification & Education
Essential
- BSc (Hons) in relevant science degree or equivalent qualification
- Health and Care Professions Council registration
- IBMS Specialist Portfolio, IBMS Diploma of Specialist Practice, CPSM Logbook or equivalent qualification
- MSc, FIBMS or equivalent qualification in relevant science subject
Desirable
- Post graduate management qualification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience and in-depth specialist knowledge of Microbiology or Virology
- Previous experience as a Clinical Scientist or Advanced Biomedical Scientist in diagnostic Microbiology or Virology
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and health and safety measures
- Knowledge and experience of current UKAS accreditation standards
- Experience of conducting appraisals
- Experience in Research and Development
Desirable
- Significant proficiency in use of MS Office Suite, Ideagen Q-Pulse and other IT systems
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical, organisational and planning skills
- Ability to work autonomously, with creativity, drive and flexibility
- Participative approach to change management and problem solving
Desirable
- Coaching and/or mentoring skills
Person Specification
Qualification & Education
Essential
- BSc (Hons) in relevant science degree or equivalent qualification
- Health and Care Professions Council registration
- IBMS Specialist Portfolio, IBMS Diploma of Specialist Practice, CPSM Logbook or equivalent qualification
- MSc, FIBMS or equivalent qualification in relevant science subject
Desirable
- Post graduate management qualification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience and in-depth specialist knowledge of Microbiology or Virology
- Previous experience as a Clinical Scientist or Advanced Biomedical Scientist in diagnostic Microbiology or Virology
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and health and safety measures
- Knowledge and experience of current UKAS accreditation standards
- Experience of conducting appraisals
- Experience in Research and Development
Desirable
- Significant proficiency in use of MS Office Suite, Ideagen Q-Pulse and other IT systems
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical, organisational and planning skills
- Ability to work autonomously, with creativity, drive and flexibility
- Participative approach to change management and problem solving
Desirable
- Coaching and/or mentoring skills
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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