Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Head of Pathology Operations

The closing date is 10 February 2026

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and transform pathology services at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

We are looking for an outstanding Head of Pathology Operations to take strategic and operational leadership of our large, diverse, and highly skilled pathology service a. This role offers real scope to innovate, influence at senior level, and help shape pathology services across the Trust and wider system.

If you are a confident and visionary leader with a passion for quality, people, and progress please get in touch.

Main duties of the job

This post will be the Lead Healthcare Scientist for the Trust.

The Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust has hospital sites at Stoke Mandeville, High Wycombe and Amersham, primarily serving Mid and South Buckinghamshire. There are laboratories situated at the Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe hospitals. There is a Divisional Management Structure in place and Pathology is a clinical delivery unit (CDU) within the Specialist Clinical Services Care Group.

The Head of Pathology Operations is required to work in a way that facilitates and supports the strategic development of the service delivery units, empowers clinicians and frontline staff in decision-making in a way that supports service improvements and provides a patient centred focus.

The post holder will be responsible for developing business and project plans ensuring implementation and that performance targets and strategic objectives are met.

The post holder will work closely with Pathology Clinical Leads, senior pathology managers, all consultants and the Care Group Director of Operations.

The post holder must deliver a high-quality, cost-effective service and through collaborative and constructive working facilitate improvements through change as determined by best practice/service developments.

About us

Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! - BHT - A great place to work (buckshealthcare.nhs.uk)

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

  • As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
  • We offer flexible and agile workingopportunities,alongside your NHS benefits ofgenerous annual leave entitlement, pension andaccess toNHS discount schemes.
  • We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us?

  • We're committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
  • As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
  • Greater diversity withinourBHT familyimprovespositive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
  • A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.

What do we stand for?

  • Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
  • Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
  • Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Details

Date posted

27 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

434-SCS7703959

Job locations

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Mandeville Road

Aylesbury

HP21 8AL


Job description

Job responsibilities

For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on bht.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on bht.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person Specification

Education, qualifications and training

Essential

  • Registration with the Health Professions council as a Biomedical Scientist
  • A Biomedical Science Degree or equivalent
  • MSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent
  • Registration on continual professional development scheme
  • Management training and qualification
  • Quality Management training Risk Assessment training
  • Knowledge of pathology IT systems for the extraction of statistics and workload data
  • Leadership Qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in the management of multi-discipline Pathology services
  • At least 10 years post registration experience working in a diagnostic pathology laboratory
  • In-depth experience of complex laboratory methodology to provide expert advice to the Directorate and the Trust
  • Understanding of UKAS / lab accreditation requirements and experience
  • Awareness of safety regulations relating to safe working in pathology laboratories to ensure that safety remains central in strategic plans
  • Good written and verbal communication skills to present information at meetings, in business cases and reports
  • Analytical skills to follow through complex service delivery and diagnostic problems
  • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office programmes - Powerpoint, Access, Excel and Word
  • Good financial skills to manage budgets and maintain financial discipline
  • Follow professional development pathway to maintain relevant skills
  • Develop and maintain a training strategy to ensure adequate staffing
  • Knowledge of pathology IT systems for the extraction of statistics and workload data
  • Expert knowledge to lead and develop strategy on laboratory quality assurance issues
  • Management of audit processes and clinical governance
  • Knowledge of NHS capital procurement process to enable negotiation of building developments and equipment acquisition
  • Negotiating skills for the development of service level agreements with service users
Person Specification

Education, qualifications and training

Essential

  • Registration with the Health Professions council as a Biomedical Scientist
  • A Biomedical Science Degree or equivalent
  • MSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent
  • Registration on continual professional development scheme
  • Management training and qualification
  • Quality Management training Risk Assessment training
  • Knowledge of pathology IT systems for the extraction of statistics and workload data
  • Leadership Qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in the management of multi-discipline Pathology services
  • At least 10 years post registration experience working in a diagnostic pathology laboratory
  • In-depth experience of complex laboratory methodology to provide expert advice to the Directorate and the Trust
  • Understanding of UKAS / lab accreditation requirements and experience
  • Awareness of safety regulations relating to safe working in pathology laboratories to ensure that safety remains central in strategic plans
  • Good written and verbal communication skills to present information at meetings, in business cases and reports
  • Analytical skills to follow through complex service delivery and diagnostic problems
  • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office programmes - Powerpoint, Access, Excel and Word
  • Good financial skills to manage budgets and maintain financial discipline
  • Follow professional development pathway to maintain relevant skills
  • Develop and maintain a training strategy to ensure adequate staffing
  • Knowledge of pathology IT systems for the extraction of statistics and workload data
  • Expert knowledge to lead and develop strategy on laboratory quality assurance issues
  • Management of audit processes and clinical governance
  • Knowledge of NHS capital procurement process to enable negotiation of building developments and equipment acquisition
  • Negotiating skills for the development of service level agreements with service users

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 (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.

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 (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).

Employer details

Employer name

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Mandeville Road

Aylesbury

HP21 8AL


Employer's website

https://careers.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Mandeville Road

Aylesbury

HP21 8AL


Employer's website

https://careers.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Interim Care Group Director of Operations

Nia Davies

nia.davies9@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

27 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

434-SCS7703959

Job locations

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Mandeville Road

Aylesbury

HP21 8AL


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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