University Hospital Southampton NHS FT
Laboratory Quality Lead
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Overview
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Job Title: Laboratory Quality Lead
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Fixed Term Contract End Date: November 2027
Purpose for Fixed Term: Career break or covering a secondment backfill
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as the Quality Lead for the Wessex Genomics Laboratory Service (WGLS) on a 12-month fixed-term basis. Working across our laboratory sites in Southampton and Salisbury, you will lead quality, governance, risk management, and compliance activities, supporting the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality genomic laboratory services.
Reporting jointly to the WGLS Operations Manager and the Pathology Risk and Governance Manager, you will be responsible for maintaining and overseeing the quality management systems operating across both sites, ensuring ongoing compliance with ISO 15189:2022 and other regulatory requirements. You will lead the service through UKAS assessments and accreditation activities, providing expert guidance on quality assurance, governance, and regulatory compliance across both laboratories, while supporting alignment and consistency of quality processes across the service.
Working for our organisation
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.
Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
In this role, your key responsibilities will include:
- Leading and overseeing the quality management systems across the Southampton and Salisbury laboratory sites, ensuring compliance with ISO 15189:2022, UKAS requirements and other relevant regulatory standards.
- Coordinating and leading UKAS assessments, accreditation activities and regulatory inspections, ensuring effective management of non-conformances, corrective actions and quality improvement plans.
- Leading and overseeing the internal audit programme, delivering audits against ISO 15189 and other applicable standards, and driving continual improvement across the service.
- Supporting risk management activities across WGLS, including the identification, assessment and management of organisational and operational risks, while promoting a culture of quality, safety and continuous improvement.
What Experience/skills Are Needed
- Significant experience working within a clinical laboratory environment, with a thorough understanding of ISO 15189, laboratory accreditation and regulatory requirements.
- Experience of maintaining and developing a Quality Management System (QMS), including audit, incident management, change control and quality improvement processes.
- A relevant MSc, Higher Specialist Certificate (IBMS) or equivalent qualification, together with registration with an appropriate professional body such as HCPC or AHCS.
- Excellent organisational, analytical and communication skills, with the ability to work autonomously, build effective working relationships across multidisciplinary teams and influence positive change.
- A flexible and proactive approach, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and support a rapidly evolving service through a period of significant transformational change.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Person specification
Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience
Essential criteria
- Relevant MSc, Higher Specialist Certificate (IBMS) or equivalent.
- Registration with relevant professional body e.g. HCPC, AHCS
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
- Postgraduate practical, technical and theoretical experience in relevant clinical laboratory discipline.
- Working knowledge of ISO15189 standard and discipline specific regulatory requirements.
- Experience with Laboratory IT and QM systems
Desirable criteria
- Quality Management qualification
- Working knowledge of laboratory bench areas.
- Experience of working within a Clinical Laboratory Setting
- Experience of managing and operating a Quality Management System
Trust Values
Essential criteria
- Patient First
- Working Together
- Always Improving
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London