Digital Pathology Research Systems Lead (XN08)

Job Summary

Expected Shortlisting Date: 10/03/2025

Planned Interview Date: 24/03/2025

Would you like to support world leading digital pathology research, creating innovative systems and processes to manage petabytes of data for training and evaluating cutting edge AI?

The National Pathology Imaging Co-operative (NPIC) is working to digitise pathology services across the country, whilst harnessing the associated data for research into improving patient care. NPIC’s strategic vision includes the creation of a platform for NHS Secure Data Environments (SDEs), where patient data will be used by researchers nationwide. This platform will rely heavily on robust interoperable systems that need to be managed and maintained effectively.

The Digital Pathology Research Systems Lead will play a key role in setting up and maintaining the Information Systems that underpin all NPIC research activity, including:

1. The NPIC Research Image Management System
2. The NPIC AI FORGE, a world leading digital pathology scanning facility
3. The NPIC Clinical PACS data extraction pipelines
4. GPU-accelerated virtual workstations for AI and data science development
5. Data transfer systems capable of sending and receiving terabytes of data

Main duties of the job

The role will work closely with the Head of Research Infrastructure to deliver a robust service for a diverse range of research use cases. A successful candidate will have significant experience with digital pathology and be comfortable working under pressure to deliver complex technical projects with changing demands on the service. The role will require a candidate who is passionate about cutting edge technology and a background supporting technical research activity is advantageous.

As Digital Pathology Research Systems Lead, you will be expected to:

1. Manage and lead the Research Systems Team, supporting research users with complex and diverse needs
2. Lead on a diverse range of technical projects that incorporate new technologies and exploratory proof of concepts
3. Report on various technical activities, and forecast requirements based on robust and comprehensive performance metrics
4. Contribute to procurement activities and advise on strategic plans affecting technical research activity
5. Develop policies and procedures for standardising workflows and managing data
6. Develop effective working relationships with stakeholders and suppliers
7. Horizon scan the latest developments in digital pathology systems and workflows

The NPIC Digital Pathology Research Systems Lead role will be based at the St James’s site of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust with an opportunity for hybrid working.

About Us

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been at the forefront of Digital Pathology research and innovation for over 20 years. NPIC builds on that advanced starting position, uniting a consortium of academic, clinical and industry partners with a common vision – to create a world-leading centre for digital pathology and artificial intelligence (AI) on which a UK industrial sector can grow and thrive. NPIC is a multidisciplinary and highly motivated team that is working to deliver these challenging ambitions. As a part of this team, you can expect a supportive environment and management that is receptive to the needs of individuals, continued development through training, and opportunities to be involved in diverse aspects of a multimillion-pound program.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying ‘at risk’ members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Date posted: 17 February 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8a

Salary: £53,755 to £60,504 a year

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number: C9298-DRI-0180A

Job locations:

St. James’s University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF

Job Description

Job responsibilities

JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Digital Pathology Research Systems Lead

Reports to: Head of Research Infrastructure

Band: 8a

Unit/Department: Research and Innovation

Location: SJUH

AFC Number: 3473a

Job Purpose/Summary

The National Pathology Imaging Co-operative (NPIC) programme, a £100m+ initiative supported by central funding from NHS England, Innovate UK and the Office for Life Sciences. NPIC has the ambition to provide a national platform to support pathology services. The post-holder will be responsible for the management of Information Systems relating to the Research activity of the NPIC programme.

To succeed in this role the successful candidate will need substantial experience in project management and a track record of delivery. The ability to build successful networks and collaborations across a complex range of stakeholders, including industry, academia, NHS and patients.

This role requires an experienced individual who is driven, ambitious and passionate about improving patient care through the use of cutting-edge technology. The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of service re-design, policy/procedure creation & technical implementation and creation and service development. The job holder will use experience and judgement to evaluate complex requirements and implement solutions that are consistent with the overall aims of the Programme.

The Pathology Directorate in the Trust is highly dependent on IT systems to support the delivery of the clinical service to patients. Key IT systems across Cellular Pathology include Picture Archiving Communication System – PACS, Synoptic Reporting and interfaces with Laboratory Information Systems, Laboratory Tracking Systems and systems across WYAAT. There are likely to be in excess of 150 staff across WYAAT with the majority of these being users who use the system on a daily basis.

PACS is a clinical system installed, it is used across the region by clinicians to deliver patient care by enabling images and results to be available 24 hours per day at any PC.

The post holder will be responsible for the management and performance of these operational systems, ensuring that they meet agreed standards and are developed to meet the evolving requirements, within the constraints of existing contracts. A key element to the job is the development of data analysis, information management and reporting mechanisms to meet the needs of the NPIC programme and partner Trusts. The role will include the management and reporting of a broad range of current information to support both clinical and business functions and commissioner requirements.

The post holder will also provide comprehensive management support to the Programme and across the region and will have responsibility for the leadership and performance of a team of technical and information staff and will ensure that services are delivered within budget to agreed quality standards. The post holder will work in a complex environment and must ensure that effective communications are established and maintained across the region, all Trust IT, and service users.

To lead on the information strategy planning for the NPIC Programme ensuring the provision of an information and analysis service to meet the specific needs of the Programme and other service users both internal and external.

Accountable for the effective operational management and performance of all current systems within the NPIC Programme such as PACS, synoptic reporting, internal data warehouse and all interfaces between the various systems as well as any future developments.

Manage a team of staff to deliver IT and Information services.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Operational Management

The post-holder will be accountable for the management, development and maintenance of several IT systems within the NPIC Programme. They will ensure these systems function to meet the aims of the Programme and the Trust and to ensure they evolve in line with new developments and associated demand. They will have in depth specialist knowledge of information systems and PACS.

The post holder will be responsible for planning, implementing and managing system upgrades and expansion e.g. adding additional modalities, electronic test ordering.

Accountable for management of system interfaces in collaboration with system suppliers, regional departments, supplier teams and Trust IT services locally and across the Region.

Establish and lead a cross-team Technical Group incorporating support staff for LIMS and PACS and associated IT technical support, Data Communications and Information Governance staff to ensure good communications and collaborative working.

Manage image sharing requirements and data anonymisation with partners and with Independent Sector Healthcare providers, ensuring local storage is not compromised.

Establish and maintain appropriate escalation procedures.

Manage System Recovery Team following any down-time either planned or otherwise.

Maintain Service Continuity Plan and ensure responsible staff are fully briefed.

Review functionality and usage of the systems to ensure benefits realised.

Responsible for system availability management.

Initiate appropriate change management procedures as required, ensuring that the impact of any change on associated systems is acknowledged.

Initiate and manage appropriate protocols as necessary e.g. security.

Develop, authorise and implement workarounds for known system problems.

Prioritise Requests for Change.

Take overall responsibility for Configuration Management, ensuring appropriate documentation is up-to-date and available.

Maintain system risk and issue logs and manage appropriately to minimise risk and resolve issues.

Undertake proactive work to ensure a climate of Continual Service Improvement.

Responsible for all change, release and deployment activities.

Carry out post implementation reviews as appropriate.

Ensure integrity of system back-up, archive and recovery plans.

Implement and manage a Helpdesk service.

Information Management

To lead, manage and develop the Information Strategy for the NPIC Programme.

To be responsible for the operation of all IT systems within NPIC Programme and integration with Regional/National systems.

Analyse, interpret and resolve highly complex problems where there may be conflicting opinions.

To be responsible for the provision of an efficient and accurate information and analysis service to the NPIC Programme and Regional Trusts, the Department of Health and other agencies.

To analyse and provide a central resource of information.

To create, design and present highly complex information reports to a wide range of audiences including internal and external staff.

To contribute to the NPIC Performance reports.

Access Management

To ensure compliance with the relevant information security policies, ensuring that activities are in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and other legislation and regulations related to information security.

To provide guidance on Data Protection matters to the NPIC Programme as required.

Accountable for disclosure or destruction of data held in the database systems in accordance with all relevant legislation.

Quality Management

To develop and implement strategies and systems for quality assurance, providing feedback, development and support as necessary.

Responsibility for and monitoring of information quality assurance.

Training/Communication

Ensure that relevant training programmes are in place and delivered effectively.

Responsible for the delivery of specialist technical training as required.

Establish and lead a Regional PACS User Group(s).

To manage and develop a website for the NPIC Programme in line with Trust standards.

The post-holder will ensure effective communication channels are developed across the Trust both within the NPIC Programme, with corporate IT providers and with system Suppliers and all relevant stakeholders.

Provide technical advice and guidance in relevant Trust projects.

Financial

The post holder may be the delegated budget manager for IT systems monitoring budgetary performance.

Strategy

Responsible for the development of policy and procedures in relation to IT Systems which will impact across the NPIC Programme e.g. policies for the correct identification of relevant imaging on PACS.

Staff Management

Accountable for the appointment, induction, management, and continued development and training of staff.

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