Senior Biomedical Scientist Cellular Pathology Quality Lead

We are seeking an experienced HCPC-registered Senior Biomedical Scientist to join our Histopathology team as Quality Lead (Band 7). This pivotal role involves managing the department's Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with UKAS ISO 15189 standards, leading audits, and driving continuous improvement. The successful candidate will provide technical and regulatory expertise, support the Histopathology Manager, and train staff in quality principles. Applicants must have significant post-registration experience and be currently practising in a histopathology laboratory, with hands-on skills in specimen preparation, embedding, microtomy, and staining techniques. If you are passionate about quality and excellence in diagnostics, we want to hear from you.

Main duties of the job:

• Managing the Quality Management System (QMS) for the Histopathology department to ensure compliance with UKAS ISO 15189 standards and Trust policies.
• Acting as the departmental lead for internal and external audits, inspections, and assessments.
• Developing, implementing, and reviewing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and maintaining document control.
• Overseeing non-conformance management, including root-cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
• Coordinating the internal audit schedule and participation in External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes.
• Monitoring and reporting quality indicators, turnaround times, and performance data.
• Providing specialist technical advice and supporting complex histopathology procedures when required.
• Leading staff training on quality principles, UKAS requirements, and quality tools.
• Deputising for the Histopathology Manager and contributing to strategic planning and operational management.
• Supporting research, validation, and audit projects to drive service improvements.

About us:

Wye Valley NHS Trust is a member of an NHS Foundation Group with South Warwickshire University NHS FT, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute NHS Hospitals Trust. Located on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community services across Herefordshire and into parts of Powys and run Hereford County Hospital and the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye. We are a progressive and forward-looking trust with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaborative working with our partners to deliver the quality of care we want for our family and friends. More than 3,000 people work for the Trust; they tell us it's a great place to work, blending the busyness of a DGH with the benefits of working in a beautiful rural and unspoilt county like Herefordshire. We can offer a great work-life balance and have a fine tradition of working with staff to help them achieve their full potential.

Job responsibilities:

For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification:

• Current Registration with HCPC as a Biomedical Scientist
• BMS degree and MSc or equivalent qualifications and experience.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• Training and development experience
• IBMS CEP in Quality

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities:

• Capable of frequent and extended periods of concentration
• Able to work alone, unsupervised and independently
• A good understanding of theoretical and practical histopathology
• Good interpretive skills at bench level
• Accurate and show attention to detail
• Able to plan the day-to-day organization of a work area

Experience:

• Working knowledge of laboratory bench areas.
• Knowledge of laboratory computer systems (LIMS)
• Ability to work accurately from written protocols
• Ability to use, control and maintain analytical systems

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.