Head of Department - Andrology

An opportunity for the Head of Andrology has arisen in the Andrology Department of the Doctors Laboratory located at 76 Wimpole Street, London W1G 9RT. This is a full time 40 hours vacancy.

TDL Andrology is a UKAS accredited diagnostic laboratory offering a comprehensive range of diagnostic services to doctors, including fertility specialists and other healthcare professionals. You will be required to provide operational; management and leadership to the TDL Andrology Department and to oversee the performance of routine diagnostic analytical work of the department while complying with and working to all documented procedures in accordance with appropriate accreditation and regulatory bodies e.g. UKAS ISO15189, CQC, HFEA, etc.. You will slso be required to ensure that all service and operational KPIs are consistently met and provide close liaison with service users. This will include the use of monitoring systems, employment of appropriately qualified personnel, provision and operation of equipment, site health and safety, maintenance of laboratory policies, maintenance of the quality management system and all analytical testing.

Main duties of the job

The department performs diagnostic Semen Analysis, Post Vasectomy Semen Analysis, determination of Retrograde Ejaculation Morphology assessments, oxidation/reduction testing using MiOXSYS and ROS. In addition, the lab prepares samples for Sperm DNA fragmentation SEXT, COME), and Aneuploidy. You will also assist in developing and validating new diagnostic tests where appropriate. The working hours of the department are Monday Friday 7am 9pm and Saturday 9am -3pm and you must be prepared to work any shift as required by the service.

Involvement and experience with quality processes will be key especially knowledge of UKAS accreditation and ISO 15189:2022. You will be involved in monitoring internal and external quality assurance schemes, ensuring optimal storage of all samples and other data as required by UKAS and GDPR. Liaising with TDLs Quality Management Group during audits and helping to implement the required action. The role will include using computerised reporting systems.

You should have a Biomedical Science degree or equivalent and a relevant Masters degree. You should have experience of working within the healthcare field, with report writing experience, quality assurance, ISO 15189 and be familiar with the purpose and day-to-day laboratory organisation of the TDL Andrology service.

About us

At TDL we offer a variety of excellent staff benefits including:

Training and development opportunities supporting professional development

Annual performance related salary review

No banding restrictions: As we are a private company we are not restricted by salary bandings and so are able to negotiate appropriate salaries based on experience. This also means that annual salary reviews do not hit a band ceiling.

Discounted gym membership we have a corporate gym membership scheme with Better Gyms

Cash healthcare plan cash back on a variety of healthcare costs including dentist and opticians

Sick Pay Entitlement 5 paid days in the first year of employment, 20 days thereafter

Permanent Health Insurance and Death in Service Cover

Life Assurance providing salary continuation for long term illness (six months qualifying period)

Employee Assistance Programme supporting staff wellbeing

Season Ticket Loan Scheme interest free loan for the cost of annual travel ticket

Perkbox Access to additional staff perks and benefits such as high street discounts

Company Pension Scheme company and staff contributions which increase with service

Competitive annual leave allowance-23 days rising to 28 days upon 5 years continuous service

Job responsibilities

To provide operational; management and leadership to the TDLAndrology Department. To oversee theperformance of routine diagnostic analytical work of the department whilecomplying with and working to all documented procedures in accordance with appropriate accreditation and regulatory bodies e.g.UKAS ISO15189, CQC, HFEA, etc.. To ensure that all service andoperational KPIs are consistently met and provide close liaison with serviceusers. This will include the use of monitoring systems, employment ofappropriately qualified personnel, provision and operation of equipment, sitehealth and safety, maintenance of laboratory policies, maintenance of thequality management system and all analytical testing.

To include, but not be restricted to, thefollowing duties:

1.Tomanage day-to-day operations of the TDL Andrology Department.

2.Toengage in all duties required for the processing of Andrology tests ensuringthat the highest levels of quality and service and contractual turnaround timesare maintained.

3.To ensure that all staff adhere to Sonic / TDLGroup policies and procedures.

4.Toensure appropriate organisation and performance of all activities; ensure allstaff understand contracted KPIs / service standards and the department continuallyimproves on these.

5.Usedata from Group systems such as Tableau, Q-pulse, Sonic Learn and Core HR todrive improved performance of services.

6.Toensure that senior management is aware of issues concerning service deliveryincluding shortfall and service pressures; to propose remedial action foridentified issues.

7.Toimplement processes, policy, contracts etc. as required by the TDL Group seniormanagement team.

1.Prepare and provide a monthly report pack onperformance and productivity to the TDL senior management.

2.Identify any service failures or issues andensure that these are dealt with appropriately.

3.Investigate and resolve complaints and incidents and make recommendations as appropriate toensure continuous improvement of the service.

4.Toevaluate the skill mix across whole service and to ensure that appropriatesystems are in place for business continuity needs.

5.Overseestaff appointment, supervision and management of training plans such that staffconduct duties in line with required competence, responsibility and jobdescription.

6.Towork with the Director of Group Laboratory Operations to ensure staffing rotasare maintained and planned accordingly with correct numbers and grades of stafffor uninterrupted service provision.

7.Maintainup to date knowledge of appropriate containment levels as appropriate toservice, ensuring compliance with Health and Safety procedures.

8.Ensurecontinuing improvement of the quality of services

9.Toabide by General Data Protection Regulation rules and ensure staff are aware ofand abide by them

10. To maintain own professional developmentand HCPC Registration

Leadership andCommunication

1.Havean effective means for communicating with staff and keep records of itemsdiscussed in communications and meetings.

2.Participatein and contribute to effective operational, performance and quality meetings asrequired.

3.Ensurestaff annual reviews are undertaken, performance regularly reviewed andshortfalls managed within policy.

4.Toform productive relationships with staff, TDL Group customers and colleaguesensuring professionalism is maintained and promoted.

5.Ensurethat all departmental records, including those relating to payroll, absencereporting and training are maintained and updated.

6.Providesupport and guidance to other service managers within the business includingundertaking service reviews and structural changes; provide expert advice tosenior management.

7.Responsiblefor the recruitment and allocation of staff, including review of skill mix andshift patterns in line with business needs.

8.Takeappropriate action in line with employment policies to address any conduct or performanceissues.

9.Co-ordination, supervision, provision and monitoringof trainingand continuing professional development of all staff in thedepartment. Ensuring that adequate and timely training is provided to all staffmembers and competency checks are undertaken.

1.Ensurethat mandatory training and competence assessment is carried out in a timelymanner by all staff.

2.Leadon change management projectswithin the area involving staff andprocesses in accordance with employment policies and statutory requirements.

3.Workclosely with the Managers from other departments to ensure an effective patientand sample pathway

4.Toensure sufficient supervision and handover between shifts for uninterruptedservice provision.

5.Work closely with the TDL senior management team andinput constructively into senior management meetings

Technical andQuality:

1.To perform laboratory procedures as documented.

2.Support and participate in maintaining the Quality Management System, including audits, document control, leading quality initiatives, and ensuring the service isprovided in line with UKAS requirements.

3.To ensure the local risk register is maintainedand updated within expected timeframes, notifying the Director of Group LaboratoryOperations notified of new, high scoring risks

4.To lead in the annual management review ofservice as required.

5.Ensure that all staff are trained in andassessed as competent in all procedures undertaken.

6.To ensure SOPs, training and competenceassessment are reviewed and updated as required

8.To be fully familiar with the laboratory ITsystem and its appropriate utilisation in the discharge of your duties. Toparticipate in the data verification procedures of the laboratory forauthorization and validation of laboratory results.

9.To be responsible for processing time-scales andturnaround times to the requirements of the company are consistently met.

10. Togetherwith the Clinical Lead, to regularly supervise and review all technicalprocedures performed within the laboratory, including the establishment andmonitoring of effective internal and external Quality Control and Assuranceschemes.

11. Totake part in effective internal and external Quality Control and Assuranceschemes and to be responsible for monitoring staff performance. Taking actionto improve performance, where required.

12. Tobe responsible for managing the staff rota, ensuring an appropriate level ofstaff attendance at all times. To review shift and working patterns to maximiseand match workforce utilisation against service demands.

Ensureadministrative duties including booking appointments for patients, preparationof patient rooms, escorting patients to production rooms, providing appropriateinformation for producing a semen sample, and liaising with patients, doctorsand other healthcare professionals are conducted.

2.Toliaise with Laboratory Support Services in sourcing and ordering of laboratoryequipment and stock as well as managing service contracts with productdistributors and manufacturers

3.To calibrate appropriate laboratory equipment andensuring that all equipment is fit for purpose and schedule maintenance isperformed

4.Toassist in developing and validating new diagnostic tests where appropriate.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BSc or equivalent in relevant subject
• HCPC Registration
• PhD in a Reproductive Biology field

Managerial

• Experience in leadership (motivation, teamwork, delegation, change management)
• Experience in staff recruitment, management, retention and performance management
• Experience in managing teams, including setting priorities and addressing performance issues

Personal

• Good organisational skills.
• Ability to work accurately, neatly and efficiently. Attention to detail is very important.
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to communicate efficiently with other members of the laboratory both verbally and in writing. Able to manage difficult situations.

Experience

• Previous employment in a similar post or related discipline
• Demonstrated sound laboratory technique
• Proficient in process management
• Able to manage, develop, co-ordinate and provide a complex services Sufficient knowledge to be able to analyse and trouble-shoot complex operational problems.
• Experience in training and managing staff and assessing competence Understanding of Key Performance Indicators and Quality Management Structures

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.

Depending on experienceBand 8b equivalent DOE