RCI Operations Manager

NHS Blood and Transplant England Posted 6 days ago

Full Time
Onsite
Junior

Job description

Job Summary

This is an interim senior operational leadership role responsible for the delivery, performance, and resilience of Red Cell Immunohaematology (RCI) services across a defined region. Reporting to the Assistant Director of RCI, the post holder will take direct accountability for operational performance across multiple laboratories, including turnaround times, workforce deployment, and service delivery standards.

The role provides line management to Heads of Laboratory, ensuring clear performance expectations, strong leadership, and consistent delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient services. You will hold laboratories to account for performance, while supporting teams to resolve operational challenges and sustain improvements.

You will provide visible, on-site leadership across laboratories, particularly during periods of operational pressure, workforce gaps, or performance deterioration, ensuring service continuity and resilience. As part of a distributed national leadership model, you will work collaboratively across regions and contribute to the delivery of national priorities, ensuring consistent implementation and alignment across the RCI network.

This is a national role requiring regular travel across England. The post holder will be based at one of the RCI laboratories and is expected to maintain a strong on-site presence within their region. Appointments will be made to either a North or South regional role:

South: Birmingham, Tooting, Colindale, or Filton

North: Liverpool, Barnsley, or Newcastle

The role requires regular travel across laboratories within the region, with an expectation of visible, on-site leadership to support operational delivery.

This is a 12-month interim role, established to support operational performance and service delivery while the current RCI management structure is under review. The post holder will work alongside existing leadership arrangements during this transition period, contributing to the development of a sustainable future structure.

Main duties of the job

In this role you will be primarily responsible for managing the delivery of standardised, high quality and cost-effective RCI services which meet the needs of NHS customers. Your key responsibilities will include:

  • Take accountability for operational performance across a defined group of RCI laboratories, including turnaround times, work in progress (WIP), and service delivery metrics.
  • Provide direct line management to Heads of Laboratory, including objective setting, performance management, and leadership support.
  • Managing and co-ordinating service development and/or reconfiguration in accordance with priorities set by the Assistant Director of RCI.
  • Maintain a visible and consistent on-site leadership presence across laboratories, particularly during periods of operational pressure or workforce gaps.
  • Ensure effective workforce deployment and coordination across laboratories to deliver safe, sustainable, and efficient services.
  • Supporting the Assistant Director of RCI and Director of Pathology with:Facilities planning and reconfigurationSpecification, testing and implementation of IT systemsSpecification, assessment and qualification of laboratory testing platforms.Implementation of optimised logisticsActivity-based costing and derivation of prices
  • Maintaining a thorough working knowledge of hospital transfusion practices and the broader requirements of RCI customers.
  • Ensuring a co-ordinated approach to quality management and compliance across the function including management of quality events, quality documentation, and customer complaints.
  • Contribute to national service delivery by implementing strategic priorities, supporting cross-regional working, and deputising for the Assistant Director as required.

    • About You

    Experience and Knowledge

  • Highly developed specialist knowledge in transfusion and RCI.
  • Experience of working in a highly regulated environment, relevant to diagnostic services including in depth knowledge of standards and guidelines affecting laboratory practice.
  • Experience of and previous involvement with implementing organisational change programmes.
  • Experience of working in a continuous improvement culture including the provision of value for money and service development.
  • Senior Management Report writing ability including manipulation of data.
  • Experienced in working with spreadsheets, data analysis and standard word software packages.

    • Qualifications and Training

  • Requirement for HCPC professional registration required (which must be maintained in the role).
  • First level science degree.
  • MSc in transfusion science or Fellowship of Institute of Biomedical Science (FIBMS).
  • Postgraduate Management qualification or significant operational management experience – managing a complex scientific service.
  • Evidence of continued professional development.
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