Head of Cellular Therapy Laboratory

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more information, please refer to the job description and person specification

• The post holder will be directly responsible and accountable for the strategic and managerial direction of the Cellular Therapy Laboratory including setting appropriate goals and standards in the context of the Haematology/Oncology Clinical Cellular Therapy and Transplant programmes.
• To propose, develop and manage the introduction of strategies to meet medium and long-term service goals.
• Have expert understanding of current and emerging regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and to interpret potential consequences to service delivery. To develop and implement policies and strategies to accommodate changing regulatory requirements imposed by JACIE and HTA.
• Be responsible for ensuring the provision of a future-proofed GMP service that is compliant with relevant regulations to support the production and use of therapeutic stem cells in transplantation.
• Identify cost pressures, be responsible for resource management and preparation of business cases in support of capital bids.
• Develop a robust Quality Management programme embracing audit, validation, training, and governance both within the laboratory and in association with Clinical and Quality teams.

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria

• MSc or PhD in a relevant scientific field (e.g., Biomedical Science, Cellular Therapy, Haematology)
• HCPC registration or equivalent professional registration
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development (CPD) in Cellular Therapy

Desirable criteria

• Recognised management qualification (e.g., MBA, ILM, NHS Leadership Academy) or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant experience in managing a Cellular Therapy or Stem Cell Processing Laboratory
• Experience in managing compliance with JACIE and HTA regulations
• Experience of leading teams, including recruitment, training, and performance management
• Experience in financial and budgetary management, including business case development
• Experience of preparing and presenting to senior management groups
• Experience of conducting audits, quality assurance, and risk assessments

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working within an NHS or healthcare regulatory environment

Skills

Essential criteria

• In-depth knowledge of Cellular Therapy processes, GMP, and regulatory requirements (JACIE, HTA, MHRA)
• Ability to lead and manage a multidisciplinary team effectively
• Strong strategic and operational planning skills
• Ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve complex laboratory issues
• Advanced IT skills, including laboratory information management systems (LIMS), data analysis, and report writing
• Ability to develop and implement quality management systems and policies
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with clinical teams, regulatory bodies, and external partners

Other requirements

Essential criteria

• Ability to travel between sites and represent the Trust at external meetings and conferences

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

All applicants will be contacted by email to the address supplied on your application. Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly and to ensure that email filters are set to allow our emails.

Flu Vaccination - What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.

The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Job Description and Specification (PDF, 292.8KB)
• Job Features Forms (PDF, 144.6KB)
• Royal Marsden Trust Values (PDF, 715.5KB)
• Workplace Wellbeing and Rewards Guide (PDF, 1.2MB)