Head of Cellular Therapy Laboratory

Job title:

Head of Cellular Therapy Laboratory

Company

NHS

Job description

Head of Cellular Therapy Laboratory – Royal Marsden NHS Foundation TrustJoin our Cellular Therapy Team!Are you an experienced leader in cellular therapies, ready to drive excellence in one of the busiest tertiary referral transplant and cellular therapy centres in the UK? The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Head of Cellular Therapy Laboratory to lead our high performing Cellular Therapy Laboratory team.About the Role:As the Head of Cellular Therapy Laboratory, you will be responsible for the strategic, operational, and developmental management of our pioneering laboratory. You will work closely with clinical, research, and quality teams to ensure regulatory compliance, deliver high-quality services, and contribute to the advancement of stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy.

• Strategic Leadership: Drive medium- and long-term service development, ensuring compliance with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and JACIE accreditation standards.
• Quality Management: Oversee a robust Quality Management System (QMS), aligning with clinical and regulatory requirements.
• Team Empowerment: Lead a highly skilled team, fostering development through education, mentorship, and training.
• Service Excellence: Manage resources, optimise budgets, and future-proof laboratory operations for emerging cellular therapies.
• Research and Collaboration: Partner with clinicians, researchers, and external stakeholders to support cutting-edge research and clinical excellence.

Main duties of the job

• To be responsible and accountable for the strategic, operational and developmental management of one of the busiest tertiary referral transplant and cellular therapy centres in the UK.
• The post holder is responsible for developing, implementing and updating plans and policies such that medium and long-term service goals and objectives can be met.
• The role requires close and effective liaison in a consultative capacity with clinicians, nursing teams, transplant co-ordinators and other pathology laboratories and Trust departments. By taking overall responsibility for the laboratory quality management, the post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the laboratory requirements of the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) are met and that the transplant and cellular therapy units remain compliant with the regulations.
• The post holder will lead the department on the retention of JACIE accreditation and will ensure the delivery of a high-quality service through quality improvement.

About usThe Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals – one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey – as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That’s why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.Date posted14 February 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8dSalary£93,903 to £107,412 a year Per Annum Inc HCASContractPermanentWorking patternFull-timeReference number282-SA230Job locationsThe Royal Marsden Hospital SuttonSuttonSM2 5PTJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesFor 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.

Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesFor 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 SpecificationEducationEssential

• 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

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

ExperienceEssential

• 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

• Experience of working within an NHS or healthcare regulatory environment

SkillsEssential

• 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 requirementsEssential

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

Person SpecificationEducationEssential

• 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

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

ExperienceEssential

• 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

• Experience of working within an NHS or healthcare regulatory environment

SkillsEssential

• 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 requirementsEssential

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

Expected salary

£93903 – 107412 per year

Location

Sutton, Greater London

Job date

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 02:37:57 GMT

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