Technical Operations Manager
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
Job purpose
To lead, manage and ensure an effective and efficient operational delivery of key services within the Forensic Pathology department. You will be responsible for delivering continuous improvements, implementing standardised processes and practises to create a flexible and responsive service. Working closely with senior Pathologists and the Business Operations Manager, you will contribute to the efficient operational elements of the department ensuring all departmental and contractual requirements are met.
As part of the Forensic Pathology leadership team, you will be recognised as leading on all matters related to management of the Histology laboratories, IT functions, security procedures and estates requirements across the department. You will provide operational and policy related advice/support to the Head of Department and other key stakeholders as appropriate to ensure the efficient running of the labs and site. You will deputise for the Business Operations Manager on key decision making and high level contractual and financial matters.
Main duties & responsibilities
- To lead the laboratory team to ensure an effective service delivery is provided across all support services including contributing to the strategic direction of the department and provision of specialist training and advice to Histology staff. You will undertake the efficient management and deployment of staff resources and ensure these are well-utilised. This includes supporting the pathology team with meeting target dates set by Crown Office.
- To oversee and lead on the operational lab management arrangements to deliver, implement and achieve the high-quality provision of the Histology service, as well as providing an effective, flexible, and responsive technical and administrative support. This will include ensuring full compliance of best practice, legislative requirements and policy.
- To review and lead on the provision, development and management of security, IT and information systems. This includes ensuring the accuracy and integrity of data is maintained in line with appropriate policies and procedures and communication channels are monitored and updated (e.g., handbooks, webpages etc).
- To oversee the assessment of incoming tissue samples and use knowledge and experience to trim these to highlight pathological features as per pathology requirements. To monitor and improve these techniques to ensure best laboratory practice.
- To lead on financial management predominantly in relation to the laboratory, in terms of tendering, purchasing, ordering, and managing the consumables to meet the workload demands and economic throughput of histology slides and financial forecasting.
- To deputise and support the Business Operations Manager in ensuring the timely and professional preparation and presentation of statistical information. This includes the presentation of all statistical and management information collected as per the requirements of the Crown Office Contract to internal and external bodies. This includes understanding the departmental financial records/budgets, tracking and authorisation in line with appropriate financial guidelines.
- Keep up to date with developments in Histology and utilise specialist knowledge to enhance and improve the overall service provision. This includes establishing and maintaining an effective network of contacts within the Crown Office, Procurator Fiscal Service, Police and NHS trust.
- Overall operational responsibility for estates issues and the day-to-day smooth running of the department. This includes deputising for the Business Operations Manager and making management decisions, taking responsibility for daily critical issues across both technical and administrative aspects.
- Where required, actively engage, and contribute to department activities including attending meetings, liaising with colleagues and stakeholders with enquiries, preparing reports and statistical information and providing guidance on operational processes across the unit.
- Working closely with the Head of Department to review, maintain and continuously improve Quality Assurance and Evaluation to ensure the effective management of quality assurance processes providing specialist advice to internal and external stakeholders on related practices to support and safeguard the department.
- To provide leadership and support to team members and ensure they are trained and developed and have the required knowledge, skills and understanding to provide an excellent service and produce accurate documentation, information, support, advice, and guidance to key stakeholders.
- Be responsible for the day-to-day management of and compliance with relevant Health and Safety and/or other specialist legal requirements. Maintain all necessary records in accordance with set requirements, keep up to date with developments or legal changes relevant to the work of the department and advise and train group members as appropriate. This will include being an active member of the H&S committee and acting as a local safety co-ordinator.
- To be responsible for ensuring the day-to-day maintenance and housekeeping issues around the building are managed, both in the laboratories and the premises as a whole. Liaising with Estates and Buildings department and external contractors commissioned by the University.
- Engage in reasonable professional development activities as appropriate.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the team.
Knowledge and qualifications
Essential
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Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9 (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4) or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).OR
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Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and management skills in a similar or number of different specialist roles.
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Knowledge of all operations required in the running of a Forensic Histology lab, preferably gained from experience in a similar role. This should include legislation on Tissue Retention, Best Practice in Histology Lab procedures in relation to governance and Health & Safety legislation.
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A working knowledge of Human Anatomy including tissue identification, post-mortem and disease related changes.
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Significant breadth and depth of specialist technical knowledge in Histological techniques and problem-solving.
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Demonstrable knowledge of relevant legislative requirements applicable to the role, including but not limited to Health and Safety.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the mechanisms of providing a digital pathology service
Skills
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate delivering a high-quality service providing specialist advice, and guidance to internal and external stakeholders on governance, compliance, and service delivery matters.
- Excellent people leadership and management skills
- Excellent planning and organisational skills, with ability to multi-task and work under pressure to manage conflicting and tight deadlines.
- Proven ability to work proactively and independently, setting own priorities and targets, and using initiative to solve problems.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with proven interpersonal skills dealing with a variety of stakeholders.
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
- Proven ability of delivering tact, confidentiality, diplomacy and discretion.
- Ability to plan and prioritise a technical service to meet long term objectives, whilst delivering a day-to-day service
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of managing and developing a histology team.
- Significant experience of working in a forensic pathology laboratory and/or environment.
- Significant experience of delivering efficient and high-quality service within a forensic pathology department/environment.
- A track record of successful budget management and presentation and analysis of financial data using varying formats
- In depth understanding of IT issues and ability to manage and ensure a robust IT function involving server management, networking and focus on Cyber Security and security regulations and legislation on the processing and storing of secure sensitive data and material.
- Experience of collating and presenting a large amount of data and statistics from various sources and differing content
World-Changing Campus
We have delivered one of the most significant expansions of a UK university city campus for over a century.
Over the last decade, the University of Glasgow has invested in its estate to expand its world-class campus and facilities.
An area covering 14 acres of land next to our magnificent Gilmorehill campus has been redeveloped to build a mix of modern research, teaching and public spaces.
Our new buildings will mean the University remains a centre for world-changing research, as well as a vibrant community hub and centre for public engagement.
The development will transform our teaching, learning and research spaces. It will allow us to bring together the best minds of today and tomorrow within world-class interdisciplinary research spaces that offer flexibility and stimulate collaboration, and modern study spaces that will combine study and social learning space with technology enabled teaching.
- The Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC) is changing the way research is conducted at Glasgow. The ARC is the creative and collaborative heart of research at the University of Glasgow, bridging the boundaries between research, cross-subject collaboration and true societal impact . The ARC brings more than 500 world-leading researchers from a range of disciplines together in a building specifically designed to break down organisational structure and facilitate collaboration and interdisciplinary work.
- The James McCune Smith Learning Hub is an inspirational and diverse learning space. The flagship building was the first to be completed as part of our campus development, and provides a creative environment, combining flexible study and social learning space with multi-styled and technology-enabled teaching. It can accommodate more than 2,500 students, and includes a lecture theatre with capacity for 500 students. State-of-the-art teaching facilities, with flexible study spaces and interactive teaching for students, help to create a more immersive learning experience.
Find out more
Living in Glasgow
A UNESCO City of Music, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a food-lover’s delight, and a shopper’s paradise. Just some of the highlights of the ‘friendliest city in the world’. As well as that accolade by the Rough Guides poll, Glasgow has also been named a must visit destination by publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Wanderlust.
Music
The city hosts an average of 130 music events a week catering for every taste; from rock to rap, and classical to country. Glasgow also has a world class club scene playing host to some of the world’s top DJs.
Shopping
Outside of London’s West End, Glasgow is frequently voted the best place for shopping in the UK. A must-visit destination for any shop-a-holic, it houses high street chains, international designers, and independent retailers. The West End, home to the University of Glasgow, is bustling with vintage fashion, vinyl stores, and second-hand bookshops.
Arts and Culture
Glasgow’s arts scene has gone from strength to strength, and is the base for five internationally renowned performing arts companies including the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. The city has several world-class museums, which are free to the public, and the city’s architecture is a work of art in itself.
Food and drink
You can be in Glasgow and taste the world with its many diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars. And if you’ve yet to sample the delights of haggis and whisky, Glasgow is the place to be.
The City and Beyond
Glasgow has all the opportunities and excitement of a big city but its compact size means you can quickly travel from one vibrant district to the next. You could be relaxing in one of its many parks, before shopping in the quirky West End, and then dancing until the wee small hours in the Merchant City.
And when you fancy getting out of the city you can reach the stunning Loch Lomond in just 30 minutes, climb one of our many breath-taking Munros, play golf at one of Scotland’s many world-class courses, visit one of our ancient castles, or go further North and search for Nessie! Scotland has also just been named the world’s most beautiful country by Rough Guides.
Relocating to Glasgow
Choosing to relocate to Glasgow is a big decision. There are numerous things to be considered, such as the costs of moving, the cost of living, and where exactly to relocate to. We have created a guide to aide you in the decision making process.
Find out more on relocating to Glasgow at the below link:
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
WORLD CHANGING GLASGOW 2025
Our outstanding disciplinary breadth and expertise has enabled us to make world-changing advances in fields as diverse as medicine, physics, linguistics, public policy and global development.
The key to our success is our talented staff and students pushing back at the boundaries of knowledge and understanding together.
Our World Changers Together strategy recognises the fundamental importance of a culture of open cooperation: not just as colleagues and mentors or students and teachers, but as a community of discovery that reaches beyond its walls and draws inspiration and strength from its connections and partnerships worldwide: excellence that's part of something bigger. The strategy is articulated across three themes:
COMMUNITY
- People centred, globally engaged
CONNECTIVITY
- Collaboratively minded, digitally enhanced
CHALLENGES
- Solution focused, impact oriented
Find out more
How to apply
Full details of the role and how to apply can be found by visiting our website:
Closing date: 23:45 on Sunday 13th April 2025
Terms & Conditions
Salary will be Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum.
This post is full time and Open ended with funding end date. This post is subject to external funding which is currently under review. At present, funding is available until 31 March 2026.
The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.
It is the University of Glasgow’s mission to foster an inclusive climate, which ensures equality in our working, learning, research and teaching environment. We strongly endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, including a supportive and flexible working environment, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equity.
Our values
The future holds innumerable challenges for our sector, our society, and our world. We will have to adapt and change what we do and what we offer if we are to navigate these successfully. Our strategy and approach may evolve as the landscape changes, but our values will remain constant: a fixed point of certainty in uncertain times.
We have identified our values in consultation and partnership with our staff and student community. Living and upholding these values will ensure that we remain true to the spirit of our community and ourselves:
Ambition and Excellence
- We strive for excellence through our work
- We defend academic freedom globally
- We recognise and celebrate shared success
- We have an unrelenting focus on development
Curiosity and Discovery
- We innovate and solve problems together
- We lead by influence and example
- We engage with lifelong learning and personal development
- We learn from our mistakes
Integrity and Truth
- We uphold honesty, integrity and fairness
- We share our work widely and generously
- We do the right thing, not the easy thing - or we don’t do it
- We take responsibility
An Inclusive Community
- We are one Glasgow team, and we care for and respect one another
- We advocate for diversity and believe in variety as a vital part of a healthy university
- We champion education as an engine for social progress
- We practise and advance sustainability