Tissues and Cells Services
Tissues Laboratory Manager, Band 8a - £39,632 to £47,559p.a
As a major division within NHS National Services Scotland, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS)
plays a vital role not only in the health of the people of Scotland but also on an international scale - through our
leading position in new product development, biomedical research and donor services. Our goal is to maintain the
highest standards of patient care whilst remaining competitive internationally.
Tissues and Cells Services is an integral part of the SNBTS with responsibility for the collection, testing, storing and
issuing of bone, human tissues and cells throughout Scotland.
A vacancy now exists for a laboratory manager to work in Edinburgh. The key function of this post is to lead and
manage the tissue retrieval team in the Edinburgh and Glasgow sites, encompassing all associated processes. As
part of an expanding multi-disciplinary team the successful candidate will be expected to participate in the day to day
running and planning of the Service and have an involvement in method and process development as required. The
post holder will be required to have experience of contributing to the provision of a critical laboratory service
appropriate to the post, meeting tight operational deadlines and within GMP guidelines. The post holder will be
involved in delivering and managing staff training.
You will be a team player with a flexible attitude to work. Excellent communication skills are essential since liaison with
service teams, external stakeholders and other clinical colleagues are a pre-requisite and essential part of the work.
You will be required to have experience of contributing to the provision of a critical laboratory service appropriate to
the post, meeting tight operational deadlines and within GMP guidelines.
Tissues and Cells Services provides a 24-hour service, with out of hours on-call in operation. The person appointed
will be required to lead in managing, delivering and participating in the on-call rota. A valid driving licence is essential.
Appropriate training and support will be given in all aspects of the service operations with an expectation of
participation as required.
For an informal discussion concerning this post, please contact Susan Donaldson on 0131 314 5525.
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational
health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits.
For an application pack please complete the online application form on the SHOW website www.jobs.scot.nhs.uk. Ref
G25922
Closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on 21st October 2014
Please note only those applicants called for an interview will be contacted. If you have not received a
response within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this
occasion.
Further information on NSS is available from: www.nhsnss.org.
NHS NATIONAL SERVICES SCOTLAND
JOB DESCRIPTION
1.
JOB DETAILS
Job Holder:
Job Title:
TCD Bone & Tissue Laboratory Manager
Immediate Senior Officer:
Tissues and Cells National Operations Manager
Division:
SNBTS
Location:
Tissues and Cells Directorate, EGR, Edinburgh
Job Reference:
SNBTSS165
2.
JOB PURPOSE
To manage the Tissues and Cell Edinburgh and Glasgow Laboratories to allow safe provision of efficacious tissues
on a timely basis, meeting all quality and regulatory standards required by SNBTS and its customers. To manage the
development of the laboratory service in line with future clinical needs. To co-ordinate and manage Tissues and Cells
training on a national basis. To develop training and development plans of Tissues and Cells staff throughout the
directorate.
3.
DIMENSIONS
The post supervises the Edinburgh and Glasgow laboratory functions of the tissue bank, responsible for 5 direct
reports. Budget holder for the tissue bank, non-staff total of £125K.
4.
ORGANISATION CHART
See attached organisation chart
5.
ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT
The Tissues and Cells Directorate of SNBTS is the preferred provider of bone and tissue products to NHS Scotland.
These are collected from live and cadaveric volunteer donors throughout Scotland and processed to provide a range
of products for clinical use. Peripheral blood stem cells and bone marrow are collected and processed on behalf of
NHS Lothian from patients at the Western General Hospital and Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. National pancreatic
islet cell isolation and processing facility has been established in collaboration with NSD and the Edinburgh organ
transplant team.
The Directorate is expanding its tissue repertoire and is positioned to further develop its expertise in Good
Manufacturing Practice in partnership with clinical and University colleagues in the extraction, processing and
manipulation of stem cells.
6.
KEY RESULT AREAS
Tissue Banking
 Responsible for the day to day management of the Tissues and Cells laboratories in Edinburgh and Glasgow to
ensure that equipment and facilities are operated according to GMP.
 Arranging complex tissue retrieval procedures – co-ordinating laboratory, mortuary, pathology and procurator
fiscal staff to allow timely retrieval from donors.
 Be responsible for the co-ordination of, through communication with source hospitals/testing laboratories, the
receipt and processing of samples and documentation from bone donors to ensure the maintenance of the audit
trail.
 Analysis & interpretation of laboratory environmental data to ensure compliance with relevant standards.
 Be responsible for the continual review of laboratory procedures, including the maintenance and review of
standard operating procedures to incorporate new technology/standards to ensure continued accreditation by the
Human Tissue Authority, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Human
Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
 Provide safe, efficacious products by procuring and processing donated tissue according to GMP and regulatory
standards to meet clinical demands :
Specialised procedures include:
1. Extraction and isolation of islet cells from pancreata
2. heart valve dissection and cryopreservation
3. tendon splitting and disinfection
4. cryopreservation of ovarian cortical slices
 Participate in the on-call rota to take donor referrals, involving analysis of complex medical situations. Provide 24hour laboratory support for critical equipment and emergency issue of tissue, to provide an out-of-hours clinical
service.
 Be responsible to ensure the confidentiality and security of all data relating to donors and recipients is maintained
at all times by Tissue Service Staff.
 To be familiar with the aims, policies and future plans for Tissues and Cells.
 Maintaining an awareness of appropriate scientific literature so that work is carried out according to up-to-date
knowledge and practice.
 Manage implementation of TCD policy and suggest changes to working practice as appropriate.
 Be responsible for the implementation of new service developments.
 Manage the preparation of formal documentation for new procedures to enable developments to be introduced in
a suitably controlled manner.
 Plan and undertake the development and validation of the new laboratory processing methods and procedures
for development purposes and where appropriate, secure funding to allow such work to be performed.
 Responsible for sourcing, costing & purchase of physical assets.
 Authorised signatory for payment of on-call / out of hours claims & expenses
 Safe use of complex laboratory equipment.
 Line management responsibility for laboratory training, organising the work of the laboratory staff so that the work
of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Tissues and Cells Laboratories can be progressed efficiently and effectively.
 Participate in continual personal training and development as a member of a small team in a unique area of
health care.
 Have a working knowledge of UK laws and regulations for bone and tissue donation, and understand the
requirements for bone products and their clinical importance.
 Possess an understanding of the principles of the GMP quality system.
 The presentation of data at local, national and international level.
 Responsible for the compilation of management & activity statistics.
Training
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On a national basis, manage the training, teaching and induction of new and existing laboratory staff.
Ensure that all staff within Tissues and Cells have individual training and development plan agreed annually.
Ensure that all new staff participate in the induction programmes
Ensure all laboratory staff within the Directorate participate in CPD as appropriate
Develop processes to evaluate the effectiveness and cost of training and development plans.
Assist senior managers in evaluating the impact of Training and Development plan in the directorate’s operational
plan.
Assist in the co-ordination of external courses.
7.
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ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK
Monthly meetings will be held and objectives set in discussion with the Tissues and Cells National Operations
Manager.
The post holder must be able to work independently and unsupervised within current regulatory standards.
Assigned work will include planning, undertaking, monitoring, assessing and reporting development progress to
the Tissues and Cells team.
Review: Success in key result areas will be reviewed by the Tissues and Cells National Operations Manager and
Medical Director.
8.
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10.
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11.
COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Liaise with SNBTS and other external staff on matters affecting their service arrangements with TCD.
Liaise with SNBTS Tissues and Cells staff in relation to training requirements.
Liaise with nursing, medical and surgical staff to advise end-users on quantity / quality & effective use of bone
and tissues and to arrange their timely delivery. Modify laboratory working practice in order to accommodate the
fluctuating requirements of cardiac & orthopaedic surgeons
Foster & maintain good working relationships with all staff involved in orthopaedic medicine nationally, from
surgeons to laboratory staff. These relationships are vital to achieve bone and tissue retrieval from donors and
also to ensure that end-users receive safe and efficacious tissues to meet their demands.
Attendance at Tissues and Cells National Operational meetings is required.
MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE JOB
Dealing with the changing demands of a clinical support service coupled with the needs of expanding
development activities.
Supporting the team members on two sites in a wide range of competing priorities.
Balancing the needs of the tissue bank function with the training responsibilities of the post.
SYSTEMS
Microsoft Office is used as a key software tool and the postholder will be expected to be use this in the day to day
function of the post, entering and manipulating information and data and generating reports.
Tissue Trace is a proprietary database system for tracking and controlling tissue products and is essential for
the data handling of these. The postholder will, after training, be expected to interface and use the system as
required, entering data and issuing product etc.
Familiarity with E-mail systems is necessary for routine communication with colleagues.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND EFFORT
Physical Effort
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There is a frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort for extended periods e.g. lifting and moving
boxes and transport boxes of bone and tissues to and from storage freezers.
Mental Effort
 Collating clinical data to allow clearance of donated bone and tissues for implantation.
 Preparation of business cases for new projects & development of service.
 There is a frequent requirement for intense concentration within the work period.
 There is a need to respond to the unpredictable nature of the work.
 Adapting to the many changes in working practice in a rapidly developing speciality.
Emotional Effort
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Participate in retrieval of cadaveric tissues in a mortuary environment, assisting & advising pathologist during
tissue retrieval. Physically handling cadaveric donors.
Assisting Transplant Coordinators to prepare donor for viewing by family after tissue donation.
Frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances e.g. receiving information on patient death,
attendance at post mortems.
12.
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ENVIRONMENTAL / WORKING CONDITIONS & MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
Frequent exposure to hazardous working conditions, including:
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Working for periods in cold environments –40°C to –80°C.
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Working with protective gloves handling frozen bone and tissues.
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Working with dry ice and liquid nitrogen.
Frequent use of VDUs.
Direct contact with untested blood samples & tissues.
Handling untested and potential/biohazard bone and tissue.
Processing & disposal of tissues known to be positive for virology markers or microbiological contaminants.
13.
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QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR EXPERIENCE SPECIFIED FOR THE POST
The post holder must possess an honours degree in a biological sciences subject with a knowledge base and
experience gained from post graduate qualification or equivalent in a biomedical area related to Tissue Banking.
The individual must be eligible to be registered with the Health Professions Council or Voluntary Registrations
Council.
After suitable training they must maintain specialist knowledge across a range of work procedures and practices
that must be underpinned by theoretical knowledge of relevant practical experience.
The ability to manage and motivate the TCD Laboratory Team to work efficiently and effectively to deliver a
complex clinical service.
14.
JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
A separate job description will need to be signed off by each jobholder to whom the job description applies.
Job Holder’s Signature
Date
Head of Department
Signature
Title
HR Representative’s Signature
Date Job Description Agreed:
Date
Criteria
Experience
Qualifications
Knowledge and Skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
Desirable
Minimum of 5 years
experience as a BMS or
scientist managing all
aspects of a laboratory or
section of a laboratory
associated with tissue
retrieval, manipulation and
processing within a
regulated, licensed
environment.
First hand experience of
collection, processing and
testing tissues for
transplantation.
Qualified to honours degree
level in biological science or
related subject (or evidence
of working to that level).
Relevant post graduate
qualification and eligibility
for registration with the
HPC or VRC scheme.
Commitment to CPD.
Proven managerial,
interpersonal and
communication skills.
Confirmed ability to develop
new technologies and
processes.
First hand experience of
budgetary control.
Must be computer literate.
Manipulation and dissection
of tissues within an aseptic
environment and the
associated testing and
storage systems.
Knowledge of Human
Tissue (Scotland) Act and
its relevance to tissue
retrieval and processing.
Able to work independently
without direct supervision
but a committed team
player.
Self motivated and focused
clear evidence of
enthusiasm and initiative.
Able to negotiate with and
positively influence others.
Keen on new challenges.
Able to lead others in
pressured circumstances.
Circumstances
(specifically related to what is
necessary for effective job
performance)
Application of GMP
processes and procedures
as applied to human tissue
products for transplantation.
Must be able to work within
a mortuary environment
retrieving tissues from
cadaveric donors.
Current, valid UK driving
licence.
Able to be flexible with
hours of work including
commitment to a lead role
within the on -call roster.