Pathology Programme Manager

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Pathology Team at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as Pathology Programme Manager, providing maternity cover for this key role.

The primary focus of the post will be to lead and coordinate delivery of the new purpose-built Pathology facility at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH), supporting commissioning, operational readiness and the safe transition of services into the new laboratory.

Working with the Pathology leadership team, the post holder will coordinate multiple interdependent workstreams and work closely with clinical and operational teams, Estates, Digital, Procurement, suppliers and other partners to ensure the programme is delivered safely, effectively and to agreed timescales.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced programme or project manager to play a pivotal role in one of Pathology's most significant transformation programmes.

This post is offered on a fixed-term basis to provide maternity cover. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early once sufficient suitable applications have been received.

Main duties of the job

The principal responsibility of the post holder will be to manage and coordinate delivery of the NSECH Pathology New Build Programme, ensuring key milestones are achieved and the programme remains on track.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and coordinating workstreams associated with the new build, commissioning, operational readiness and transition of Pathology services.
• Maintaining the programme plan and actively managing milestones, dependencies, risks, issues and critical activities.
• Working collaboratively with Pathology clinical and operational teams, Estates, Digital, Procurement, suppliers and other key stakeholders.
• Coordinating complex interdependent activity including infrastructure, equipment, digital systems, validation and verification, workforce, operational processes and service transition.
• Ensuring workstreams are delivered to required quality standards, agreed budgets and timescales.
• Maintaining robust programme governance, providing timely reporting and assurance to Pathology leadership and relevant Project and Programme Boards.
• Identifying and escalating risks and issues and ensuring appropriate mitigation and recovery actions are implemented.
• Providing expert programme and project management advice and supporting wider Pathology transformation priorities where required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

PLEASE NOTE: To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click the supporting document on the right-hand side.

The post holder will have a high degree of programme oversight and autonomy and will be responsible for coordinating a complex programme involving multiple stakeholders and interdependent workstreams.

The post holder will:

• Manage the delivery and implementation of the NSECH Pathology New Build Programme Plan, ensuring alignment with the wider Pathology strategy and Trust objectives.
• Provide overall programme management for the Pathology elements of the new build, commissioning, operational readiness and service transition.
• Coordinate multiple project teams and workstream leads across the programme, ensuring clear responsibilities, milestones and deliverables.
• Develop, maintain and monitor detailed programme plans, identifying dependencies and ensuring that activities remain aligned with the overall delivery timetable.
• Facilitate and monitor progress across projects and workstreams, reporting and escalating risks, issues and delays through the appropriate programme governance structures.
• Ensure robust risk, issue, action and decision management is maintained throughout the programme.
• Work collaboratively with clinical, scientific, operational, technical and corporate teams to ensure that all aspects of the new facility are appropriately planned, tested and implemented.
• Support the coordination of commissioning, validation, verification, training, business continuity and transition activities required to enable safe transfer of services into the new laboratory.
• Ensure effective communication and engagement with Pathology staff throughout the programme, supporting teams to prepare for and successfully implement new ways of working.
• Provide clear programme assurance and highlight areas requiring senior decision-making or intervention.
• Prepare and present reports, programme updates and recommendations to senior governance groups and Project Boards.
• Support wider service improvement and transformation initiatives across Pathology where capacity and programme priorities allow.

The Programme Manager will be required to provide assurance to the relevant Project and Programme Boards and will work closely with senior Pathology and Trust leaders to ensure the successful delivery of this major strategic development.

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.