Deputy Head of Stem Cell Laboratory

Employer King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Town London Salary £64,156 - £71,148 per annum, including high cost allowance Salary period Yearly Closing 18/03/:59

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

We encourage all our staff to have a healthy work/life balance. In doing so, you can apply for flexible working from the beginning of your employment. We offer a range of options which are designed to suit different circumstances and priorities in line with service requirements.

The post holder will support the Laboratory Director in the effective operational management of the Stem Cell Laboratory. This includes oversight of laboratory workload planning, staff management and development, competency assessment, clinical trial activity, and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs).

The role also encompasses liaison with internal and external stakeholders and the responsible management of laboratory resources to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable service delivery.

Main duties of the job

The post holder is expected to maintain comprehensive knowledge of national and international regulatory frameworks governing stem cell processing, including those of Human Tissue Authority (HTA), the Joint Accreditation Committee ISCT-Europe & EBMT (JACIE), and of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The individual will ensure that laboratory practice remains fully compliant with current standards and is responsive to forthcoming regulatory developments.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The role requires advanced specialist knowledge of stem cell biology, underpinned by a broad understanding of related disciplines including immunology, microbiology, and molecular biology, enabling informed scientific and clinical decision-making.

Working collaboratively within the Stem Cell Laboratory team, the post holder will uphold the highest standards of quality and governance within this highly regulated environment. The position involves the delivery of complex, scientific procedures requiring advanced technical proficiency, including cryopreservation, flow cytometry, and colony-forming assays.

The post holder will contribute to the supervision and continuous improvement of laboratory practice through audit participation, performance monitoring, and the structured training and competency assessment of scientific and support staff within their scope of expertise. They will undertake aseptic processing within a GMP-compliant clean-room environment for service provision and training purposes, as required.

Due to the clinical nature of the service, flexibility is essential to accommodate late-running collections and unplanned emergency procedures. The laboratory is transitioning to an extended-hours rota covering seven days per week, and participation in this rota will be expected.

For a comprehensive overview of the role, including the full job description and person specification, please refer to the attached JD & PS document.

Person specification Education and Qualifications

• BSc Biomedical Sciences or equivalent
• MSc Biomedical Science (or equivalent)
• State Registration (Health Professions Council)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience of Quality Management Systems and Quality Control and Assurance management
• Risk management theory and practice
• Teaching and training skills
• Significant experience of management of staff and Stem Cell Lab work
• Experience in a Stem Cell laboratory performing Flow cytometry, cryopreservation and cell culture for a minimum of five years
• Evidence of having participated in research and developmental work
• Experience of designing, performing and analysing audits.

Communication

• Ability to communicate complex information effectively both written and oral at all levels both within and outside the Trust
• Ability to motivate individuals

Organisational

• Ability to adapt, organise and prioritise the unpredictable nature of workload efficiently
• Ability to set targets for others to meet deadlines
• Able to work under pressure and manage multiple projects at the same time without compromising standards

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust's criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.