Job Description
Operations Manager – Donated Materials for Research and Development
Job Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role within NHSBT Clinical Services, supporting the delivery and development of non-clinical issue services. Working at the intersection of science, operations, and customer engagement, you will help drive innovation and efficiency in how donated materials are utilised for research and development.
You will contribute to the growth of a dynamic service by supporting new product development and exploring future opportunities that align with evolving research needs. The role offers the chance to work closely with internal teams and external stakeholders, building strong relationships while ensuring services remain responsive, compliant, and customer focused.
With a strong scientific background, you will provide expert guidance on regulatory frameworks and help translate complex requirements into practical solutions. You will also play a key part in shaping processes, supporting continuous improvement, and enhancing the overall service offering. This role is ideal for someone looking to combine scientific expertise with operational leadership, contributing to meaningful advancements in research while supporting NHSBT’s wider mission.
A significant part of the role will be to oversee the operations of two new Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) Isolation service laboratories across Cambridge and Filton sites. This will include operational expansion of downstream cell activities and other product development opportunities. The successful candidate will need to be based at either the Cambridge or Filton site.
Main duties of the job
In this role, you will provide operational management support to the non-clinical issue department within NHSBT Clinical Services directorate on a day-to-day basis. Your responsibilities include:
- Supporting the delivery of efficient, high-quality services through effective resource planning, financial oversight, and robust data and document management.
- Leading and supporting product development activity, identifying opportunities to expand non-clinical use of donated materials for research.
- Assessing new customer requests and business opportunities, evaluating scientific and operational feasibility.
- Designing and implementing workflows to deliver products aligned to customer requirements, ensuring quality and consistency.
- Providing guidance on regulatory and governance frameworks (e.g. Human Tissue Act, data protection, research governance) to internal and external stakeholders.
- Building and maintaining strong customer relationships, supporting account management and service delivery.
- Contributing to marketing and stakeholder engagement activities to promote NCI services.
- Ensuring compliance with all regulatory, ethical, and quality standards, maintaining donor trust.
- Supporting financial performance, including income targets and cost-effective delivery.
- Line managing staff and contribute to team development and performance.
- Acting as deputy to the Product Manager when required.
You will be required to travel and spend time away from base, which will involve working irregular hours and overnight stays when required (with prior notice) and to provide cover during operational emergencies.
About You
Experience and Knowledge
- Knowledge, understanding and practical experience of regulatory and clinical governance environment for clinical research in the UK and internationally, and experience in ensuring clinical research projects comply with standards associated with regulatory, governance and associated accreditation standards.
- Experience of leading on projects associated with customer demand and supply this includes documentation development, managing change control, writing reports and development of business cases for senior management approval and investment committees.
- Expert knowledge of project methodology and processes and procedures governing the conduct & monitoring of research projects, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and other relevant guidelines
- Substantial experience of scientific validations and service improvement initiatives as part of project management.
- Experience of financial administration of project budgets, including development and monitoring of budgets across several projects.
- Experience of recruiting, managing and training scientific, Non-Clinical and administrative staff.
- Familiarity with database software used for managing key performance indicator data for service performance monitoring
- Experience of target setting and performance review
- Experience of working with Information Technology using Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
Qualifications and Training
- BSc Honours degree in a relevant subject.
- MSc in relevant subject or equivalent body of highly developed postgraduate specialist scientific knowledge gained through extensive experience in managing a portfolio of projects
- Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).
About Us
It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.
Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do.
By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.
You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
What we offer:
- Hybrid working arrangements – because NHSBT works nationally, we’re able to offer hybrid working options that give you more flexibility to balance work with life.
- Flexible working options – we promote flexible working where the role allows. We’re happy to discuss what flexibility might look like for you.
- Generous annual leave - 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
- Inclusive pension scheme - the NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns). Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/information-about-nhs-pensions
- Supportive learning culture - we’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
- Health and wellbeing support – we offer confidential services including occupational health, employee assistance programme, and wellbeing resources. Our support is available to all colleagues and we endeavour to provide tailored workplace adjustments where possible.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applications from disabled candidates. We will talk with you to explore any adjustments that may help you during the recruitment process.
You can find more information about accessibility, our culture, and how we support applicants on the NHSBT Careers website:
To learn more, please see the job description and person specification. These can be accessed via the link below, or by clicking ‘Apply’ if you are viewing this advert on another site.
Next steps
This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Sunday 7th June 2026.
Interviews are anticipated to be held on w/c 15th June – subject to confirmation.
For informal enquiries please contact –
Name: Ella Smith
Job Title: Recruiter – Clinical Services, Quality & Finance
Contact Details: ella.smith@nhsbt.nhs.uk
