Assistant Business Manager inBristol inBristol PUBLISHED 15 DEC 2023

£38,724 to £44,393 a year Per annum, Pro rata  PERMANENT 
The post holder will provide business analysis support and expertise to the UKHSA Regional Public Health Laboratories and ensure business operations and diagnostic outputs within the Specialist Microbiology Services network are monitored and reviewed in order to ensure cost, quality criteria, internal and external customer requirements are met at all times.

Your key responsibilities will include:

  • Provide support on contract and agreement matters, business operations and diagnostic output monitoring to the laboratory management team and members of the divisional office.
  • Ensure Specialist Microbiology Services Network Managers and Laboratory Management receive appropriate contract management, business operations and diagnostic output monitoring support; this involves working closely with the Microbiology Network Managers and Laboratory Management Teams in the provision of appropriate information.
  • To support the production of contracts, activity reports, diagnostic outputs and business reporting and support the maintenance of a monitoring systems and agreements databases.
  • Support ensuring those NHS contracts and reports submitted for review are compatible with the standard NHS contract clauses and strategic objectives and highlight issues including financial, safety and quality impacts.
  • Provide information and support to the SMS Operations lead on all aspects of activity data including data collection and validation relating to regular outputs such as the regional activity indicators, and monitoring and analysis of such data.
  • Assist the Head of Operations in the establishment and maintenance of robust systems and processes for administration, risk management and business support across the division.
  • Assist the Head of Operations lead in undertaking any necessary analysis of financial and management information in accordance with corporate policies and procedures.
  • Comment on, propose changes and support in the implementation of policies and procedures used by the laboratory (in relation to Business Management).
  • Support for the monthly invoicing of NHS contracted work for NHS customers.
  • Respond to internal and external customer inquiries/ problems regarding invoicing.
  • To keep up to date on developments within UKHSA and to identify and assess and inform the Specialist Microbiology Services Network Managers and the SMS Operations lead about developments in the NHS and Public Health Community.
  • Assist in the development of business cases submitted to the SMS Divisional Office.
  • Provide general administrative and financial support to the Laboratory Office.
  • Attend key operational meetings.
  • Any other tasks commensurate with the grading and duties of this post.
  • Provide the development of business intelligence to monitor Laboratory activity


You will be assessed on the below 10 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description

Essential criteria:

  • Experience of managing and motivating a team.
  • Must be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others.
  • Strong computer literacy including the development and use of spreadsheet applications, databases and word-processing.
  • Good communication skills to people at all levels either on a one-to-one basis or to groups.
  • Good written communication skills e.g. ability to draft policy/procedure documents, write reports/presentations and business cases.
  • Dealing with documents and correspondence of a confidential and/or sensitive matter.
  • Good organisational skills and systematic approach to working.
  • Sound analytical skills and good judgment when providing opinion or advice to others.
  • Strategic thinking ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems


Selection ProcessDetails:

This vacancy is using SuccessProfiles and will assess your Behaviours and Experience


Stage 1:Application& Sift


Success profiles

You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listedessentialcriteria,and this will be in the form ofa:

  • Application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)

  • 1250 word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills,experience,andknowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

TheApplication formand Statement of Suitability will be markedtogether, and you must to to move forward to interview.

Please do not exceed 1250 words.We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.


Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. In some special circumstances where candidates cannot attend a face to face interview, a remote interview can take place.

Behaviours will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

Working Together Delivering at Pace Making effective decisions Changing and Improving

Interviews will be held week commencing TBC. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.


Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).


Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

The Public Health Laboratory at Bristol is formed from a collaboration between the UK Health Security Agency and North Bristol NHS Trust (Severn Pathology). This is a busy and forward-looking laboratory that receives in excess of 1.3 million specimens a year from a large number of clinical specialties located within Bristol and Bath hospital trusts, and beyond, which contribute to an interesting and varied workload. The laboratory is located within North Bristol NHS Trust and is a new, modern and fully automated laboratory incorporating state of the art equipment. It lies within easy reach of the city of Bath and surrounding villages. We have close links with our host Trusts as well as both Universities in Bristol and the proximity of the motorway network makes an ideal base for travel to London, the Midlands, Wales and the coastal resorts of the Southwest.

The UKHSA/NBT collaboration employs approximately 250 staff performing a range of diagnostic, public health and research activities, including high containment level work.

We are looking for a proactive individual who can demonstrate professionalism and effective business management and communication skills; as well as the ability to work flexibly and efficiently in a demanding environment. Candidates should be educated to degree level in relevant subjects or equivalent level qualification or should have significant experience of working at a similar level.

The post holder will provide business analysis support and expertise to the UKHSA Regional Public Health Laboratories and ensure business operations and diagnostic outputs within the Specialist Microbiology Services network are monitored and reviewed in order to ensure cost, quality criteria, internal and external customer requirements are met at all times. This is a site based role with occasional requirements to travel nationally for face to face meetings for example at Colindale London.

Your key responsibilities will include:

  • Provide support on contract and agreement matters, business operations and diagnostic output monitoring to the laboratory management team and members of the divisional office.
  • Ensure Specialist Microbiology Services Network Managers and Laboratory Management receive appropriate contract management, business operations and diagnostic output monitoring support; this involves working closely with the Microbiology Network Managers and Laboratory Management Teams in the provision of appropriate information.
  • To support the production of contracts, activity reports, diagnostic outputs and business reporting and support the maintenance of a monitoring systems and agreements databases.
  • Support ensuring those NHS contracts and reports submitted for review are compatible with the standard NHS contract clauses and strategic objectives and highlight issues including financial, safety and quality impacts.
  • Provide information and support to the SMS Operations lead on all aspects of activity data including data collection and validation relating to regular outputs such as the regional activity indicators, and monitoring and analysis of such data.
  • Assist the Head of Operations in the establishment and maintenance of robust systems and processes for administration, risk management and business support across the division.
  • Assist the Head of Operations lead in undertaking any necessary analysis of financial and management information in accordance with corporate policies and procedures.
  • Comment on, propose changes and support in the implementation of policies and procedures used by the laboratory (in relation to Business Management).
  • Support for the monthly invoicing of NHS contracted work for NHS customers.
  • Respond to internal and external customer inquiries/ problems regarding invoicing.
  • To keep up to date on developments within UKHSA and to identify and assess and inform the Specialist Microbiology Services Network Managers and the SMS Operations lead about developments in the NHS and Public Health Community.
  • Assist in the development of business cases submitted to the SMS Divisional Office.
  • Provide general administrative and financial support to the Laboratory Office.
  • Attend key operational meetings.
  • Any other tasks commensurate with the grading and duties of this post.
  • Provide the development of business intelligence to monitor Laboratory activity


You will be assessed on the below 10 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description

Essential criteria:

  • Experience of managing and motivating a team.
  • Must be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others.
  • Strong computer literacy including the development and use of spreadsheet applications, databases and word-processing.
  • Good communication skills to people at all levels either on a one-to-one basis or to groups.
  • Good written communication skills e.g. ability to draft policy/procedure documents, write reports/presentations and business cases.
  • Dealing with documents and correspondence of a confidential and/or sensitive matter.
  • Good organisational skills and systematic approach to working.
  • Sound analytical skills and good judgment when providing opinion or advice to others.
  • Strategic thinking ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems


Selection ProcessDetails:

This vacancy is using SuccessProfiles and will assess your Behaviours and Experience


Stage 1:Application& Sift


Success profiles

You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listedessentialcriteria,and this will be in the form ofa:

  • Application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)

  • 1250 word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills,experience,andknowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

TheApplication formand Statement of Suitability will be markedtogether, and you must to to move forward to interview.

Please do not exceed 1250 words.We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.


Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. In some special circumstances where candidates cannot attend a face to face interview, a remote interview can take place.

Behaviours will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

Working Together Delivering at Pace Making effective decisions Changing and Improving

Interviews will be held week commencing TBC. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.


Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).


Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

The Public Health Laboratory at Bristol is formed from a collaboration between the UK Health Security Agency and North Bristol NHS Trust (Severn Pathology). This is a busy and forward-looking laboratory that receives in excess of 1.3 million specimens a year from a large number of clinical specialties located within Bristol and Bath hospital trusts, and beyond, which contribute to an interesting and varied workload. The laboratory is located within North Bristol NHS Trust and is a new, modern and fully automated laboratory incorporating state of the art equipment. It lies within easy reach of the city of Bath and surrounding villages. We have close links with our host Trusts as well as both Universities in Bristol and the proximity of the motorway network makes an ideal base for travel to London, the Midlands, Wales and the coastal resorts of the Southwest.

The UKHSA/NBT collaboration employs approximately 250 staff performing a range of diagnostic, public health and research activities, including high containment level work.

We are looking for a proactive individual who can demonstrate professionalism and effective business management and communication skills; as well as the ability to work flexibly and efficiently in a demanding environment. Candidates should be educated to degree level in relevant subjects or equivalent level qualification or should have significant experience of working at a similar level.

The post holder will provide business analysis support and expertise to the UKHSA Regional Public Health Laboratories and ensure business operations and diagnostic outputs within the Specialist Microbiology Services network are monitored and reviewed in order to ensure cost, quality criteria, internal and external customer requirements are met at all times. This is a site based role with occasional requirements to travel nationally for face to face meetings for example at Colindale London.



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