About this role
Job summary
The Laboratory Manager will provide professional, strategic and operational leadership for the Production Laboratory at Liverpool University Dental Hospital. As a senior technical authority, the post holder will be responsible for transforming and professionalising laboratory services to ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality, and regulation-compliant technical outputs that support complex restorative, prosthodontic and orthodontic care, undergraduate and postgraduate education, and multidisciplinary research.
The role holds full accountability for quality management systems, service standardisation, digital innovation and workforce development, including the implementation of modern digital workflows such as CAD/CAM, 3D printing and laboratory tracking technologies. The Laboratory Manager will lead the development of structured competency frameworks, training pathways and an apprenticeship programme to ensure long-term workforce sustainability.
Working with a high level of autonomy within established governance frameworks, the post holder will provide expert advice to clinical teams and senior leaders, represent laboratory services at strategic and operational forums, and play a key leadership role during a period of significant service transformation aligned to the strategic ambitions of Liverpool University Dental Hospital.
Main duties of the job Job Purpose
The Laboratory Manager is responsible for providing professional, strategic and operational leadership for the Production Laboratory at Liverpool University Dental Hospital. Liverpool Dental Hospital is a major specialist dental teaching hospital delivering complex restorative, prosthodontic and orthodontic care, undergraduate and postgraduate education, and multidisciplinary clinical research.
The post holder will lead the transformation and professionalisation of laboratory services, ensuring that all technical outputs consistently meet regulatory, clinical, educational and organisational standards. This includes accountability for quality management, digital innovation, workforce development, service standardisation and the delivery of a safe, efficient, and high-performing laboratory service aligned to clinical pathways and teaching requirements.
As the senior technical authority for dental technology within the Trust, the Laboratory Manager will work autonomously within agreed governance frameworks, provide expert advice to clinicians and senior leaders, represent laboratory services at strategic and operational forums, and play a pivotal role in shaping modern, innovative and sustainable laboratory services during a period of significant transformation.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.
Job description Job responsibilities Main Duties and Responsibilities Leadership, Management and Workforce Development
Provide visible, inclusive and professional leadership to all laboratory staff, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement. Act as the senior professional lead for dental technology within the Trust, setting standards for practice, conduct and performance. Establish, implement and lead an apprenticeship programme in collaboration with education providers, awarding bodies and national stakeholders. Develop and maintain structured competency frameworks and training pathways for all staff levels, from trainees to senior technical roles. Promote a learning culture that supports professional development, innovation and adoption of best practice. Lead workforce planning, succession planning, talent management and performance management processes to ensure service resilience and longterm sustainability. Support staff wellbeing, engagement and retention, addressing capability and conduct issues in line with Trust policies. Quality Management and Governance Hold full responsibility for quality management systems within the laboratory, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulatory, professional and Trust standards. Develop, implement and monitor standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency, safety and traceability of laboratory outputs. Ensure laboratory services meet clinical, educational and research requirements, maintaining high standards of accuracy, timeliness and patient safety. Lead internal audits, contribute to external inspections, and implement corrective and preventative action plans as required. Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, infection prevention and control, COSHH, and other statutory requirements. Contribute to Trust governance processes, including risk management, incident investigation and service improvement planning. Digital Innovation and Technology Integration Lead the digital transformation of laboratory services, including the integration and optimisation of CAD/CAM systems, 3D printing and digital design workflows. Oversee the implementation and management of laboratory tracking and workflow management systems to improve efficiency, traceability and performance monitoring. Support the adoption of digital workflows aligned to clinical services, including intraoral scanning and digital case planning. Use data analytics and performance metrics to inform decisionmaking, capacity planning and service improvement. Horizonscan emerging technologies and innovations in dental technology, evaluating potential benefits and risks. Develop and present business cases for new equipment, systems or service developments where appropriate. Operational and Resource Management Oversee the daytoday operational management of the Production Laboratory, ensuring the timely, safe and highquality delivery of services. Manage laboratory budgets, staffing establishments, procurement processes and equipment lifecycle planning. Ensure effective utilisation of resources, balancing service demand with available capacity and workforce skills. Lead process improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma or similar methodologies to enhance flow, reduce delays and improve efficiency. Maintain effective communication with clinical teams to ensure laboratory services are responsive to changing clinical needs and priorities. Ensure appropriate contingency arrangements are in place to maintain service continuity. Professional Advisory and Strategic Role Act as an expert professional advisor on dental laboratory matters to clinical teams, senior leaders and service managers. Represent laboratory services at Trustwide, regional and national meetings, contributing to strategic discussions and service development initiatives. Contribute to the strategic direction of Liverpool University Dental Hospital through the development of modern, professional and innovative laboratory services. Support undergraduate and postgraduate education through the provision of highquality technical services and professional input. Engage with research teams to support multidisciplinary clinical and academic research activity.
Person Specification
Qualification Essential
GDC Registered Dental Technician Masters degree level of knowledge/equivalent by experience of the relevant area
Desirable
Quality improvement certification (Lean Six Sigma, IQA, CQI
Experience Essential
Significant dental laboratory experience at senior technician level (minimum 5 years) Experience implementing significant change in complex organisation Quality management system development and implementation Experience with digital workflows (CAD/CAM, intraoral scanning, 3D printing)
Desirable
Experience implementing laboratory management software/tracking systems Audit, incident investigation and RCA experience
Knowledge Essential
ISO 13485, MHRA and MDR regulatory knowledge Clinical governance, risk management and quality assurance Digital dental technologies (CAD/CAM, 3D printing, IOS)
Desirable
Workforce planning, competency frameworks and talent development
Skills Essential
Leadership skills to inspire and motivate teams Ability to design/optimise workflows and processes Analytical skills incl. RCA Highly effective communication and influencing skills Budget management, procurement and resource planning
Desirable
Advanced digital skills incl. CAD/CAM, 3D printing, analytics Stakeholder partnership building
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Liverpool University Dental Hospital
Liverpool
L3 5PS
Employer's website https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)