Director of Quality Assurance

Director of Quality Assurance

Contract: Temp – 1 Year Contract

Discipline: Clinical

Salary Scale: Negotiable 

Hours: 35 hours per week from 9am – 5pm however, In the event of a surge or emergency response the laboratory team may operate on a seven-day working week between 8am – 8pm with weekend cover based on a pre-agreed rota. The team also handle out of hours queries where required.

Location: COVID-19 Laboratory Control Centre team which is being managed virtually at present. This role is open to engagement in respect of flexibility around location subject to reaching agreement on a minimum level of availability at Dr Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin 8 and/or for relevant Dublin based meetings.

The post holder may be required as part of this role to travel to designated COVID-19 Laboratories nationally.

Duties & Responsibility’s 

Professional / Clinical 

· Provision of leadership to the COVID-19 Laboratory quality team

· Develop quality assurance protocol/frameworks to assist the COVID-19 laboratory operations team

· Review of national and international guidelines and best practice to determine relevance and impact for the national COVID-19 testing model

· Operate within scope of practice and in accordance with national and local guidelines. 

· Ensure that professional standards are maintained in relation to confidentiality, ethics and legislation.

· Ensure that customer service is delivered to the highest standards.

· Ensure the continued accreditation status of PAL is maintained

· Have an excellent working knowledge of the ISO 17025 standard, including auditing under this standard.

· Liaise with the various testing stakeholders across both community and acute providers regarding quality management e.g. laboratory managers, 3rd party providers, related healthcare organisations

· Prioritise key areas of improvement in collaboration with the wider COVID-19 laboratory operations team (logistics, performance improvement, metrics) 

· Engage with community and hospital laboratories to understand challenges and areas requiring attention with respect to C-19 testing

· Oversee monitoring and reporting on laboratory COVID-19 non-conformances/issues, identifying potential remedies and escalation points as appropriate

· Identify, report and resolve key issues and challenges relating to laboratory operations and performance

· Participate in the review of Root Cause Analysis or significant laboratory incidents relevant to COVID-19 testing

· Assist in the identification or implementation of any relevant technology solutions pertinent to laboratory quality e.g. Laboratory QMS

· Make the most effective use of information technology for both patient care and administrative support

· Attendance at the various laboratories on an agreed timetable to understand local operations and structures

· Maintain awareness of the primacy of the ‘individual/patient’ in relation to all testing and quality assurance aspects

· Ensure the timely reporting of samples, including individual, quarterly and annual reports, as appropriate.

· Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace

· Manage all staff and resources assigned to his/her control within agreed parameters

· Lead and co-ordinate staff within his/her area of responsibility

Minimum Requirements:

• Candidate must hold a recognised first or second class honours degree in which Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Food Science, Microbiology or Bio-Chemistry was a major subject or option in the final examination or hold an equivalent professional qualification; and after attaining the degree or qualification as above, significant satisfactory laboratory experience in one or more of the following:

• (i) the chemical or microscopial analysis of Food, Drugs, Water or Effluents

• (ii) the Microbiological examination of Food, Drugs, Water or Effluents

• (iii) the use of Instrumental techniques that are employed in the analysis of Food, Drugs, Water or Effluents;

• They must also possess the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the post.

Desireable Requirements

• A minimum NFQ Level 8 post graduate scientific qualification relevant to the laboratory practice or recognised quality focused qualification or NFQ Level 9 post graduate qualification relevant to laboratory practices or have attained the Fellowship of the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine awarded before July 2018.

• Possess at significant full time clinical experience) as a medical scientist in a clinical diagnostic laboratory since qualifying

• Have at least significant experience working in an ISO15189 accredited laboratory

Should the role be of interest to you please apply in with your current CV