Senior Digital Projects Manager (Labs)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Reporting to the Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory IT Lead and Laboratory Manager, the digital projects manager will work alongside a team of systems analysts, laboratory scientists and clinicians to provide project management and support for the day-to-day delivery of digital transformation projects in the Blood Sciences laboratories at OUH. Specific responsibilities will include:

i) Technical project management

* Acting as the main point of contact for the sample tracking implementation project, guide all aspects of project delivery from a technical IT perspective, including scoping and defining deliverables, drawing up and owning project plans, monitoring progress, actively seeking feedback, and making recommendations in the best interest of the project. 

* Lead and facilitate a range of meetings and other events as necessary to support project delivery from a technical perspective. Actively participate in meetings which require communication with a variety of audiences and mixtures of attendees. These groups may include laboratory and IT managers, third party suppliers, senior clinicians, senior and operational managers, service users, etc. 

* Identify and manage technical risks, issues, and dependencies, ensuring that actions are taken to mitigate by reduction, containment or contingency, making complex decisions where more than one course of action is available and escalating where necessary. 

* Display and maintain an advanced level of IT expertise including demonstrable knowledge and understanding of data flows for diagnostic test ordering and results reporting through clinical systems, with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues as they arise. 

* Establish system testing acceptance criteria and develop and execute comprehensive UAT test plans and scripts to validate function, performance and safety. Log defects and issues and communicate testing progress and outcomes to relevant stakeholders 

* Demonstrate an understanding of quality requirements for clinical laboratories relating to the use of automated equipment, and working with local quality managers, assist in the production and submission of documentation for accreditation of any new methodologies and instrumentation through UKAS. 

* Support activities associated with project closure following implementation of the solution proposed, including benefits realisation, summarising lessons learned and ensuring communication as appropriate across other laboratories in the South 4 Pathology Partnership. 

ii) Communications and stakeholder management:

* Build positive working relationships with key individuals in the Blood Sciences Laboratories, including clinical and laboratory leads, scientific staff and systems analysts, and with practice managers and clinical staff as relevant in primary care. 

* Use influencing skills to secure appropriate commitment, support and understanding from all relevant stakeholders. 

* Display excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing, including an ability to lead meetings, provide specialist advice, and deliver complex information to both internal and external stakeholders 

* Manage the day-to-day relationship with third-party software and hardware suppliers, ensuring their services meet contractual obligations and escalating issues where necessary. 

iii) User training:

* Work with laboratory and service leads to identify training needs across all relevant staff groups to support the safe implementation and operationalising of technology and associated systems. 

* Lead in the development and delivery of training programmes for primary care users, including liaising with practice managers to understand requirements and ensuring methods are appropriate and effective, seeking feedback and amending approach as needed, and providing ongoing support.

 iv) Change management:

* Ensure process change relevant to each stakeholder group is understood, identifying changes to ways of working required at key points in the project implementation plan. 

* Act as a champion for change and innovation with all key stakeholders, demonstrating a sound understanding of barriers to change and working positively with individuals and staff groups to communicate the technical advantages of the solution proposed. 

* Ensure internal laboratory policies and standard operating procedures are updated to meet new process requirements as necessary in compliance with UKAS, HSC and other regulatory bodies.