Lead Microbiologist

**Job no**: 498006

**Work type**: Permanent

**Location**: South Brisbane

**Categories**: Laboratory

**About the opportunity**

Mater Pathology is seeking a leader to guide and support the service in the fields of Microbiology (including Molecular Microbiology) and Serology of Infectious Diseases. The role will provide clinical governance and supervision within the scope of practice including performance monitoring of quality, safety and risk management. The successful applicant will have direct management of and delegation of duties to the Medical Microbiologists team, and will work closely with the Microbiology, Molecular and Serology scientists. The Lead Microbiologist reports directly to the Medical Director of Mater Pathology.

The Lead Microbiologist will lead the microbiology department and support the Mater Hospitals in Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS), including representing Mater Pathology on the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare (ACSQH) Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Australia (AURA) project.

**What you'll be doing**

As the Lead Microbiologist you will perform the following:

- Provide overall clinical supervision and medical expertise to the routine diagnostic Microbiology Laboratory, including Molecular Microbiology and Serology of Infectious Diseases.
- Clinical governance of the Microbiology Laboratory, including performance monitoring of quality, safety, and risk management.
- Direct management of and delegation of duties to the Medical Microbiologist team.
- Contribute to development, improvement and introduction of laboratory tests
- Managing the reporting of results in a timely fashion including timely validation and reporting of results from other laboratories as required.
- Interpret and communicate critical results.
- Advise clinicians on the interpretation of results and further investigation of the patient.
- Assist clinicians in the quality use of pathology by advising on the most effective and efficient program of tests, including pre-analytical and post-analytical components.
- Arrange urgent investigations as required and liaise with appropriate laboratory staff.
- Provide advice to the laboratory to ensure optimum investigation of clinical specimens.
- Participate in daily laboratory rounds.
- Provide graduate and undergraduate training, including acting as principal supervisor for Microbiology Registrar training.
- Oversee research opportunities including contributing to translational medicine and research opportunities within the laboratory, as well as collaborating with research teams in the wider Mater Health Services and outside the organisation.
- Represent Microbiology at Mater Healthcare Acquired Infection Advisory Group or arrange a delegate to attend.
- Attend the Infection Prevention and Control Meetings or arrange a delegate to attend.
- Oversee investigations of laboratory error, complaints and improvements using established systems.
- Attend intensive care rounds in Public and Private ICUs as per pre-determined roster.
- Guide or advise reporting to the relevant Public Health Unit of urgently notifiable conditions in accordance with Schedule 2 (Immediate notifications) of the Public Health Regulation 2005.
- Provide expertise to Mater Pathology on the relevant notification requirements for notifiable conditions in accordance with the Public Health Act and liaise with Pathology IT to assist with the systems for automated notification.
- Manage and participate in an on-call roster for out-of-hours service.
- Provide advice to the Executive Management of Mater Health Services on issues that may arise requiring expert Microbiologist input, such as outbreaks and biological exposures.

**About you**

Although full-time applicants will be preferred we will consider applicants with dual microbiology and infectious disease qualifications, who could perform the role in a job sharing capacity.

To be successful in this role, you are required to have:

- MBBS or equivalent
- FRCPA (Microbiology)
- Registration with AHPRA as a Specialist in Microbiology
- Experience working in fields relevant to the scope of a Consultant Microbiologist, particularly molecular diagnostics, serology and general microbiology.

Desirable characteristics include:

- Relevant management experience and/or training.
- A high level of communication skills and initiative in working in a complex laboratory environment.
- The ability to work effectively and co-operatively as both manager and member of a medical team.
- Ability to use clinical judgement and knowledge to deal with unexpected, atypical and complex work.
- Ability to manage ongoing continuing professional development requirements.
- Ability to contribute to the education and training of clinical and scientific colleagues**.**:

- Publication or participation in research relevant to the scope of practice.
- Experience in use of contemporary technology such as MALDI-TOF MS and microbial genomics
- Experience in peri