Principal Clinical Scientist

Main area Clinical Scientist Genomics Grade Band 8a Contract Fixed term: 12 months (FTC or Secondment for Internal considered - Maternity leave) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Occasional out-of-hours and weekend working necessary in line with service requirements.) Job ref 339-CCS1154-BAL

Site North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital Town Bristol Salary £57,528 - £64,750 per annum, pro rata for part time roles Salary period Yearly Closing 24/08/2026 23:59

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

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Job overview

Principal Clinical Scientist in Cancer Genomics - AfC Band 8A

An opportunity for a fixed term 8A Clinical Scientist post has arisen in the Haematological Malignancy team in the South West Cancer Genomics service to cover a maternity leave.

Bristol Genetics Laboratory (BGL) hosts a fully integrated Cancer Genomic service delivering all Cancer Genomic testing for the South West Genomics Laboratory Hub (SWGLH). We are seeking a motivated, highly qualified and ambitious individual with experience in Cancer Genomics (Solid tumour or Haematological Cancer) to play a key leadership role within our busy and friendly team.

Please see this short video showcasing Pathology at NBT.

Clinical Scientist Band 8A – key member of operational management team responsible for day to day delivery of a Cancer section and other services as appropriate. Successful applicants must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a clinical scientist and have an upper second or first class honours degree and/or higher degree in a relevant scientific subject. Possession of FRCPath Part One is required. Good communication, team working and supervisory skills are also essential.

The post-holder will be responsible for leading a team of scientists delivering Haematological services within the Cancer team. Considerable experience of the analysis, interpretation and authorisation of clinical reports using cytogenetic methods, NGS as well as more targetted techniques is highly desirable.

The successful candidate will be expected to work 37½ hours per week full-time over 7 days a week, including participation in regular weekend and out of hours working.

Applications from part-time applicants will also be considered.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• To take responsibility for the running of a section or sub-section of the laboratory
• To develop and improve existing services by continual review of quality, productivity and efficiency
• To actively participate in business and operational planning of the service within the framework of directorate and departmental objectives, including service redesign.
• To ensure the accuracy and timeliness of all results leaving the section.
• To co-ordinate the workload of the section and collaborate with other heads of sections to ensure that the workload of the laboratory is efficiently and fairly allocated. This includes monitoring the workload of staff in the section and responding to events to ensure that a high quality service is maintained within professional guidelines.
• Working with others, to establish team objectives and review workloads, throughput, work rate, staff absence, training and development.
• To participate in the recruitment and selection of staff
• To undertake other appropriate duties as delegated by the Head of Department.

Clinical

• To provide a high level of personal scientific skill and expertise in the processing and interpretation of the full range of routine and specialised investigations and procedures relevant to the section
• To discuss highly complex results of tests and issue appropriate clinical advice to referring clinicians
• To prepare, authorise and issue appropriate clinical reports including those of a highly complex nature.
• To provide a high level of expertise in the processing of patient samples and the specialist interpretation of complex test results
• To ensure the accuracy and timeliness of all patient results.
• To manage the quality and efficiency of the scientific and technical work of the staff of the section to ensure that appropriate procedures for receipt, processing, analysis and interpretation and reporting of findings are employed.
• To maintain continued professional development to an adequate level.
• To attend multidisciplinary meetings with clinicians and pathologists to discuss clinical issues.

Clinical Governance

• To provide a clinical service within the designated section ensuring that the service meets established high quality demands for safety and patient care.
• To ensure achievement of and adherence to the standards required of a UKAS ISO 15189 (2012) accredited laboratory under the direction of the Head of Department.
• To actively participate in the preparation of the department for UKAS accreditation. This will include setting and delivery of objectives in conjunction with the Head of Department and the quality lead.
• To participate in the organisation and monitoring of internal and external quality control procedures. This includes clinical audit, incident investigation and reporting, and participation in the relevant UKNEQAS, EQMN and EuroMRD schemes, discussing and taking action upon outcomes in conjunction with other staff and reporting to the Head of Department.
• To ensure a functioning risk management and risk reporting strategy within the section which includes health and safety, quality management, training, recruitment, internal quality control, patient and laboratory records, reporting to the Head of Department.

Education And Training

• To contribute to teaching or training of other health care professionals and students.
• To liaise with others as appropriate in the organisation, delivery and supervision of teaching and training of the scientific and technical staff of the section and laboratory.
• To ensure the organisation and delivery of induction and training programmes for staff new to the section.
• To participate in and undertake staff appraisal and performance reviews of staff within the section
• To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through participation in the RCPath CPD scheme, maintaining a portfolio that reflects personal development and ensures scientific and managerial knowledge is updated in order to improve the service for its users
• To evaluate, advise and disseminate information and education resources as appropriate.

Research and Development

• Making recommendations on clinical protocols, local policy and implementation of these
• Evaluation of published developments and innovations.
• undertake development including the evaluation and introduction of new technologies and/or new ways of working relevant to the section; contributes to academic research.

Policy

• Assist and contribute to the formulation of policies, protocols, standard operating procedures and codes of practice for the service
• To maintain awareness of, and disseminate to others, Trust and departmental Health & Safety policies and procedures.
• To manage internal grievance and disciplinary incidents/situations in accordance with the Trust policy and procedures
• To ensure that all local and national policies, codes of practice, and statutory regulations pertaining to the section are implemented, advising and assisting senior management as required.

Other

• The post holder will provide Clinical Scientist out of hours support as deemed necessary
• This job description will be reviewed as part of staff appraisal
• The post holder may be required to assume responsibility for other laboratory sections or areas of service within area of expertise as required during the absence of senior staff as directed by the Head of Department
• This job description is an outline of the current position and may be amended in detail or emphasis in light of future requirements for the service. All amendments and changes to the job description will be agreed with the post holder.

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc (1st/2nd)
• HCPC Registered CS
• CPD
• Other management qualification/formal Trust course
• Other courses relevant to clinical practice e.g. FRCPath preparation course
• FRCPath Part One
• FRCPath Part Two

Clinical Experience

• Evidence of up-to-date experience & knowledge of complex genetic investigations
• Evidence of report authorisation experience
• Experience of formal training e.g. STP DOPs/CBD, delivering seminars, managing training programmes
• Research and development experience

Management/Leadership Experience

• Personal leadership of a section or laboratory disease service
• Experience of quality aspects ISO15189 & H&S requirements
• Knowledge and participation in national policies and initiatives relating to NHS Genomics
• Verbal communication skills e.g. presentations, chairing meetings
• Line management experience incl. interpersonal experience, motivation of team, sickness and performance management etc

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

IMPORTANT:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Application numbers

Name Paula Waits Job title Principal Clinical Scientist - Cancer Genomics Email address [email protected] Telephone number 01174146177 Additional information Christopher [email protected]

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