Band 7/8a Principal Clinical Scientist

NHS; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Birmingham is seeking a Principal Clinical Scientist in Nuclear Medicine to provide scientific support, lead training, and engage in research. Candidates should hold relevant degrees and registration as a Clinical Scientist. The role involves substantial patient interaction and adherence to strict regulatory standards, making it a key position for improving patient care. Competitive conditions and commitment to inclusivity are emphasized.

Qualifications

• Honours degree in Physics or other relevant subject or equivalent.
• Relevant higher degree to Masters level (e.g. MSc, MPhil) or equivalent.
• Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Evidence of working towards accreditation as a Medical Physics Expert under RPA2000.

Responsibilities

• Act as the lead for scientific support in the Nuclear Medicine service.
• Supervise training of STP trainees.
• Participate in administration of radionuclide therapies for SIRT, PRRT and PSMA.
• Initiate, supervise and undertake research in Nuclear Medicine.

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Band 7/8a Principal Clinical Scientist

The closing date is 11 November 2025

Are you a Nuclear Medicine Clinical Scientist looking for an exciting new opportunity in a dynamic team who continually strive to improve patient care and regularly engage in service development and research? We are looking for a new team member to support our state of the art SPECT CT systems and expanding PET and radionuclide therapy services. You will be providing specialist scientific support and advice across the broad range of Nuclear Medicine and PET diagnostic imaging investigations and radionuclide therapies including research exposures. This will include providing Medical Physics Expert advice (as per IR(ME)R 2017 requirements), service development, QA of imaging and non-imaging equipment and review of novel clinical trials. You will be required to plan your own workload, organise own projects and prioritise your work and that of other staff. You will be able to discuss highly complex aspects of patients diagnosis and treatment with a range of staff and provide specific expertise.

If you have not yet achieved registration as a Medical Physics Expert but are close to completion and submission of your portfolio you may be considered for appointment at a Band 7 until registration is achieved.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will act as the lead for scientific support in the Nuclear Medicine service and will directly support the training of STP trainees. The post holder will participate in the administration of radionuclide therapies for SIRT, PRRT and PSMA.

The post holder will initiate, supervise and undertake research in Nuclear Medicine.

The post holder will have expert knowledge and good depth of experience in Nuclear Medicine, possess excellent organisational and IT skills and be able to participate in service development in line with the national/international standards. You will have a good working knowledge of relevant legislation, particularly IRR17 and IR(ME)R17 ionising radiation regulations.

About us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Job responsibilities

Please Note: For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Honours degree in Physics or other relevant subject or equivalent
• Relevant higher degree to Masters level (e.g. MSc, MPhil) or equivalent
• Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Evidence of working towards accreditation as a Medical Physics Expert under RPA2000

Experience

• Possesses the analytical skills and judgment to deal with complex situations such as advising on appropriate nuclear medicine procedures for patients, balancing risks and benefits, and choosing appropriate analysis methods for calculation & presentation of results.
• Has the investigative, technical & lateral thinking skills to be able to solve the day-to-day practical problems with gamma cameras and nuclear medicine tests, and to trouble-shoot causes of unusual or incorrect results, using judgment to take appropriate remedial action.
• Possesses the skills to analyse, interpret and report a range of non-imaging investigations, and to check all nuclear medicine imaging reports and images for accuracy.

Additional Criteria

• Able to design and develop computer analysis methods for nuclear medicine quality assurance and patient investigations, including customising existing software and writing new programmes, spreadsheets & databases according to user requirements.
• Possesses a broad range of IT skills, being competent with PCs, email, Microsoft Office applications, internet searching, exporting of images and scientific programming. Familiarity with manipulating and processing Nuclear Medicine image data to obtain quantitative parameters for reporting
• Has the ability to communicate highly complex information both orally and in writing to large clinical, scientific, technical and other staff groups, eg the preparation and presentation of complex scientific papers to large groups at national and international conferences and for peer reviewed journals.
• Able to present sensitive information in an understandable and empathic way to patients and carers about nuclear medicine procedures and the potential risks of ionising radiation.
• Requires excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills for working within multidisciplinary team environment.
• In -depth understanding of radiation protection principles and legislation, eg IRMER17, IRR17, EPR & radioactive transport regs, and national & international standards, professional & regulatory body reports and guidelines.
• Track record to demonstrate an ability to plan and organise complex activities and project programmes, eg the introduction of new nuclear medicine investigations and equipment.
• Able to exercise initiative and act with autonomy when dealing with issues within own specialist areas of competence and within broader areas of nuclear medicine.

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.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust