Healthcare Scientist

Transformation Unit; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting Healthcare Scientists at NHS AfC Band 7, based in the Oncology (Solid Cancer) and Rare disease services. You will deliver advanced genomic analyses and lead a laboratory service.

The role requires a degree in science (2.2+), professional registration, and the ability to supervise staff while meeting tight deadlines. Collaborative work with regional networks is essential.

Qualifications

• Graduate with 2.2+ honours in science or relevant postgraduate qualification.
• Registered in appropriate Healthcare Scientist scheme.
• Ability to supervise services and meet tight deadlines with life-influencing results.

Responsibilities

• Deliver expert analysis and reporting of solid cancer or rare disease cases using techniques such as next generation sequencing, FISH, QF-PCR, microarrays, karyotyping and whole genome sequencing, following established policies and quality standards.
• Lead and manage a defined laboratory service, overseeing clinical delivery, development, staff support, clinician liaison and reporting.
• Work with the Lead Scientist to maintain and develop services across local, regional and national networks, ensuring effective communication with clinical teams and laboratory departments.
• Act as a designated quality lead (Audit or EQA), contributing to departmental, directorate and wider national/international quality structures.
• Check and countersign reports across multiple services, ensuring accuracy of results, validity of calculations and clarity and consistency of clinical interpretation.

Skills

Supervision & management

Team player

Analytical skills

Staff development

Education

2.2+ honours in science

Postgraduate qualification

Healthcare Scientist registration

Job description

Employer Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust Town Sheffield Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 14/10/2026 23:59

Healthcare Scientist

NHS AfC: Band 7

Job overview

3 Full time positions | 2 permanent (1x Oncology, 1x Rare disease) and 1 fixed term for 12 months (Oncology)

Sheffield Diagnostic Genetics Service (SDGS) is a dynamic and dedicated team of over 100 professionals delivering core and specialist rare disease and oncology genomics services as part of the North East and Yorkshire Genomic Laboratory Hub (NEY GLH), in partnership with Leeds and Newcastle. From April 2024, SDGS has evolved into a focused ‘dry’ analysis and reporting department, receiving ‘wet’ lab work data/results from our partner laboratories.

This advert is for 2 positions (1 permanent and 1 12 month fixed term) based within the Oncology (Solid Cancer) service and 1 position within one of our Rare disease services.

About You:

• Graduate in relevant good (2.2 or above) honours degree in science or additionalpostgraduate qualification if not appropriate degree, or registered in appropriatescheme for Healthcare Scientist.
• Ability to supervise and manage services, or groups of services, and meet tightdeadlines where results may influence critical, potentially life-threatening treatment
• Excellent team player and independent worker. Able to deal with confidential andemotionally stressful issues such as PreNatal Diagnosis and/or significant patientmortality.

If you have the skills we're looking for, and passion for improving the lives of our children and young people, we'd love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

Reporting into the Lead Scientist, your responsibilities will include:

• Deliver expert analysis and reporting of solid cancer or rare disease cases using techniques such as next generation sequencing, fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH), QF-PCR, microarrays, karyotyping and whole genome sequencing, following established policies and quality standards.

Lead and manage a defined laboratory service, overseeing clinical delivery, development, staff support, clinician liaison and reporting.

Work with the Lead Scientist to maintain and develop services across local, regional and national networks, ensuring effective communication with clinical teams and laboratory departments.

Act as a designated quality lead (e.g., Audit or EQA), contributing to departmental, directorate and wider national/international quality structures.

Check and countersign reports across multiple services, ensuring accuracy of results, validity of calculations and clarity and consistency of clinical interpretation.

Working for our organisation

At Sheffield Children’s, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children’s Health.

We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.

We’re proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children’s as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England — and the top-ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire — in the latest NHS Staff Survey.

Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values — Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence — to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported.

As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we’re excited to keep building our leadership in children's health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health.

We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts — helping you thrive at work and beyond.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.

*** This role has been assigned the occupation code 2259 using the CASCOT coding tool. To check the eligibility of this code for sponsorship and right to work please visit - UKVI web address https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations-and-codes

Diversity Statement

At Sheffield Children’s, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyone’s success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.

Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at [e-mail] . Together, we’re building a workplace where everyone belongs.

#LI-Onsite

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Graduate in relevant good (2.2 or above) honours degree in science or additional postgraduate qualification if not appropriate degree
• Registered in appropriate scheme for Healthcare Scientist

Experience

• Post registration experience in Genetics over a range of services
• Experience of service planning, development and delivery
• Experience of management of some aspects of CPA

Knowledge and Skills

• Broad practical and theoretical knowledge of Human Genetics with several areas of highly specialist skills and detailed knowledge.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety, quality management and CPA requirements in a laboratory environment.
• Very high level of technical and analytical skill including trouble shooting with complex systems.
• Ability to train and develop staff in clinical science.
• Excellent organisational skills including meticulous record keeping.
• Ability to supervise and manage services, or groups of services, and meet tight deadlines where results may influence critical, potentially life-threatening treatment.

Personal Attributes

• Excellent team player and independent worker.
• Able to deal with confidential and emotionally stressful issues such as PreNatal Diagnosis and/or significant patient mortality.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have regular contact with vulnerable people and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.