Lead Scientist / Team Manager (Principal Scientific Officer)

NICS; Carrickfergus; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in Northern Ireland is seeking a Lead Scientist / Team Manager. In this role, you will manage a team of Forensic Reporting Officers, lead responses to complex cases, and provide expert testimony in court. The ideal candidate will have an honours degree in a relevant scientific field, significant experience in forensic science, and strong leadership skills. This permanent position offers a competitive salary of £61,673 to £64,469 annually with standard working hours from Monday to Friday.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience as a forensic reporting officer.
• Proven track record in leading change and innovation.
• Experience as an Expert Witness in court.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Forensic Reporting Officers.
• Produce plans for implementing organizational change.
• Attend court as an expert witness.

Skills

Forensic strategy development

Change management

Leadership

Negotiation and influence

Education

Honours level degree in a scientific area

Job description

Lead Scientist / Team Manager (Principal Scientific Officer)

Forensic Science Northern Ireland, FSNI is an Executive Agency within the Department of Justice, employing approximately 200 staff, and providing a wide range of scientific services and expertise to assist in the investigation of crime and the presentation of scientific evidence in court.The Agency is an operationally independent organisation providing a service to its main customers, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, the NI State Pathologist as well as a number of other customers in NI and further afield.The Agency provides a full range of forensic science services through its operational casework sections, each of which consists of a number of teams which focus on a particular forensic science discipline. FSNI enjoys an international reputation for its breadth of expertise and experience. FSNI’s primary purpose is the provision of effective scientific advice to support the delivery of justice.The casework in FSNI is distributed between a number of Reporting teams which are responsible for the delivery of interpretation and presentation of scientific evidence for the Northern Ireland criminal justice system.The successful candidate will lead one or more teams, made up of experienced ROs and ROs in training. They are one of a team of Principal Scientific Officer (PSO) Team Managers and will report directly to the Director of Reporting Services as shown in the current organisation chart below:

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Forensic Reporting Officers, ensuring innovation and delivery on casework, quality, staff development and performance management to achieve the team and directorate goals.
• Lead the forensic response to high profile, complex or serious cases within FSNI, acting as the ‘Case Manager’ to ensure the work is planned and allocated as necessary to meet the requirements of the case.
• Produce plans for the implementation of change in line with organisational needs, consulting with customers and staff, and as appropriate champions the use of change management models and tools.
• Allocate and delegate work to optimise use of available resource and existing competence of staff to deliver results in line with customer agreements and priorities.
• Attend court as an ‘expert witness’ presenting matters of fact and providing opinion evidence.
• Use programme and project management techniques, including risk management, to ensure delivery is managed to time and budget with effective post project evaluation.
• Input into the strategic planning process for the Agency and Directorate, identify key strategic issues and guide the development of strategy having considered current and future internal and external environmental factors
• Responsible for ensuring continued innovation within their teams, driving the development of enhanced products, services and processes.
• Develop economic appraisals for expenditure on new equipment and services, input to and support procurement of goods and services.
• Responsible for promoting improvements in the quality of the science, extension to and continued Quality Accreditation.
• Promote an environment where Health & Safety and Equality are promoted and responsibility taken for resolving any issues.
• Ensure relevant competencies are maintained and pursue Continuous Professional Development.
• The successful applicant must be prepared to work unsociable hours occasionally and may be expected to participate in an on call rota in their own specialist discipline.

Skills and Qualifications

• Applicants must, by the closing date for applications have:
• An honours level degree qualification or equivalent in a scientific area relevant to forensic work, including chemistry, engineering, biology or a closely related scientific discipline;
• ANDAt least 3 years’ experience, within the last 5 years, as a forensic reporting officer developing and delivering effective forensic strategies in complex cases and attending court as an Expert Witness;
• ANDExperience in leading change through championing a culture of innovation focused on adding value and customer satisfaction;
• ANDExperience of working effectively with partner organisations and through negotiation and influence build trust and source solutions to achieve organisational objectives.
• ANDHave a full, current driving license enabling the license holder to drive in Northern Ireland.

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 23rd January 2026 at 12 noon.Applications from Protestants, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post.Location: Seapark, FSNI, 151 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus,The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer.ALL APPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT ARE CONSIDERED STRICTLY ON THE BASIS OF MERIT.

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk (Please quote reference number: IRC318273)

Vacancy ID 1751962 Job ref. IRC318273 Job Sector Public Sector,Pharmaceutical and Science Area Co Antrim Location Carrickfergus Salary £61,673 to £64,469 per annum No. vacancies 1 Contract Type Permanent Weekly hours 37 Published date 05/01/2026 Closing date 23/01/2026 Worktime Monday - Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm

Area: All of Northern Ireland
Closing date: 09 Jan 2026

Area: All of Northern Ireland
Closing date: 16 Jan 2026