Principal Clinical Scientist

The Methodist Church in Britain; West Bromwich; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured mentorship toward Fellow of

Flexible working requests considered

Opportunities for professional develop

Job summary

Black Country Pathology Network is seeking a Principal Clinical Scientist within the Specialist Services Laboratories, including toxicology, to lead complex report validation and clinical interpretation in BCPS Clinical Biochemistry at Sandwell and City Hospitals.

The postholder will direct scientific staff on challenging diagnostic cases, participate in MDTs, and support method development while ensuring quality and compliance across the service.

Qualifications

• MSc in Clinical Biochemistry or equivalent.
• Part 1 of the FRCPath, or very close to sitting it with detailed information provided.

Responsibilities

• Validate and authorise complex reports with accuracy and timely reporting.
• Provide clinical interpretation and add comments to reports.
• Lead and train scientific staff on difficult diagnostic cases.
• Attend MDT meetings and contribute to patient management decisions.
• Support or develop methods using complex laboratory equipment.
• Write guidelines for testing strategies and ensure ISO 15189 compliance.
• Manage specialised investigations and QC processes.
• Contribute to BCPS research and development projects.

Skills

Leadership experience

LIMS proficiency

IT literacy

Clinical interpretation

Results interpretation

Team coordination

Education

MSc in Clinical Biochemistry

FRCPath Part 1 (or close)

Tools

HPLC

Mass spectrometry

Automated biochemistry platforms

Job description

A Principal Clinical Scientist post in the Specialist Services Laboratories, including toxicology, within BCPS Clinical Biochemistry at Sandwell and City Hospitals, part of the Black Country Pathology network. The postholder validates and authorises complex reports, gives clinical interpretation, directs scientific staff on difficult diagnostic cases and supports or undertakes method development. The work includes travel once or twice a month to New Cross Hospital and other BCPS sites. HCPC registration and Part 1 of the FRCPath are required, or very close to sitting it.

What the job involves

• Validate and authorise complex reports, taking responsibility for accuracy, interpretation and timely reporting
• Give clinical advice and interpretation of results, adding comments to reports and identifying potentially erroneous results
• Take part in the duty biochemist and general clinical support rota
• Direct scientific staff in further investigations of complex diagnostic cases
• Attend MDT meetings, ward rounds or clinics to contribute to patient management decisions
• Support or undertake method development using complex laboratory equipment
• Take clinical and professional responsibility for a section, writing guidelines and protocols for testing strategies
• Take responsibility for the operation, training and quality of specialised investigations and instruments, including QC
• Provide professional support for projects and contribute to the BCPS research and development programme
• Train Clinical Scientists and Biomedical Scientists and contribute to postgraduate and undergraduate teaching
• Support quality processes, including SOPs, audits, EQA schemes, incident reporting and ISO 15189 compliance
• Sit on committees and working groups and contribute to managing the service

What’s required

Qualifications

• MSc in Clinical Biochemistry or equivalent
• Part 1 of the FRCPath, or very close to sitting it with detailed information provided

Registration & licences

• HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist

Experience

• Participation on the duty biochemist rota
• Experience with automated biochemistry platforms
• HPLC or mass spectrometry experience

Skills & knowledge

• High level of IT literacy including LIMS
• Knowledge of specialist biochemistry instruments and results
• Evidence of scientific publications
• Evidence of managing processes
• Evidence of leadership experience

Nice to have

• Other relevant postgraduate qualification
• Specialist training on an analytical platform such as HPLC, capillary electrophoresis, MS, ICPMS, automated chemistry or immunoassay
• Experience of validating and implementing a new service
• Experience of HR processes such as appraisal, recruitment and selection

What’s offered

• Structured support and mentorship towards Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists
• Flexible working requests considered
• Opportunities for professional development