Principal Clinical Scientist Bioinformatician

NHS; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Cambridge is seeking an experienced Bioinformatician to lead a clinical Bioinformatics team. The successful candidate will manage bioinformatics services, ensure high-quality patient data analysis, and support genomic medicine delivery for rare diseases and cancers. This permanent full-time role offers competitive pay and a commitment to professional development within a progressive healthcare environment.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in bioinformatics or human genetics with strong bioinformatics background required.
• Extensive experience in bioinformatic tools and analysis pipelines essential.
• Experience managing teams and ensuring quality standards for service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Manage bioinformatics services for the Genomic Laboratory Hub.
• Lead the team and ensure service quality and compliance.
• Develop and improve bioinformatics services continually.

Skills

Data analysis of next-generation sequencing

Complex data interpretation

Operational planning

Leadership and guidance

Excellent communication skills

Education

MSc or PhD in bioinformatics or related field

Tools

Bioinformatics software

Job description

Job summary

Are you an experienced Bioinformatician that wants to lead a growing clinical Bioinformatics team?

The NHS East Genomic Laboratory Hub (EGLH) seeks candidates for a leadership role, responsible for developing modern bioinformatics services to support delivery of genomic medicine for patients with rare diseases, solid and haematological cancers. EGLH is responsible for delivery of the Genomic Medicine Service for a population of 10 million in the East of England.

Secondary and tertiary analyses are run on our clinical cloud and we continue to build out our bioinformatics infrastructure and analytical capability to improve diagnostic pathways.

We take time to develop the team professionally and support all to learn and stay up to date with advances in bioinformatics.

Responsibilities

1. Manage bioinformatics services for the Genomic Laboratory Hub
2. Ensure timely and accurate analysis of patient data
3. Responsible for continual development and improvement of bioinformatics services
4. Fulfil product owner and project manager roles for bioinformatics services
5. Ensure the laboratory offers the highest quality diagnostic genomics services
6. Ensure the laboratory meets legal, regulatory and professional requirements
7. Senior role in application of bioinformatics for delivery of the NHS Genomic Medicine Service
8. Manage and develop the bioinformatics team, including trainees
9. Liaise and advise at national level on bioinformatics policy, practice and training

About us

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1,100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values – Together – Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high‑quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Job details

Date posted: 19 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: 8a

Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time, Flexible working

Reference number: 180‑B‑254247

Job location: Addenbrookes Hospital – Division B, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ

Person specification

Qualifications – Essential

• MSc, PhD or equivalent postgraduate qualification in bioinformatics with experience of human genetics OR MSc, PhD or equivalent postgraduate qualification in a human genetics based discipline with a significant bioinformatics component

Qualifications – Desirable

• Completion of Health Education England's Scientist Training Programme in Clinical Bioinformatics Genomics or equivalent training programme

Experience – Essential

• Extensive experience of developing and implementing bioinformatic tools, analysis pipelines and resources
• Has adopted bioinformatics standards and been responsible for maintaining information resources to such standards
• Experience of being responsible for bioinformatics service delivery and maintaining quality standards
• Experience of being clinically accountable and responsible for patient care
• Has managed people and teams, including interpretation of organisational policies
• Experience of project manager and product owner roles for development of bioinformatics software

Experience – Desirable

• Advanced experience of applying theoretical knowledge and practical skills to develop clinical‑grade bioinformatics solutions for healthcare of cancer and RD patients
• Experience of specialist analysis, clinical interpretation and diagnostic reporting of genomic tests in a healthcare setting
• Experience of managing teams in a diagnostic genomic laboratory
• Experience of working at national level to develop standards and policies

Knowledge – Essential

• Highly developed specialist knowledge of bioinformatics principles, algorithms and software for analysis of complex data such as that generated by next‑generation sequencing approaches
• Knowledge of clinical and data regulation as applicable for healthcare
• Thorough knowledge of tools available for the analysis and interpretation of genetic and genomic data
• Good knowledge of human genetics as relevant for delivery of the Genomic Medicine Service
• Good knowledge of programming and software development best practices
• Good knowledge and appreciation of the importance of effective managerial procedures
• Knowledge of clinical and data regulation as applicable for healthcare, including data security and information governance

Knowledge – Desirable

• Broad knowledge and in-depth understanding of how identifying different types of genetic and genomic variation can inform diagnosis, prognosis and management of cancer and RD patients
• Thorough understanding of the statistical methods used in analysis of complex genomic data
• Specialist knowledge of clinical requirements for bioinformatics applications used for diagnostic services
• Thorough knowledge of requirements for accreditation of bioinformatics processes to the ISO 15189 standard
• In‑depth knowledge of best practice guidance for development and application of bioinformatics tools in clinical laboratories
• Applied knowledge of good management practices

Skills – Essential

• Highly developed ability in the analysis of next‑generation sequencing data applied for clinical purposes
• Specialist interpretation of complex data arising from diagnostic testing, in the context of a patient's healthcare, requiring both highly developed analytical and judgement skills
• Planning and organisation of complex tasks and activities related to bioinformatics, co‑ordinating both own and others' workload, ability to reorganise as necessary and implement skill‑mix changes
• Operational planning of bioinformatics services and general business planning
• Providing leadership, guidance and training
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to prepare and present complex scientific and clinical information to both specialist and non‑specialist

Skills – Desirable

• Highly specialist ability in the assessment of cancer and RD bioinformatics tools to determine clinical utility and applicability for delivery of the Genomic Medicine Service
• Managing a bioinformatics team to deliver a leading clinical bioinformatics service, including developing policies and protocols
• Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information; present complex, sensitive or contentious information to large groups and senior managers
• Ability to manage and reconcile conflicting views where there are significant barriers to acceptance or understanding

Additional requirements – Essential

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.

Eligibility and immigration

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full‑time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa unless a Graduate visa has been applied for or the Trust has agreed to sponsor the applicant as a Skilled Worker and the applicant completes their studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date.

From 6 April 2017, skilled‑worker applicants presenting a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more within the past 10 years are required. Adult dependants (over 18) are also subject to this requirement.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure and Barring Service review will be required.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Employer details

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Addenbrookes Hospital – Division B, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ

Website: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk