Principal Component Development Scientist

NHS Blood and Transplant; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Flexible working options

Generous annual leave

Inclusive NHS Pension

Thrive learning culture

Health and wellbeing support

Job summary

NHS Blood and Transplant is seeking a Principal Component Development Scientist for a fixed-term 12-month secondment based in Cambridge. The role leads a team of scientists in the Component Development Laboratory, conducting advanced research to improve blood component quality for transfusion and disseminating findings through journals and reports.

You will manage projects, supervise staff, and ensure quality across CDL work in alignment with NHSBT’s mission to save and improve lives.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree or relevant professional qualification with significant practical laboratory experience.
• In-depth knowledge of Haematology/Transfusion Science, with publications preferred.
• Experience leading and developing teams in a research laboratory.
• Strong IT skills using Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience collaborating with wider healthcare research communities.

Responsibilities

• Collate, analyse and interpret highly complex scientific data from component development work.
• Prepare and disseminate scientific papers for external publication.
• Present findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Plan, supervise and direct research projects with the Laboratory Manager.
• Line manage and train researchers and staff within the area.
• Develop and maintain quality schemes for CDL projects.

Skills

Haematology/Transfusion Science

Publications

Laboratory techniques

Team leadership

IT skills (MS Office)

Education

Postgraduate degree or professional qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Laboratory equipment

Job description

Principal Component Development Scientist

This is a fixed term/secondment for 12 months.

Job Summary

NHSBT’s Component Development Laboratory is an internationally recognised laboratory based at Cambridge, alongside Addenbrooke’s Hospital on the world-renowned Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The component development laboratory performs a wide range of research and development projects to improve the quality and safety of blood components for transfusion.

You will benefit from the opportunity of working in an internationally recognised laboratory performing a wide range of research and development projects to improve the quality and safety of blood components for transfusion.

You will have the opportunity to conduct research and development and manage a team of scientists engaged in controlled investigations of blood component quality. You will have the opportunity to initiate, plan and direct such investigations, to supervise the analysis and interpretation of results, and to ensure their accurate and timely dissemination in journals and reports.

In this way, you will contribute to developing and providing a high-quality service, in line with our core purpose of saving and improving patient’s lives.

Main duties of the job

In this role, you will be collating, analysing, and interpreting highly complex scientific data from own components development work, that of other scientists in CDL, and from manufacturers or other external sources. Your responsibilities include:

• Preparing and disseminating scientific papers containing highly complex information for external publication.
• Presenting findings of own components development work to others including oral presentations to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Preparing, selecting, and using appropriate controls to ensure validity of components development results.
• Being responsible for research projects within the department, working with and to the Laboratory Manager.
• Devising, implementing, and maintaining appropriate quality schemes for each research project and all CDL work.
• Being responsible for research projects within the department, working with and to the Laboratory Manager.
• Line managing and training researchers, trainees, and other staff within your designated area.

About You

Experience and Knowledge

• In depth knowledge of Haematology/Transfusion Science.
• High level of expertise in relevant specialism, ideally demonstrated by publications.
• High level of proficiency in relevant specialised laboratory techniques and environments.
• In depth understanding of the wider healthcare research community.
• Extensive experience in working in a research laboratory.
• Supervisory experience.
• To have successfully led and completed a major laboratory-based project.
• Experience of working with Information Technology using Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

Qualifications and Training

• Postgraduate degree or relevant professional qualification with significant practical laboratory experience.
• Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).

About Us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.

Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do.

By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.

You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

What we offer:

• Hybrid working arrangements – because NHSBT works nationally, we’re able to offer hybrid working options that give you more flexibility to balance work with life.
• Flexible working options – we promote flexible working where the role allows. We’re happy to discuss what flexibility might look like for you.
• Generous annual leave - 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• Inclusive pension scheme - the NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns). Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/information-about-nhs-pensions
• Supportive learning culture - we’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
• Health and wellbeing support – we offer confidential services including occupational health, employee assistance programme, and wellbeing resources. Our support is available to all colleagues and we endeavour to provide tailored workplace adjustments where possible.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applications from disabled candidates. We will talk with you to explore any adjustments that may help you during the recruitment process.

You can find more information about accessibility, our culture, and how we support applicants on the NHSBT Careers website:

• Read about our application process
• Learn more about our culture at NHSBT

To learn more, please see the job description and person specification. These can be accessed via the link below, or by clicking ‘Apply’ if you are viewing this advert on another site.

Next steps

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on 16th September 2026.

The assessment process will include a presentation followed by a competency-based interview, both held in person at Cambridge Centre.

Interviews are anticipated to take place week commencing 28 September 2026, subject to confirmation.

For informal enquiries please contact –

Name: Richard Blanco

Job Title: Assistant Manager – Component Development Laboratory

Contact Details: [e-mail]