Senior Biomedical Scientist

Kings College Hospital; London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits in the Stem Cell Laboratory at a leading NHS Trust in London. The successful candidate will play a vital role in maintaining high standards during an important transition to a new facility. This position offers the chance to lead clinical trials and provide essential services in bone marrow transplantation. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in biomedical sciences, with significant experience in stem cell processing and laboratory management. Join a dedicated team committed to patient care and innovative research in a supportive environment that values professional development and excellence.

Qualifications

• BSc in Biomedical Sciences required; HCPC registration essential.
• Experience in management and stem cell lab work is crucial.

Responsibilities

• Assist in providing Bone Marrow transplant services and lead clinical trials.
• Process bone marrow, stem cells, and cord blood in a clean-room environment.

Skills

Quality Control and Assurance management

Risk management theory and practice

Teaching and training skills

Cell Culture

Flow cytometry

Cryopreservation

Management of staff

Interpretation and technical validation of results

Education

BSc Biomedical Sciences or equivalent

State Registration (HCPC)

MSc Biomedical Science (or equivalent)

Job description

Main area: Stem Cell Transplantation & AT(I)MP

Grade: NHS AfC: Band 7

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (The Stem Cell Laboratory is moving to a 7-day working pattern, where every member of staff is expected to participate. A voluntary on-call rota is also in place to respond to out of hours' alarms.)

Job ref: 213-CORP-6748617-B

Employer: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Employer type: NHS

Site: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Town: London

Salary: £54,320 - £60,981 per annum, including high cost allowance

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 13/01/2025 23:59

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the ever-expanding Stem Cell Laboratory's team at King's College Hospital NHS Trust. It is expected that this service will move early in 2025 to a nearby state-of-the-art new facility. The successful candidate will help to maintain standards and staff competency in this challenging transition period.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to assist in the provision of a comprehensive and appropriate Bone Marrow transplant service and will take a lead on facilitating clinical trials for patients from Haematology and other Trust departments.

Working in a clean-room environment to process bone marrow, stem cells, and cord blood for patient transplant, this post holder will be an experienced senior scientist providing training, direction, and leadership to junior team members.

The post holder is expected to be fully conversant with all the national and international regulations in place for stem cell processing and those likely to come into force from agencies such as MHRA, HTA, and JACIE. The post holder will be expected not only to have scientific knowledge of stem cell biology but also to have knowledge of other biological sciences such as immunology, microbiology, cell culture, cryopreservation, and molecular biology to supplement their core knowledge base.

A degree of flexibility is required to process collections which run late or are emergency procedures which were not planned or expected. The laboratory is also looking to move to an extended hours rota covering weekends, and participation in the rota will be expected by all members of staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• Assess the clinical relevance and importance of diagnostic test requests, work in progress, and test results.
• Use highly specialist interpretative skills to determine clinical significance of complex laboratory results and take appropriate action including:
• Authorisation of laboratory investigations.
• Preparation, examination, and reporting of flow cytometry results related to cell enumeration (including but not limited to CD34+ cells and CD3+ cells).
• Ordering relevant follow-up laboratory procedures.
• Adding relevant technical and clinically relevant comments.
• Referring results for second opinion.
• Informing medical staff of clinically significant results.
• Efficient management of patients' clinical material and maintenance of a safe ethical system of storage especially in liquid nitrogen vapour phase storage.
• Provide approved departmental information and advice to other healthcare professionals, and refer on to appropriate specialists requests for information.
• Verify unexpected results and ensure that the correct pre-analytical procedures were performed and request repeat collection where necessary.
• Bring urgent, markedly abnormal, or unexpected results to the attention of the requesting clinician or other appropriate person as soon as possible.
• Ensure work is completed timely and to required standards: results are reported within the agreed turnaround times and in accordance with the relevant Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
• Be aware of the clinical implications of the service provided and assist in ensuring that the department is centred on patient care and the patient pathway.
• Involved in the reporting of accidents and near misses via Q-pulse/Datix/HTA or any other appropriate platform and the subsequent investigation.
• Initiate and contribute to audit and research and development activities and encourage and enable all staff to do the same.
• Facilitate and participate in research and development activity and ensure that all activity undertaken is within the Trust’s policy.
• Take responsibility for the receipt, storage, and distribution of AT(I)MPs.
• Maintain the emergency back-up systems for the ultra-low temperature storage facility containing cells for transplantation.
• Take responsibility for the issue of cells for transplantation to wards.
• Delegate work when appropriate and supervise the scientific and technical work of subordinate staff.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

• BSc Biomedical Sciences or equivalent
• State Registration (HCPC)
• MSc Biomedical Science (or equivalent)
• Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Quality Control and Assurance management
• Risk management theory and practice
• Knowledge of HR legislation and policies
• Teaching and training skills
• Significant experience of management of staff and Stem Cell Lab work (or equivalent)
• Competent in the interpretation and technical validation of results
• Experience in: Cell Culture, flow cytometry, and cryopreservation
• Experience of Quality Management Systems
• Management of the provision, storage, and distribution of CAR-T and other AT(I)MP therapies

Communication

• Ability to communicate complex information effectively both written and oral at all levels both within and outside the Trust
• Ability to motivate individuals
• Ability to disseminate scientific knowledge
• Able to produce concise and accurate daily reports to update senior members of staff.

Organisational

• Ability to plan, organise and manage own and others work and time
• Ability to adapt and organise and prioritise the unpredictable nature of workload efficiently
• Ability to work under pressure and multitask without compromising standards

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you.
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications.
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert.
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible.
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy.
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties 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.