Senior Clinical Scientist and Head of Section

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in the UK is seeking a Band 8A Head of Section in the Clinical Transplantation H&I Laboratory. The role involves supervising staff, providing specialized advice for transplant patients, and leading operational processes in either the Molecular or Serology Sections. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in immunology and H&I testing, along with significant leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of HCPC state registration experience in H&I testing.
• Proficient in Luminex antibody screening and flowcytometric crossmatching.
• Knowledge of laboratory audits and risk assessments.

Responsibilities

• Supervise clinical and technical testing in the laboratory.
• Lead daily operations and manage staff effectively.
• Provide specialized laboratory services for transplant patients.

Skills

Highly developed specialist knowledge in immunology

Significant theoretical knowledge in serological techniques

Experience in virtual crossmatching

Leadership in designing new processes

Education

PhD in a biological science or DClinSci

Job description

Job summary: As a Band 8A Head of Section in the Clinical Transplantation H&I Laboratory, the post holder will supervise one of the two sections in the laboratory: Molecular or Serology. The post holder will be responsible for the managerial and scientific leadership of the band 3-7 staff in the section and for the provision of highly specialised advice with regards further investigations and donor/patient selection for transplant etc.

The post holder will work with the Head and Deputy Head of Department and key stakeholders in the development of clinical policy and in the planning, initiation and performance of both routine clinical services and R&D that lead to service improvements.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to accurately and efficiently undertake and manage staff to undertake a range of highly specialist clinical and technical tests and services either in the Molecular or Serology Sections. These include HLA characterisation, antibody analysis and crossmatching activities in day time and out of hours.

Core duties will include the provision of highly specialised advice and laboratory services concerning the care or treatment of transplant patients. This will include final verification and clinical interpretation of laboratory results before release to clinicians, provision of clinical advice in person and over the phone as well as attendance at several MDT meetings each week.

The post holder will have responsibility for the delivery of the service in support of thymus, kidney and cardiothoracic transplantation programmes, this includes virtual crossmatching and transplant immunological risk assessment in liaison with the clinical team.

With delegated authority from the Head and Deputy Head of Department, the post holder has overall responsibility as line manager to provide strategic and day to day leadership to the Molecular or Serology Sections of the laboratory as appropriate, managing staff and supervising the validation/trouble shooting of assays.

The post-holder will attend clinical meetings in support of transplant programmes. The post-holder will actively participate in Quality Management Systems of the department.

About us

The NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership is an arms-length organisation providing pathology services to Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. The Pathology Partnership is hosted by Barts Health.

The Pathology Partnership was formed in May 2021. Between 2021 and 2024 the Partnership undertook a complex transformation programme to establish a single network of laboratories, underpinned by a single Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and single Quality Management System (QMS).

The Partnership has a main hub laboratory at the Royal London Hospital and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) as a minimum at the six other hospital sites served by the Partnership.

Person Specification

The following are essential requirements for the role:

• Highly developed specialist knowledge in immunology and H&I serology and molecular genetics (gained over at least a 4 year post HCPC state registration period) covering all routine and non-routine H&I tests
• Significant theoretical knowledge and practical experience in HLA routine and non-routine serological techniques including Luminex antibody screening and identification, and flowcytometric crossmatching
• Experience of virtual crossmatching and transplant immunological risk assessment in support of solid organ transplantation
• Regularly required to lead the design and implementation of validation of new processes, kits, reagents and equipment and developing and carrying out laboratory audits that lead to changes in practice in the department

The following are desirable requirements for the role:

• Experience of non HLA antibodies and their role in solid organ transplantation
• A PhD in a biological science or DClinSci

Equal Opportunities: We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within the Pathology Partnership and Barts Health at this band.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.