Job overview
This is a Consultant Clinical Scientist post providing clinical and scientific leadership for the quantitative Faecal Immunochemical Testing (qFIT) service, one of the largest symptomatic FIT diagnostic services in the UK.
The postholder will also provide strategic and operational leadership for the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, supporting service development, clinical governance, and cross-disciplinary collaboration across North Bristol NHS Trust and the wider Bristol NHS Group.
This is a senior leadership role at the interface of diagnostics, cancer pathways, and clinical biochemistry, with significant opportunity to shape service delivery at scale across a major regional network.
Main duties of the job
- Provide expert clinical and scientific leadership for the quantitative Faecal Immunochemical Testing (qFIT) service, delivered on behalf of the Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Alliance.
- Oversee and support the delivery of a high-volume diagnostic service processing in excess of 150,000 samples per year.
- Lead on service development, quality assurance, clinical governance, and continuous improvement within the qFIT pathway.
- Provide specialist advice to clinical colleagues, commissioners, and stakeholders on the interpretation and clinical application of qFIT testing in symptomatic pathways.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a Consultant Clinical Scientist acting as an independent practitioner the post holder will:
- Provide clinical and scientific leadership for, the quantitative Faecal Immunochemical Testing (qFIT) service, currently delivered by the Department of Immunology and Immunogenetics at North Bristol NHS Trust on behalf of the Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire (SWAG) cancer alliance. The North Bristol NHS Trust qFIT service is now delivering analysis of over 150,000 samples per year, becoming one of the largest symptomatic FIT diagnostic services in the UK
- Deliver clinical leadership where necessary into an additional laboratory section within the Department of clinical biochemistry (for example, automated biochemistry or point of care testing), taking into account the specialism of the appointee on commencement of the post, after discussion with the Head of Department for clinical biochemistry
- With colleagues, provide an effective scientific and clinical advisory general biochemistry service for the North Bristol NHS Trust Department of Clinical Biochemistry. For the appointee, this will involve delivery of the Duty Clinical Biochemist role, and on-call biochemist rotas.
- As part of the senior management team, provide strategic direction and development of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, in collaboration with clinicians, managers and users of the service. North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust are becoming a single merged organisation- Bristol NHS Group. As such, strategic leadership and direction to deliver the Bristol NHS Group joint clinical strategy for pathology will be an important part of this role.
- Act in a consultant capacity for all aspects of the work of the Department, providing clinical liaison and a high level of scientific knowledge, skill and expertise.
The expectation for the position is that on the basis of a 1.0 WTE job plan, 0.4 of the appointee’s time will be dedicated to the qFIT service clinical leadership, with the remaining 0.6 dedicated to Department of Clinical biochemistry clinical leadership. If the appointee wishes for less than full time working to be considered, the division of time between these priorities will be discussed and agreed between departments
Please see JD for more details
Person specification
Work experience
Essential
- A good level of knowledge of screening tests so the post holder can act as an expert for the Trust and on behalf of the trust in advocating on behalf of services
- Previous experience working in a qFIT screening laboratory
- To have demonstrable experience at an advanced level as a registered clinical scientist, with excellent scientific knowledge, skills and competence
- Experience of analysis and interpretation in General Biochemistry & Endocrinology such that the person can participate in the departmental duty biochemist and on-call rota.
- To have appropriate experience in a management role e.g. leading a major section of a Department, or possessing a relevant management qualification with appropriate supporting practical experience
- In depth experience of training various grades of Medical, Clinical Scientist, Biomedical Scientist staff and other relevant healthcare professionals
Desirable
- Experience of Financial Management
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- To have a thorough knowledge of the causes and mechanisms of disease and how biochemical results are affected by disease with particular expertise in the areas of national screening programmes carried out in the UK
- The ability to assimilate a wide range of pathology results, imaging and clinical information and advise on interpretation and further investigations
- The ability to lead service development and delivery
- Able to initiate, direct and coordinate research and development activities
- An in-depth knowledge and understanding of laboratory analyses
- Good interpersonal skills, both verbal and written, to communicate effectively with managerial, professional and clinical colleagues within and beyond the Trust
- Able to provide Leadership within the Department, the Trust and beyond.
- Strategic thinking, planning and change management skills
- Extensive knowledge of personnel and management issues
- Extensive knowledge of health and safety
- Excellent knowledge and practical experience of managerial processes within the Trust and NHS
- To have an up to date awareness of national policies affecting the NHS, Public Health and Laboratory Medicine.
- Good knowledge of financial management, resource allocation and procurement
- Experience of service planning and strategic development
- Competent in the use of laboratory IT systems and working knowledge in the use of common IT packages
- Ability to teach medical, scientific, biomedical scientist and other relevant healthcare staff
- Good coaching and mentoring skills
Education and Training
Essential
- First or second class honours degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry or a related subject.
- Master’s Degree (or assessed equivalent level of knowledge) in the specialty of Clinical Biochemistry.
- Completion of pre-registration clinical scientist training
- Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists
- State Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council
- To have demonstrable knowledge and experience in research as evidenced by formal qualifications e.g. PhD and/or a number of publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- Good level of knowledge of the principles and practices of running a diagnostic testing service across a regional footprint, ideally with evidenced experience
- Demonstration of Continuing Professional Development at an appropriate level of achievement.
- Formal Training in Audit or equivalent experience
Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances
Essential
- Proven Leadership and Management Experience
- Ability to work independently, managing own workload and that of others within the department
- Ability to work under pressure to deadlines
- Effective management skills with the ability to resolve staff issues and mentor junior staff.
- Able to maintain self-control in difficult and challenging situations
- Able to maintain intense concentration on important tasks despite frequent interruptions.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Consultant Clinical Scientist with North Bristol NHS Trust in Bristol, South West, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Health science services Pathology role. The advertised salary is £79,504 - £91,609 per annum, pro rata for part time roles. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 29 Jun 2026.
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