Principal Clinical Scientist - Rare Disease Genomics

Job overview

Join the Cambridge Genomics Laboratory, lead provider for the East NHS Genomic Medicine Service, and play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality rare disease diagnostics and improve patient care. As a Principal Clinical Scientist, you will lead and manage a team of scientists, oversee the interpretation of complex genomic data, authorise clinical reports, and provide specialist scientific expertise across a diverse test repertoire.

You will contribute to service leadership, quality management, accreditation activities, staff development, and the implementation of innovative genomic technologies. Working closely with clinicians and multidisciplinary teams, you will help ensure an efficient, accurate, and patient-focused diagnostic service.

Applicants must be HCPC-registered Clinical Scientists with significant experience in a genomics laboratory, expertise in rare disease testing, and proven leadership and staff management skills. Strong communication, analytical, and organisational abilities are essential.

If you are committed to delivering safe, kind, and excellent care while shaping the future of genomic medicine, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

Applicants must hold HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist.

Responsible for leading and managing a team of scientists undertaking genetic diagnostic tests in rare disease.

Analysis, interpretation of data, and writing and authorising of clinical reports.

Providing clinical scientific expertise for the repertoire of disorders/tests offered by the assigned team.

Training and mentoring of scientific staff.

Member of the laboratory leadership team, contributing to all aspects of providing a high quality service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have: -    applied for a Graduate visa -    or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment -    or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 22nd June 2026

Interviews are due to be held on 1st July 2026

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.