Job requirements
Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.
Essential
30 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Skills and experience
Minimum 5 years post degree experience with the at least the last year at band 7 or above.
- Skills and experience
Minimum of three years qualified (post preceptorship) ultrasound experience
- Skills and experience
Proven experience in clinical leadership, promoting high-quality patient care and team performance.
- Skills and experience
Evidence of inter-professional and multidisciplinary team working, with excellent interpersonal skills and understanding of other professional roles.
- Skills and experience
Knowledge of PACS, RIS, and other clinical IT systems.
- Skills and experience
Advanced knowledge of anatomy and pathology relevant to ultrasound practice.
- Skills and experience
Knowledge of ultrasound equipment and its operational impact on service capacity.
- Skills and experience
Knowledge of health & safety regulations related to ultrasound practice.
- Skills and experience
Familiarity with Patient Safety Incident Response Framework processes and NHS operational standards.
- Skills and experience
Recent NHS working experience.
- Qualifications & Training
BSc Hons in Radiography or equivelent
- Qualifications & Training
Current HCPC registration- evidenced with PIN
- Qualifications & Training
MSc or demonstrable Level‑7 capabilities (e.g., NHSE ACP e‑portfolio)
- Personal/professional attributes
Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop a multidisciplinary team
- Personal/professional attributes
Skilled in delegation, workload management, and supporting staff autonomy.
- Personal/professional attributes
Conflict resolution and problem-solving skills, managing challenging staff or patient situations effectively.
- Personal/professional attributes
Experience of working with Quality Management Systems, i.e. Q-pulse.
- Personal/professional attributes
Experience in organisational change management or leading cross-department initiatives.
- Personal/professional attributes
Able to foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive team culture
- Personal/professional attributes
Ability to mentor and coach staff at all levels, encouraging professional development and continuous improvement.
- Personal/professional attributes
Strong stakeholder engagement skills, liaising confidently with clinicians, managers, patients, and external partners.
- Personal/professional attributes
Strong understanding of local and national guidance relevant to medical ultrasound
- Personal/professional attributes
Ability to provide accurate, concise clinical reports in line with local policies and procedures.
- Personal/professional attributes
Knowledge and experience of clinical governance and risk management
- Personal/professional attributes
Ability to work flexibly to meet service needs and manage competing priorities
- Personal/professional attributes
Effective decision-making based on clinical knowledge and operational circumstances
- Personal/professional attributes
Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within a team
- Personal/professional attributes
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presenting complex information.
- Personal/professional attributes
Ability to deliver against agreed performance targets and KPIs
- Personal/professional attributes
Commitment to personal CPD to maintain advanced technical and theoretical skills
Desirable
9 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Skills and experience
Experience of equipment procurement and evaluation
- Skills and experience
Evidence of published work, presentations, or research activity.
- Skills and experience
Experience in strategic service planning and implementation
- Skills and experience
Experience leading audit, quality improvement initiatives.
- Skills and experience
Experience managing delegated budgets
- Skills and experience
Specialist scanning experience/ qualification (e.g. MSK, Head & Neck).
- Qualifications & Training
Postgraduate Level 7 qualification relevant leadership/management or evidence of equivalent experience.
- Qualifications & Training
Qualifications in education and teaching and/or leadership and/or clinical research.
- Personal/professional attributes
Experience in workforce planning and talent development
Job overview
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Principal Sonographer to lead our Non-Obstetric Ultrasound Service across the Trust. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled clinical leader to shape service delivery, drive quality improvement and support the development of a high-performing, patient-focused team.
Working closely with the Senior Radiology Management Team and Clinical Director, you will provide professional, operational and clinical leadership, ensuring the delivery of a safe, effective and high-quality ultrasound service. You will lead and support Sonographers, trainee Sonographers and Radiology department assistants, while maintaining a regular clinical role and contributing to the future development of the service.
This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on patient care, staff development and service innovation within a progressive and supportive Radiology department.
Main duties of the job
As Principal Sonographer (Non-Obstetric Ultrasound), you will provide professional, operational and clinical leadership for the Trust-wide Non-Obstetric Ultrasound Service, ensuring the delivery of a safe, effective and patient-centred service. You will maintain advanced clinical expertise, undertaking complex ultrasound examinations while promoting excellence in clinical practice.
The post holder will lead and develop the team, fostering a culture of learning, wellbeing, accountability and continuous improvement. You will be responsible for workforce planning, recruitment, retention, appraisal, staff development and performance management, supporting a skilled and sustainable workforce.
Working with the Senior Radiology Management Team, Clinical Director, Service Managers and multidisciplinary colleagues, you will drive service recovery and performance improvement against key national standards, including DM01, RTT and Cancer pathways. You will lead quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient access, diagnostic quality, productivity and service efficiency, including optimising opportunities through Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs).
The role includes responsibility for clinical governance, audit, quality assurance, risk management, incident investigation and complaints handling, ensuring learning is embedded into practice.
You will contribute to business planning, service transformation and the introduction of new technologies, pathways and workforce models.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the role, responsibilities and essential requirements, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Sonographer with East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust in Canterbury, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Radiographer role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 21 Sep 2026.
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