Principal Clinical Scientist

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

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Job Overview

Principal Clinical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry

We are looking for a highly motivated Clinical Scientist to join the Clinical Biochemistry team at Southmead Hospital, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This post offers the opportunity to develop specialist expertise in the areas of toxicology and antenatal screening within the Specialist and Manual Techniques section of the Clinical Biochemistry department. The post holder will also participate in the department’s general clinical validation rota and contribute to the clinical and scientific leadership of the biochemistry automated laboratory.

Applicants must be HCPC registered as a Clinical Scientist, have an MSc or PhD in an area relevant to the discipline and have completed part 1 FRCPath. A broad range of experience in Clinical Biochemistry is essential, along with good team working and leadership skills. Previous experience in Toxicology is desirable.

The Clinical Biochemistry department is part of Severn Pathology, located at Southmead Hospital in purpose-built Pathology buildings and incorporating Blood Sciences, Genetics, Infection Sciences and Cellular Pathology. Following the formation of Bristol NHS Foundation Trust we will be working closely with colleagues across the City centre and Weston to develop fully integrated pathology services within a single organisation.

Main duties of the job

To take a leading role in managing clinical and scientific aspects of the toxicology and antenatal screening services. The toxicology service includes clinical and coronial drug testing, immunosuppressants, trace metals, iohexol clearance and cholinesterase phenotyping.

To interpret and report postmortem toxicology results and liaise with pathologists, coroners officers and staff from other toxicology laboratories.

To provide clinical and scientific input in the automated biochemistry laboratory service and contribute to the general clinical biochemistry validation rota (duty biochemist). This post also includes participation in the out-of-hours on-call rota for clinical advice.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. 

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

As a Principal Clinical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry the postholder will –

• be responsible for the day-to-day management of scientific aspects of the toxicology and antenatal screening services (incorporating clinical and coronial toxicology, cholinesterase and antenatal screening for trisomies), ultimately responsible to the Consultant Clinical Scientist.
• Contribute to the clinical and scientific leadership of the automated clinical biochemistry service
• Participate in the general biochemistry clinical validation rota, providing interpretation and clinical advice in general biochemistry and endocrinology, and participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota for clinical advice.
• Interpret and report toxicology results and, in conjunction with the Consultant Clinical Scientist, produce postmortem toxicology reports for pathologists and coroners.
• Take a lead role in the laboratory provision of the antenatal screening service (fetal anomaly screening program, FASP)
  
  

Please Refer To The Job Description For More Details

Person specification

Education And Qualifications

Essential criteria

• 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
• Satisfactory completion of a formal pre-registration scientist training programme in Clinical Biochemistry
• State Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Clinical Scientist (Clinical Biochemistry).
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath)
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Essential criteria

• Able to use and manipulate lab computer systems and standard software packages
  
  

Experience

Essential criteria

• To have completed post graduate training approved as appropriate for registration together with supervised in-service experience totalling a minimum of 3 years
• Experience of undertaking research and development and audit
• Extensive IT experience and knowledge of laboratory computer information systems, common software packages (Word, Excel and Sharepoint) and specialist software packages (e.g. statistical packages)
  
  

Education And Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Evidence of progression towards FRCPath, including attainment of part 1 FRCPath
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Essential criteria

• The post holder must be able to accurately record, analyse and interpret the results of investigations undertaken within Clinical Biochemistry
• The post holder must be able to process very complex scientific information, as is required in the specialist areas of Toxicology and antenatal screening
• The ability to lead and direct a team of staff, to ensure smooth running of the Department and achievement of goals and targets in the designated section.
• To have developed analytical (technical) skills in general and specialist clinical biochemistry techniques
• To have a good knowledge of analytical methods, quality assurance and problem solving/troubleshooting
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Highly developed expertise and knowledge of theoretical, clinical and laboratory analytical aspects of the specialist field of Toxicology
• Highly developed expertise and knowledge of theoretical, clinical and laboratory aspects of antenatal screening for trisomies
• To have developed technical ability in specialist techniques such as tandem mass spectrometry
  
  

Experience

Essential criteria

• To have experience as a registered clinical scientist acting at a senior level in a range of clinical biochemistry specialties
• Experience of the analysis and interpretation of all aspects of General and Endocrine Biochemistry and its application to clinical practice, such that the post holder can act as an expert within the Trust
• Experience of developing and troubleshooting new methods, for use in research projects or routine clinical biochemistry service
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Clinical and laboratory experience within the specialist field of Toxicology
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Essential criteria

• A thorough understanding of the basic science that underpins the speciality of Clinical Biochemistry and its application to clinical practice
• An appreciation of other pathology disciplines and diagnostic imaging to view findings in the appropriate clinical context
• Able to advise medical and nursing staff on appropriate investigations and interpretation of biochemical and metabolic processes
• Expert knowledge in a specialist area of work relevant to the role (for example toxicology or antenatal screening)
• Able to initiate and conduct Research and Development activities
• Able to conduct audits of both the laboratory and clinical service
• The ability to critically appraise new information published in the literature
• An up to date awareness of national policies affecting the NHS, Laboratory Medicine, Blood Sciences and Clinical Biochemistry in particular
• Ability to communicate complex information and interpret the significance of results back to requestors
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Able to prepare and present scientific and clinical information at meetings and provide teaching and training for laboratory staff
  
  

Personal qualities

Essential criteria

• Ability to work independently, managing own workload and that of others within the department
• Ability to work under pressure to deadlines
• Able and confident to challenge established views
• Able to maintain self-control in difficult and challenging situations
• Able to maintain intense concentration on important tasks despite frequent interruptions
• Good interpersonal skills
  
  

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
• Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
  
  

Important:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.