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Clinical Scientist – Section Head (Band 8a)

NHSBT Birmingham
Birmingham
1 week ago
Applications closed

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Quality Manager

Salary:£55,690 – £62,682 per annum (in accordance with 2025-2026 pay scales, anticipated to be effective as from August 2025)

Closing date:22/07/2025

Contract Type:Permanent

Hours Per Week:37.50

Job Description

Clinical Scientist in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (H&I) – Section Head

Job Summary

You will be working as part of a clinical team, including clinicians, nurses and other health care professionals and the role you perform will directly contribute to saving and improving patient’s lives. You will be part of the H&I Services for hospitals in Birmingham.

The Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory (H&I) carries out HLA typing, antibody screening support of solid organ and stem cell transplantation, the provision of specialist blood products and immunogenetic and disease association testing.

Working within a modern laboratory environment you will be operating some of the latest laboratory analysers and testing systems to produce accurate and timely test results.

You will have the opportunity to participate in research and development projects within the department.

We will provide you with an extensive induction and training programme and ongoing development to support you in your role and achieving your career ambitions.

Main duties of the job

  • You will be a clinical scientist with highly specialised transplant and/or transfusion related knowledge and scope of practice.
  • You will contribute to a clinical laboratory service; performing, analysing, interpreting, documenting and reporting routine and specialist/complex investigations and providing advice to clinicians.
  • You will manage the activities of a discrete section of the laboratory, responsible for the standard of work of their team.
  • You will be a leading participant in research and development activities.
  • Your team will be involved in the provision of services for solid organ and stem cell transplantation for hospitals served by the Birmingham Blood Centre.

About You

Experience and Knowledge

  • In depth understanding of relevant policies, standards and guidelines, e.g. Good Manufacturing Practice, Good Laboratory Practice, Clinical Pathology Accreditation, UKBTS and BCSH and other relevant or statutory guidelines.
  • Extensive experience in working in a diagnostic/testing laboratory
  • In depth knowledge of transfusion/transplantation science and extensive experience in relevant transplantation/transfusion specialism.

Qualifications and Training

  • MSc or equivalent in transfusion/transplantation or relevant science OR equivalent specialist knowledge gained by examination of a professional body, e.g. Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), British Blood Transfusion Society (BBTS), British Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (BSHI).
  • Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered
  • Evidence of continuous learning and professional development
  • Willingness to undertake further training and development
  • To have completed a formal post-graduate training programme together with together with extensive in service experience OR alternative training together with extensive in service experience.
  • Basic management qualification or short courses.

About Us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.

Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do.

By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference – Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we’ll save and improve more lives than ever.

You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

What we offer:

  • A starting salary of£53,755 – £60,504 per annumin accordance with Agenda for Change (AfC).
  • Afull time, permanentopportunity to join as aBand 8a.
  • Opportunity to work with a national organisation and be based in ourBirmingham Centre.
  • NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities where the role will allow.
  • 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
  • NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions
  • We’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

Please view the recruitment profile which is a summary of the detailed Job Description and Person Specification for the full personal attributes we require for the role. You will need to demonstrate these throughout the recruitment process.

Clinical Scientist (Section Head) – Recruitment Profile

This vacancy will close at 23:59 onTuesday 22ndJuly.

Interviews are anticipated to be held onw/c 4thAugust– subject to confirmation.

For informal enquiries please contact Zoe Thomas on


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