Principal Clinical Scientist
BFT
Southmead, BristolView on map(opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Salary
£53,755 to £60,504
Contract
Not specified
Hours
Full time
Closing date
Not specified
Job description
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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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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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Provenance
Source
Adzuna
First seen
26 September 2026
Last checked
26 September 2026
Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.
About the employer
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