Principal Clinical Scientist

Job summary

The National Mycobacterial Reference Service (NMRS) operates two Containment Level 3 laboratories at Colindale and Birmingham, providing UKAS-accredited reference services for tuberculosis (TB) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), alongside specialised NHS diagnostics. This includes molecular testing unavailable in routine NHS laboratories.

Since 2018, all isolates have undergone whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to support species identification, antimicrobial susceptibility prediction and strain typing. NMRS is the sole provider of TB susceptibility testing and typing in England and delivers specialist testing, expert advice and resilience support across the UK. Accurate and timely identification of mycobacteria and drug resistance is essential for patient care and public health management, with clinical oversight required for all samples.

The service also generates income for UKHSA through charged NHS testing, including primary mycobacterial diagnostics and NTM susceptibility testing.

As a World Health Organization (WHO) Supranational Reference Laboratory, NMRS contributes to global TB drug resistance surveillance, monitors resistance trends and provides data that informs international policy through the WHO-IUATLD Global Project on TB Drug Resistance Surveillance.

Job description

NMRS also has key research partnerships including with the Health Protection Research units in respiratory infections, and genomics, and with other research leaders in mycobacterial infections.

The NMRS Lead Clinical Scientist is a role applicable to a recognised expert in a defined specialty within National Mycobacterial Reference Services. The job holder will lead a team/section dealing with the specialist area, as required. This specialist work is part of a broader area of work undertaken by the NMRS laboratories and led by the Clinical lead. The Principal Clinical Scientist reports to the Regional Head of Operations and will liaise with and be delegated by the Clinical Lead as appropriate. This job description outlines generic tasks covering the role; specific tasks associated with a particular specialism will be agreed with the Clinical Lead and the Regional Head of laboratory Operations for NMRS.

After suitable training the post holder will deputise, as appropriate, for senior clinical staff within the National Mycobacterial Reference Service (NMRS) in managerial, scientific and clinical matters.

• To participate in the provision of a comprehensive and cost-effective analytical service for the diagnosis, treatment, surveillance and prevention of mycobacterial infection. This includes working exclusively with Mycobacteria spp., including those in Hazard Group 3, in a containment level 3 environment, and undertaking identification, molecular testing, culture-based methods and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
• To participate in the production, reporting and dissemination of laboratory reports, data and statistics and to help maintain all quality procedures.
• To provide expert and effective advice to medical practitioners on the appropriateness of laboratory investigations and the interpretation of the results obtained, as well as on the use of antimycobacterial drugs and the interpretation of drug test results. This will include attendance at the relevant scientific and multi-disciplinary team clinical meetings in UKHSA sites and NHS partner organisations as appropriate and feasible.
• To seek external grant and commercial funding and to establish a research programme in conjunction with the Clinical Lead.
• To collaborate with the staff of the National Mycobacterium Reference Service, other mycobacterial reference laboratory centres, epidemiologists at HCAI, AMR, AMU and sepsis division in Colindale and consultant clinical microbiologists in devising and performing surveillance of mycobacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance
• To devise and perform clinical audit as appropriate.
• To participate in the teaching and mycobacterial training of medical, scientific and technical staff from within the NMRS and UKHSA laboratories and outside. To participate in activities such as training courses directed to maintaining or upgrading national mycobacterial standards, and undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at various academic institutions.
• To supervise undergraduate and postgraduate research projects on relevant scientific and clinical problems.
• Maintenance of professional skills and an up-to-date knowledge of medical microbiology with a focus on mycobacteria and to attend and participate in relevant local, national and international scientific meetings.
• To participate as appropriate in the national work of UKHSA and to be eligible for membership of committees and working groups on matters of mycobacterial importance.
• To undertake other managerial duties and responsibilities within the National Mycobacterium Reference Service as appropriate to this grade.

Professional Development

• Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

Key Working Relationships

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;

Internal

• Medical, scientific and biomedical staff within the UKHSA National Mycobacterium Reference Service and relevant UKHSA directorates and partner organisations.
• Senior staff of UKHSA and other divisions of the organisations.
• To attend and participate in relevant meetings and updates on an ad hoc basis.

External

• Medical, scientific and biomedical staff within the national and international stakeholders
• Hospital and Trust staff serviced by the laboratory, other clinical and primary care staff.
• Staff from external bodies including accreditation bodies, NHS, local authority, university, MHRA and other users/collaborators, national and enforcement bodies, commercial companies and professional groups as required.

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• PhD in an area relevant to medical microbiology or mycobacteriology
• Significant post-doctoral experience in medical microbiology or mycobacteriology
• Experience of working in a clinical laboratory
• HCPC Clinical Scientist registration
• Good working knowledge of mycobacterial diseases
• Good working knowledge of mycobacterial taxonomy
• Ability to perform and interpret a wide range of diagnostic tests in mycobacteriology
• Good track record of publication in the field
• Good people management skills
• Good working knowledge of varied computer software applications
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Understanding and experience of LIMS
• Good writing and presentation skills
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Benefits

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA's ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet