Principal Clinical Scientist (Bioinformatics) | North Bristol NHS Trust

Dyddiad hysbysebu:	15 Awst 2025
Cyflog:	Heb ei nodi
Gwybodaeth ychwanegol am y cyflog:	£53,755 - £60,504 per annum, pro rata for pat time roles.
Oriau:	Llawn Amser
Dyddiad cau:	14 Medi 2025
Lleoliad:	Bristol, BS105NB
Cwmni:	North Bristol NHS
Math o swydd:	Parhaol
Cyfeirnod swydd:	7337626/339-CCS7626-KLE

Crynodeb

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Principal Clinical Scientist (Bioinformatics)to join the expanding South West Genomic Laboratory Hub (SWGLH) team at North Bristol NHS Trust. This is a pivotal leadership role within a dynamic and growing bioinformatics service that operates across two regional sites—Bristol and Exeter.

As part of a strengthened leadership structure, you will help shape the future of genomic diagnostics by coordinating cross-site activities, leading innovation, and supporting the delivery of high-quality, efficient, and digitally enabled services. You will play a key role in shaping the future of genomic medicine by leading service innovation, managing a team of skilled scientists, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, accredited bioinformatics workflows. With a strong foundation in clinical bioinformatics and a passion for improving patient outcomes, you’ll work collaboratively across regional sites and national networks to drive excellence in genomic healthcare.

1X Fixed Term Contract 12 Months // 1x Permanent role.

As a Principal Clinical Scientist (Bioinformatics), you will:
• Lead and manage a specialist section or function within the SWGLH Bioinformatics service, ensuring high-quality, timely, and accurate delivery of genomic data analysis.
• Design, implement, and improve bioinformatics workflows and services, contributing to service innovation and operational planning.
• Provide expert scientific and clinical leadership, offering advice and guidance across multidisciplinary teams and liaising with national and regional stakeholders.
• Oversee quality assurance processes, ensuring compliance with ISO15189:2022 standards and supporting UKAS accreditation.
• Develop and validate bioinformatics tools and pipelines for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and other genomic technologies.
• Supervise and train staff, including Scientist Training Programme (STP) trainees, and contribute to the development of training materials and assessments.
• Collaborate with IT and laboratory teams to maintain and enhance bioinformatics infrastructure, including databases, servers, and software tools.
• Contribute to research and development, presenting findings at national and international meetings and supporting the introduction of new diagnostic services.
• Ensure data governance and security, adhering to data protection regulations and best practices in information management.
• Represent the department at internal and external meetings, promoting the role of bioinformatics in advancing patient care.

With a scientific and technical staff of over 100, Bristol Genetics Laboratory (BGL) is housed in new state of the art Pathology laboratories in North Bristol NHS Trust.

BGL is a fully integrated Genomics Laboratory providing comprehensive Cancer and Rare Inherited Disease genomic testing to the South West with extensive specialist services attracting a large number of national and international referrals. BGL has a significant R&D programme and also benefits from co-location with the University of Bristol Learning and Research Centre in the Trust Science Quarter.

BGL is fully committed to the provision of high-quality training at all levels, as an accredited training centre.

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

As a Principal Clinical Scientist (Bioinformatics) you will lead a specialist section within the South West Genomic Laboratory Hub (SWGLH), providing expert scientific and managerial leadership in the delivery of high-quality bioinformatics services. You will be responsible for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of diagnostic workflows, ensuring compliance with national standards and contributing to the advancement of genomic medicine.
Leadership and Management
• Lead a defined section or function within the SWGLH Bioinformatics service.
• Oversee service delivery, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to quality standards.
• Manage staff performance, training, and development, including STP trainees.
• Contribute to strategic planning, service redesign, and business case development.
• Represent the department at internal and external meetings, promoting collaboration and innovation.
Scientific and Technical Responsibilities
• Apply advanced knowledge of Clinical Bioinformatics (Genomics) to manage complex genomic data.
• Develop, validate, and maintain bioinformatics pipelines and tools for NGS and other technologies.
• Collaborate with IT teams to ensure robust infrastructure and software support.
• Lead on the integration of bioinformatics systems with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Ensure compliance with ISO15189:2022 standards and support UKAS accreditation processes.
Quality and Governance
• Write and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for bioinformatics processes.
• Lead internal and external quality assurance activities.
• Maintain rigorous documentation and audit trails for all bioinformatics workflows.
• Support incident management, root cause analysis, and continuous quality improvement.
Education and Training
• Deliver training and mentorship to staff and students in bioinformatics.
• Assess and support STP trainees through formal evaluations and feedback.
• Maintain HCPC registration and a portfolio of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Organise induction and ongoing training for new staff members.
Communication and Collaboration
• Communicate complex genomic data clearly to multidisciplinary teams.
• Liaise with clinical, scientific, and IT colleagues to support patient care.
• Participate in national forums and working groups to share best practices and influence policy.
• Uphold the highest standards of patient confidentiality and data protection.
Policy and Financial Management
• Contribute to the development of departmental policies and procedures.
• Support financial planning and resource allocation for bioinformatics services.
• Evaluate cost-effectiveness of new technologies and recommend investments.


This advert closes on Sunday 31 Aug 2025