NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society. Consultant Clinical Scientist in Clinical Transfusion Microbiology and Head of National Microbiology Reference Unit, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service About the Organisation: National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating right at the heart of NHSScotland providing invaluable support and advice at a strategic and operational level. NSS supports customers to deliver their services more efficiently and effectively and we offer shared services on a national scale using best-in-class systems and standards. Our priority is always the same – to improve the health and well-being of the people of Scotland. We do this by working in partnership with colleagues across Health and Social Care to deliver fit for purpose solutions and systems, delivering high quality services that help our stakeholders to free up resources so they can be re-invested into essential services. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) is a directorate of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS). The core purpose of the SNBTS is to meet the transfusion needs of patients in Scotland. To deliver this, SNBTS is the specialist provider of transfusion medicine in Scotland, supplying high quality blood, tissues, cells, products and services. SNBTS works with communities, hospitals and professionals to ensure that the donor’s gift is used wisely and for the benefit of patients. Within SNBTS, the National Microbiology Reference Unit (NMRU) is a highly specialised unit providing microbiology confirmatory, reference and screening services for a range of internal (SNBTS Processing & Testing, Tissues, Cells & Advanced Therapeutics, Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Clinical Apheresis Unit) and external customers (Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, Irish Blood Transfusion Service, German Stem Cell Bank, Scottish Hospital Trusts, NHS Blood and Transplant). The Post: As Head of NMRU, you will be responsible for the effective delivery of a high quality specialised clinical blood transfusion microbiology laboratory service (serological and molecular) and to provide specialist microbiology advice to SNBTS and external colleagues. You will be required to implement policy within NMRU to ensure that microbiology referrals are reported within agreed timescales to meet clinical and blood safety requirements. As an integral part of the job, you will be responsible for initiating and developing assessments of the microbiology assays relevant to assessing the microbiological status of donors. The successful applicant will be expected to represent SNBTS on relevant national and international committees and chair the SNBTS Microbiology Test Evaluation Group to evaluate the performance of microbiology tests used routinely by SNBTS. The postholder is also expected to lead on research and epidemiological studies for new, emerging and /or re-emerging microbiological agents that may impact the blood supply in Scotland and the UK. The Candidate: Applicants must be state registered as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and hold a PhD or equivalent in Transfusion Microbiology or a related scientific field and have relevant practical experience in a Microbiology Laboratory, preferably with specific knowledge of working in a Transfusion Microbiology Laboratory. The candidate should have obtained, or be working towards Fellowship of the Royal College or Pathologists. The successful candidate will be required to undergo a Disclosure Scotland check. Any candidate who have lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency. Candidates must have current HCPC registration at the time of applying. Location and Working Pattern: This post will be based in the National Microbiology Reference Unit, Jack Copland Centre, Edinburgh. Currently hybrid working. The work pattern for this post is Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week. It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NSS. Benefits: Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. HR Benefits Brochure. Inclusion: NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national board and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. NSS has made a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of NSS to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on NSS.wfrsnhs.scot Further information: For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Dr Lisa Jarvis, Consultant Clinical Scientist at Lisa.Jarvisnhs.scot or Dr Lorna McLintock, Medical Director at lorna.mclintock2nhs.scot Closing date for completed applications is 26 January 2025. Further information on NSS is available from: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/ Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).