About The Organisation

Here at NHS Lanarkshire, we put the patient at the heart of everything we do. Each colleague within the organisation plays a key role in how we deliver our healthcare services.

We proudly serve a population of 655,000 across rural and urban communities in both North and South Lanarkshire. NHS Lanarkshire is comprised of Acute Services (which currently provide hospital based services over 3 main sites), Corporate & Property & Support Services, North and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnerships which provide integrated primary healthcare and social care services to local communities and surrounding areas.

The Role

Applications are invited for a Principal Clinical Scientists within NHS Lanarkshire Clinical Biochemistry department where you will join a team of 3 Consultants and 8 Clinical Scientists.

The Clinical Biochemistry service for NHS Lanarkshire is provided from three main hospital sites providing a comprehensive service to primary and secondary care. The department operates a primary care hub at University Hospital Wishaw with core and specialist services at Hairmyres and Monklands University Hospital’s. The service processes in excess of eleven million tests per year and for a population of 650,000 people. Specialist testing includes protein electrophoresis, toxicology, catecholamines and qFIT testing. This positions will lead on the clinical and scientific management of a sub-division of the specialty.

The successful candidate will participate in the Duty Biochemist rota for the interpretation and reporting of routine clinical biochemistry results. There will be opportunities to develop specialist expertise in one or more of the specialist sections and contribute to the department’s audit, quality improvement, development, research and teaching programmes.

You will be based at University Hospital Wishaw with travel to the other sites as required. However, site could be negotiable.

You must be state registered with the Health Care Professions Council as a Clinical Scientist (Clinical Biochemistry) and have Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (as a minimum part 1). However, applications are welcome for experienced Clinical Scientist who are actively working towards their part 1 exam.

Applicants who do not meet the essential criteria will be considered under the Annex 21 training programme, where whilst undergoing training, they will be paid a 70% of the top of Band 8B and on completion of training will then move on to Band 8B scale.

Participation in the out of hour’s on-call service is an essential requirement of this position (currently 1 in 9).

A track record of research and development, development of expertise in one or more specialised analytical or clinical areas and evidence of involvement of service planning and development is desirable.

We are advertising a full-time post, but are happy to discuss part-time working. Remote working capability is available for some elements of the role, once trained.

In this key role, you will:

• Provides a highly specialist Clinical/Technical Biochemistry service. Has Clinical and Scientific responsibility for a section of the department.
• Clinically authorises reports autonomously in all areas of biochemistry while actively reviewing current and previous results, providing additional independent interpretive comments and advice.
• Discusses and provides highly specialist advice independently to clinicians, including senior health professionals and consultant medical staff in both primary and secondary care, on the complex specialist interpretation of all biochemistry tests. This will include the selection, performance and interpretation of clinically relevant tests and highly specialised advice on differential diagnoses, monitoring, treatment and therapy changes (e.g. in endocrine disorders such as monitoring thyroid hormone replacement). The post holder will exercise their judgement regarding referral to another clinical specialty.
• Represents the department at clinical and multi-disciplinary team meetings and case conferences to provide an expert opinion in Clinical Biochemistry.

What You'll Bring:

• Registration with the Health Professions Council as “Clinical Scientist” (minimum postgraduate training period of 4 years).
• Upper second or first class Honours degree in relevant science e.g. Biochemistry.
• Completion of the nationally accredited Clinical Scientist specialist training programme (3 years).
• MSc in Clinical Biochemistry.
• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge, as demonstrated by Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists or equivalent professional experience.

From 1 April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will reduce from 37 hours to 36 hours. Part-time working hours will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. A corresponding increase in the hourly rate will apply, ensuring that overall pay remains unchanged.

What we Offer

As a valued employee of NHS Lanarkshire, you can enjoy an extensive range of benefits including:

• Annual Leave - 35 days including public holidays
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Annual incremental salary progression
• Paid sick leave increasing with length of service
• NHS discounts and more.

NHS Lanarkshire is dedicated to building a diverse workforce where everyone can thrive, develop, and succeed based on their skills, knowledge, and talent - regardless of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or care experience* or any other dimension that can be used to differentiate people from one another.

*Care experienced applicants include those who have lived with foster parents, kinship carers, or in residential/secure children’s settings.

For informal discussion, please contact Jacqueline McGuire, Consultant Clinical Scientist and Clinical Lead on 01355 584345 or Sarah Cleary, Consultant Clinical Scientist on 01698 366334 or Neil Syme, Consultant Clinical Scientist on 01698 752170.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process or require support with your application, contact Nicole Hetherington, Recruitment Administrator via nicole.hetherington@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk

Interested?

Full details about the role are provided in the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Please review our Application Guidance which explain key information including closing dates, amendments, right‑to‑work requirements, sponsorship eligibility and important points to be aware of before submitting your application

You can also learn more about working with NHS Lanarkshire by viewing our Information Pack

Unless otherwise stated, the deadline for applications is 23:59 hours on the closing date. Please note, CVs will not be accepted.