Chief Scientific Officer

The NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) scientific workforce use science and their technical skills to help diagnose and treat diseases and disorders of the blood and in organ and tissue transplantation. They are in a unique position as a scientific workforce, working as part of an integrated health system, to be world leaders in transformational science such as genomics. NHSBT are looking for a Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) to provide professional leadership for the science profession within the organisation, ensuring we offer a place for professionals to develop their career.

To ensure we have the skills and capabilities we will need for the future, you will develop the workforce through learning and development, including defining career pathways and proactive talent management, so that healthcare scientists have the clinical leadership capacity and capability to provide frontline scientific leadership and science-based intelligence for service planning and delivery. This will be through the Higher Specialist Scientist Training programme and other programmes and delivered alongside the Clinical Tutor and Scientific and Clinical Training team.

You will be a registered professional (HCPC/GMC/NMC) with wide experience of healthcare science disciplines, currently or recently employed in a senior role and will be an ambassador for the scientific profession. If you are not registered with HCPC you must have a strong scientific background.

Main duties

• Developing NHSBT’s workforce through learning and development, including defining career pathways and proactive talent management.
• Strategically influencing the integration of services and new structures for delivering care and improve NHSBT’s ability to undertake R&D and raise the game of health technology.
• Linking into the NHS England CSO and other networks to develop and promote NHSBT’s strategies.
• Decision making at directorate level and will act as a member of the NHSBT senior leadership team.
• Horizon scanning for new technology and services.

You will be required to travel and spend time away from base, which will involve working irregular hours and overnight stays when required, with prior notice.

About You

• Previous line management experience including effective communication, workforce planning, succession/talent management, recruitment, performance management, appraisal and development plans, absence management, coaching and professional development.
• Demonstrates extensive knowledge of the development and delivery of diagnostic and/or therapeutic services, provide scientific expertise as required to strategic initiatives, projects, and policy development activities.
• Experience of delivering through people in terms of leading, developing and influencing others, evidence of significant people management skills and involvement with staff negotiations.
• Technical and scientific knowledge of the NHSBT range of specialist services and transfusion science.
• Experience in horizon scanning to ensure that we stay at the forefront of biomedical science.
• Demonstrated ability to translate scientific findings into donor or patient services.
• A track record of delivering major policies, programmes, or initiatives.
• Experience of working within or closely with operational teams.
• Experience of working with Information Technology using Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

Qualifications and Training

• Doctorate level qualification or MSc plus equivalent relevant experience to doctorate level.
• Broad understanding of the NHS and the wider healthcare community.
• Relevant advanced knowledge in management and leadership.
• Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).

About Us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need. Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we’ll save and improve more lives than ever. You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

What we offer:

• A starting salary of £88,168 - £101,677 per annum in accordance with AfC.
• A permanent full-time opportunity to lead the scientific team in a Band 8d role.
• Opportunity to work with a national organisation and be based in any of our major sites such as London, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham.
• High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) on top of the base salary, where applicable.
• NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities.
• 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns).

We’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Sunday 19th January 2025. Interviews are anticipated to be held face-to-face in London, on 13th February 2025. For informal enquiries please contact – Lorraine Tresnak, Head of Office for Chief Medical Officer at lorraine.tresnak@nhsbt.nhs.uk.