Healthcare Scientist (Internal) in Sheffield

Sheffield Diagnostic Genetics Service (SDGS) is a dynamic and dedicated team of over 100 professionals delivering core and specialist rare disease and oncology genomics services as part of the North East and Yorkshire Genomic Laboratory Hub (NEY GLH), in partnership with Leeds and Newcastle. From April 2024, SDGS has evolved into a focused 'dry' analysis and reporting department, receiving 'wet' lab work data/results from our partner laboratories.

About You

• Graduate in relevant good (2.2 or above) honours degree in science or additional postgraduate qualification if not appropriate degree, or registered in appropriate scheme for Healthcare Scientist.
• Ability to supervise and manage services, or groups of services, and meet tight deadlines where results may influence critical, potentially life‑threatening treatment.
• Excellent team player and independent worker.
• Able to deal with confidential and emotionally stressful issues such as Pre‑Natal Diagnosis and/or significant patient mortality.

If you have the skills we’re looking for, and passion for improving the lives of our children and young people, we’d love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

• Reporting into the Lead Scientist, your responsibilities will include:
• Deliver expert analysis and reporting of rare disease cases using QF-PCR, microarrays, karyotyping and WGS, following established policies and quality standards.
• Lead and manage a defined laboratory service, overseeing clinical delivery, development, staff support, clinician liaison and reporting.
• Work with the Lead Scientist to maintain and develop services across local, regional and national networks, ensuring effective communication with clinical teams and laboratory departments.
• Act as a designated quality lead (e.g., Audit or EQA), contributing to departmental, directorate and wider national/international quality structures.
• Check and countersign reports across multiple services, ensuring accuracy of results, validity of calculations and clarity and consistency of clinical interpretation.

About us

At Sheffield Children’s, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children’s Health. We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise. We’re proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children’s as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England – and the top‑ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire – in the latest NHS Staff Survey. Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values – Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence – to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported. As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we’re excited to keep building our leadership in children’s health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health. We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts – helping you thrive at work and beyond.

Diversity Statement

At Sheffield Children’s, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyone's success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members. Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

• Graduate in relevant good (2.2 or above) honours degree in science or additional postgraduate qualification if not appropriate degree.
• Registered in appropriate scheme for Healthcare Scientist.

Experience

• Post‑registration experience in Genetics over a range of services.
• Experience of service planning, development and delivery.
• Experience of management of some aspects of CPA.

Knowledge and Skills

• Broad practical and theoretical knowledge of Human Genetics with several areas of highly specialist skills and detailed knowledge.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety, quality management and CPA requirements in a laboratory environment.
• Very high level of technical and analytical skill including troubleshooting with complex systems.
• Ability to train and develop staff in clinical science.
• Excellent organisational skills including meticulous record keeping.
• Ability to supervise and manage services, or groups of services, and meet tight deadlines where results may influence critical, potentially life‑threatening treatment.

Personal Attributes

• Excellent team player and independent worker.
• Able to deal with confidential and emotionally stressful issues such as Pre‑Natal Diagnosis and/or significant patient mortality.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.