Principal Clinical Scientist (Nuclear Medicine) in Manchester

Principal Clinical Scientist (Nuclear Medicine)

Band 8b

Main area Networked Services Grade Band 8b Contract Permanent Contract Hours 37.5 hours per week (Full time permanent) Job ref 413-112082-CNS-RS

Site CMPE Clinical Pet - D00037 Town Manchester Salary £66,582 - £77,368 Pro rata, per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 16/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

Aligned with the Total-Body-PET scanner soon to be installed at The Christie, a new position exists for a Principal Clinical Scientist to work in the Nuclear Medicine group.

The successful candidate will become a member of a team of clinical scientists who provide the medical physics and radiation protection support to work with unsealed radioactive substances, primarily at The Christie.

Candidates must have a good first degree in physics or a physical science, MSc. or equivalent in physics applied to medicine or a related subject and be a registered Clinical Scientist. They should have significant training and experience in both diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures. They should have MPE certification and be able to demonstrate research experience in nuclear medicine imaging.

Main duties of the job

While the successful candidate will contribute to other aspects of the service, this role has a particular focus on PET-CT where significant experience is required.

The working pattern will include some extended working days and weekends, and occasional off-site working at other Nuclear Medicine departments in the North-West for whom physics support is provided.

Nuclear Medicine at The Christie also supports a number of Nuclear Medicine departments throughout the north-west of England and beyond, by supplying radioactive tracers and providing scientific advice on radiation safety and best practice.

The Nuclear Medicine team at The Christie pride ourselves on a friendly, inclusive and collaborative approach to delivering the very best service to our patients, and driving forward improvements that will lead to better diagnosis and treatment.

Working for our organisation

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.

We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.

Clinical scientists within the group sit on a number of different national bodies and contribute to guidance in several different areas of nuclear medicine, including diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, regulatory compliance, teaching and training.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1 Methodology and Instrumentation

To characterise, evaluate and validate medical imaging equipment, and associated equipment using complex methods and systems in physics, engineering and mathematics.

• 1.1 Keeping up to date with the latest developments in the field of NM and PET and implementing those where appropriate in terms of policies and procedures.
• 1.2 Develop an in-depth understanding of the set-up and optimisation of the configuration of the scanners and associated equipment.
• 1.3 Critically review and evaluate and analyse complex quality assurance procedures and formal documentation to validate the use of the above equipment, extending the tests as and when necessary, in the context of formal validation procedures.
• 1.4 Work with clinical technologists and others in developing and writing standard procedures for Nuclear Medicine and ensure that these are properly implemented.
• 1.5 Ensure as part of the group that operations conform to legislative requirements covering the use of radioactive materials.
• 1.6 Advising on diagnostic imaging and processing techniques, including practical assistance.
• 1.7 Writing computer software for data analysis.
• 1.8 Undertake imaging investigations on patients participating in research studies.
• 1.9 Preparation of test objects, which may require prolonged concentration.

2 Research

• 2.1 Design and conduct experiments to characterise NM and PET scanning equipment and associated instrumentation to improve upon current and introduce new imaging techniques.
• 2.2 Develop and validate new items of advanced instrumentation, devising new protocols and procedures and proposes change where necessary.
• 2.3 Develop complex methodological procedures for new investigations on patients in clinical research trials.
• 2.4 Carry out advanced and complex mathematical calculations for data and image analysis techniques.
• 2.5 Carry out radiation dosimetry and risk assessments for patient studies in research trial proposals.
• 2.6 Prepares applications to Local Research Ethics Committee(s) and internal Trust R&D management in order to maintain conformance with all aspects of clinical governance.
• 2.7 Performs literature searches and summaries.

3 Training and Dissemination

• 3.1 To undertake teaching, lecturing and training in various aspects of NM and PET, to various staff groups, such as clinical and other scientist and technologists at both undergraduate and postgraduate level
• 3.2 Provide specialist training in NM and PET methods and instrumentation to other members of staff, for both internal and external visiting groups.
• 3.3 Present the results of the work by writing articles for publication in scientific journals and presenting lectures at national and international scientific conferences.
• 3.4 Assist consultant radiologists and other clinicians in the reporting and interpretation of scan results.
• 3.5 Develop methods for, and undertake, the processing and analysis of NM and PET research studies.

4 Professional

Maintains scientific competence and State Registration as a Clinical Scientist, for which successful participation in a CPD scheme will be required. Maintain MPE status. Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour.

Person specification

Qualifications

• State registration as Clinical Scientist
• MPE status.
• PhD in physics or related subject

Experience

• A track record in R&D in NM and/or PET methods.
• Specification and commissioning of new NM and/or PET imaging facilities.
• Radiation protection in NM and/or PET.
• Record of developing new imaging procedures and methods.
• Demonstration of capability for independent, self-motivated working.
• Specification and commissioning of NM and/or PET-CT imaging facilities.
• A good track record in PET research, indicated by publications.
• A track record in initiating and developing PET research projects.

Skills

• Operation and calibration of NM and/or PET equipment.
• Ability to work safely, quickly, meticulously and accurately with good manipulation skills for handling radioactive isotopes
• Familiarity with information technology and related clinical systems (PACS, etc.).
• Computer programming for NM and/or PET analysis.
• Ability to take on experimental work in a methodological and rigorous manner.
• Ability to programme in common language such as C or Python.
• Experience with specialist computer packages such as IDL or Matlab.
• Experience with Monte Carlo modelling especially as applied to NM and/or PET.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the principles of operation of NM and PET equipment.
• Knowledge of a range of NM and PET diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
• Principles of radiation protection and regulatory framework.
• Demonstrated awareness and knowledge of important areas of development in NM and PET-CT.
• Knowledge of other medical imaging, diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, and their relationship and relative importance.

Values

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

• Personal skills for working directly with patients.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work within a team.
• A flexible and adaptable attitude to working in a constantly evolving environment.
• Competence in lecturing and presenting research work.

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

Application Information - If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with NHS Employment Check Standards . These include:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role, payment of this will be the applicants responsibility)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessment
• Employment history and reference validation

All applicants external to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history andreferences.

If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

If You're Offered the Role - you will be agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

No Smoking Policy - You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Additional Information We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect.The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all our activities. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in any of its forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply chains.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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