Lead Clinical Scientist

Lead Clinical Scientist

Job summary
We invite ambitious and friendly Applicants to apply to this Band 8a Clinical Scientist role Medical Physics based at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead and working for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.
It is an exciting time to join the Team; we have recently installed a 12-headed CZT SPECT/CT System in Sunderland with a second SPECT/CT camera in the Gateshead Unit within 12 months. Our long-term goal is to be a nationally leading centre, and we are half way through applying for the RCR Quality Standards in Imaging (QSI) accreditation.
The STSFT Medical Physics Department covers Nuclear Medicine with five Gamma Cameras across three sites (Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead), Bone Densitometry, Vascular Ultrasound and Physiological Measurement, seeing around 15000 patients / year. Nuclear Medicine is supported by an on-site Radiopharmacy.
You will be a HCPC registered Clinical Scientist and will ideally be a qualified Medical Physics Expert (MPE). If you are yet to gain this qualification, but expect to soon, you will be Appointed at Band 7 for a fixed-term of up to 12 months until MPE certification is achieved. Should this be the case, you will be fully-supported in achieving this.
For an informal discussion, please contact Harry Slinger (Head of Nuclear Medicine) at View email address on meeveem.com

Main duties of the job
You will actively contribute to a range of tasks associated with the STSFT nuclear medicine service. This includes (but is not limited to):

• Duty physicist roles including acting as a lead MPE in Nuclear Medicine, vetting, drafting and reporting nuclear medicine referrals on behalf of the STSFT ARSAC/IRMER practitioners for the service as per locally approved referral and clinical reporting criteria; as well as answering frequent clinical and technical queries.
• Regular quality control testing of nuclear medicine equipment, such as gamma cameras, SPECT-CT (including CT image quality), sample counters, contamination monitors, dose rate meters, radionuclide calibrators and surgical probes.
• Safe and compliant transport of radioactive materials from the radiopharmacy to other hospital sites.
• Audit, research and development projects that maintain and enhance our service and fulfil our extensive legislative requirements including optimisation and risk assessment.

You will also work closely with the Services Clinical Scientist staff to maintain and improve the STSFT Nuclear Medicine service, with such examples as:

• CBRN training with A&E staff and ADR Class 7 Radioactive Transport driver training.
• MPE support to our Alliance PET site.
• Optimisation and development of acquisition and reconstruction protocols.

MPE certification is not required, but you would be supported in your submission of a portfolio to RPA2000.

About us
One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.
We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under-represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Details
Date posted: 23 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: C9155-CSAHP-0726-54
Job locations:
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sheriff Hill, GATESHEAD, Tyne And Wear, NE9 6SX, United Kingdom
Sunderland Royal Hospital, Kayll Road, SUNDERLAND, SR4 7TP, United Kingdom
South Tyneside Nhs Foundation Trust, South Tyneside District Hospital, Harton Lane, SOUTH SHIELDS, Tyne And Wear, NE34 0PL, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Performs a range of advanced healthcare science activities.
PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Highly specialist in-depth knowledge and understanding of the application of physical and engineering sciences in medicine performed and developed within the Department, to equivalent postgraduate training and substantial specialist experience in nuclear medicine physics.
• Highly specialist in-depth knowledge and understanding of current legislation and regulations pertinent to working area and the protection of staff, patients and members of the public.

Desirable

• Quality assurance and calibration procedures relating to a range of nuclear medicine equipment.
• Experience in radiation protection.
• Manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals.
• Experience in training and supervision of trainees.
• Audit, research and development.
• Formal presentations at national and local meetings.

Qualifications
Essential

• A First or Second Class Honours Degree in an appropriate physical science.
• Appropriate post-graduate Degree at Masters level, or equivalent level of specialist knowledge.
• You must be a Clinical Scientist registered with the HCPC and is responsible for the maintenance of this registration.
• You must be a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) registered with RPA2000, or willing to attain within 12 months, and is responsible for your own maintenance of MPE registration (the Department strongly recommends maintenance of IPEM membership however other mechanisms are accepted).

Desirable

• Qualification as a Radiation Protection Adviser.
• Qualification as a Radioactive Waste Adviser.

Physical Skills
Essential

• Highly-developed physical skills are required to carry-out patient procedures and scientific measurements where a high degree of precision or speed is essential.
• Perform minute adjustments to medical equipment or instrumentation.
• Perform patient or equipment based measurements.
• Advanced keyboard skills.

Skills and Knowledge
Essential

• In-depth knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
• Good IT skills.
• Good report writing and presentational skills, including the production of scientific papers, reports and conference presentations.
• Good time management and organisational skills.
• Knowledge of Governance issues including ethical and regulatory considerations.
• Ability to give technical advice to colleagues, senior clinicians and other professionals.
• Ability to carry-out research and development working as part of a team.
• Teaching, training and mentoring skills.
• Up-to-date knowledge of Trust policies and procedures regarding control of infection.
• Advanced knowledge of working area, enabling you to advise on the appropriateness of techniques, and to collaborate with clinicians in your interpretation and reporting.
• The ability to undertake complex calculation, data analysis and to issue reports on quantitative techniques.
• Track record of formal ongoing professional development as evidence of commitment to lifelong learning.

Desirable

• Nuclear medicine software applications development, including optimisation of acquisitions and image reconstruction.
• Patient handling skills including occasional administration of radiopharmaceuticals.
• Drafting clinical reports of nuclear medicine studies for practitioner / lead clinical scientist sign-off.
• Knowledge of the clinical relevance of nuclear medicine investigations.
• Knowledge of standards for radiopharmaceutical production.
• Knowledge of bone densitometry.
• Wider knowledge in radiation protection.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Harry Slinger, View email address on meeveem.com, View phone number on meeveem.com