Job summary
3 Full time positions | 2 permanent and 1 fixed term for 12 months

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 PreNatal 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.

Details
Date posted: 30 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 425-26-7974207
Job locations: Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.

*** This role has been assigned the occupation code 2259 using the CASCOT coding tool. To check the eligibility of this code for sponsorship and right to work please visit - UKVI web address https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations-and-codes

Diversity Statement
At Sheffield Childrens, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyones 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. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at scn-tr.recruitment.team@nhs.net. Together, were building a workplace where everyone belongs.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• 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

Desirable

• Relevant post graduate or masters qualification

Experience
Essential

• 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
Essential

• 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 trouble shooting with complex systems.
• Excellent communication skills
• 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
Essential

• Excellent team player and independent worker.
• Able to deal with confidential and emotionally stressful issues such as PreNatal 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.

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).

Employer details
Employer name: Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Lead Clinical Scientist
Emma Shearing
emma.shearing@nhs.net
01142717014

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.