Head of Service - Clinical Scientist

Go back The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Service - Clinical Scientist The closing date is 27 September 2026

This is an exciting opportunity to lead in the development of the clinical MR physics service within Newcastle and the North-East and North Cumbria region. You will work alongside the section lead for MR and Ultrasound Physics and other members of the MR physics team in shaping the MR physics service that we provide to a diverse range of NHS and non-NHS MR services, including specialist neurosciences, cardiothoracic, radiotherapy and children's MR departments. We currently provide support for 33 MR systems, including 1.5 T and 3 T systems, in both acute and Community Diagnostic Centre settings.

The MR physics service is part of the Imaging Physics and Radiation Safety Unit, which provides services to ionising and non-ionising imaging providers across the Nort-East and North Cumbria region. We also deliver teaching in conjunction with Newcastle University on one of three academic Medical Physics STP programmes in England, and clinical scientist training as part of the Northern Training Consortium.

Main duties of the job We're looking for an MR clinical scientist with significant experience in the provision of clinical support to MR services, including complex safety support, service development and teaching. Your enthusiasm and strategic vision will help develop and shape MR physics services in the North-East and North Cumbria region.

Key elements of the role include:

• Provision of expert clinical and safety support to a diverse range of MR departments.
• You will have managerial responsibility for the MR physics service.
• You will be appointed as MRSE and lead in the provision of clinical MR physics support to one or more NHS trusts in the North-East and North Cumbria region.
• For appointment at band 8B, you will hold the IPEM MRSE
• Certificate of Competence or be able to demonstrate that you have the knowledge and experience to apply for this on or before being appointed in the role.
• You will provide support for advanced imaging services as required (e.g. fMRI, DTI, cardiac, MR-RT) and complex implant scanning (e.g. CIEDs, neurostimulators, off-label scanning).
• You will contribute to teaching on the Newcastle University Medical Physics MSc programme and other formal and informal teaching provided by the MR physics service.
• You will collaborate with colleagues within the Trust and the University of Newcastle on translational research projects.

About us As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Freeman Hospital
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers Newcastle Hospitals NHS Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities The MR physics service also has strong links with the MR research group at the University of Newcastle, and you will be involved in collaboration with the group to further develop translational research activities, in addition to supporting clinical research within the Trust.

The role will involve visits to other NHS trusts around the region so requires a willingness to travel to other sites on a regular basis. This also means that there are opportunities to live not just within Newcastle itself, but anywhere in the wider North-East and North Cumbria region, from coastal Northumberland to the Pennines.

Please note that while our goal is to appoint an MR Clinical scientist with extensive experience in MR physics and proven leadership ability at Band 8b, exceptional candidates without the required experience to be appointed at 8b may be appointed at a Band 8a initially. Progression to Band 8b will require completion of competencies within a 1 3 year period. We therefore strongly encourage early and middle career MR clinical scientists to apply for this post.

Band 8b

• Responsible for the provision of one or more IPRS services, as detailed in role descriptor, to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NUTH) and other customer Trusts in Northern England
• Provides professional leadership in area of expertise
• Maintains and develops high standards of service provision throughout their area of responsibility
• Develops implements and monitors clinical and organisational strategies within areas of expertise
• Initiates, develops and delivers research and development activities for healthcare advancement
• Manages a team of clinical scientists and technologists delivering the service
• Contributes to service and staff development throughout NMPCE

Band 8a - Salary £57,528 - £64,750

• Performs a range of advanced healthcare science activities
• Participates in the teaching and training commitments of the Service
• Maintains and develops high standards of service provision throughout their area of responsibility
• Contributes to the development, implementation and monitoring of clinical and organisational strategies within area of expertise
• Initiates, in collaboration with the line manager, the development and delivery of research and development activities for healthcare advancement

Person Specification Meets All Band 8b Criteria

• Honours degree (1st or 2nd class) in Physics, or equivalent
• MSc in Medical Physics or equivalent
• HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist (Medical Physicist)
• Certificate of competence in appropriate area, as detailed in role descriptor (or application in progress)
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Specialist in-depth knowledge of work area including relevant legislation
• Expert knowledge of relevant quality assurance requirements, functioning and safe use of the full range of clinical equipment relating to service
• Wide knowledge of ionising/non-ionising radiation protection, as appropriate to service
• Understanding of dosimetry, calibration and radiation monitoring equipment appropriate to service
• Sufficient experience to act as a certificated expert in relevant area
• Experience of investigating incidents involving ionising or non-ionising radiations
• Experience of developing services
• Experience of teaching and training at postgraduate level
• Ability to successfully manage & motivate staff
• Ability to interpret data, analyse problems and evaluate solutions
• Good report writing & presentation skills
• Training, teaching & mentoring skills
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills
• Good leadership skills
• Ability to liaise effectively with staff at all levels
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Ph.D. in Physics or related topic
• Membership of an appropriate professional body
• Understanding of clinical audit and governance and its application to the services provided by the Section
• Experience of leading a team and successfully managing and motivating staff
• Experience of evaluation and procurement of clinical equipment
• Experience of performing research
• Experience of publishing research and presenting at scientific and clinical meetings

Meets All Band 8a Criteria

• Degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject
• Appropriate post-graduate degree at master's level, or equivalent level of specialist knowledge
• The post holder must be a registered Clinical Scientist
• Experience optimising clinical MR protocols
• Sufficient experience to be appointed as an MR Safety Expert
• Experience of performing, publishing & presenting research
• Experience of teaching and training at postgraduate level
• Highly specialist in-depth knowledge and understanding of the application of physical and engineering sciences in medicine performed and developed within the Department, to doctorate level or equivalent
• Highly specialist in-depth knowledge and understanding of current legislation and guidance pertinent to working area and the protection of staff, patients and members of the public
• Specialist in-depth knowledge of MR Physics
• In-depth knowledge of MR safety, including relevant legislation and guidance
• Expert knowledge of research techniques
• Advanced knowledge of working area, enabling post-holder to advise on the appropriateness of techniques, and to collaborate with clinicians
• Advanced knowledge of scientific method and collection and analysis of data using standard scientific tools and software . click apply for full job details