Senior Healthcare Scientist

Cambridge University Hospitals; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 47,000 - GBP 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in Cambridge is seeking a Senior Healthcare Scientist to oversee cellular therapies. This role involves ensuring compliance with regulations, leading projects, and supervising staff. Candidates should have a relevant BSc, MSc, or PhD and significant experience in cell therapy. The position offers flexible hours with a competitive salary range of £47,810 - £54,710, depending on experience. Applications are encouraged from diverse individuals.

Qualifications

• Experience in a laboratory such as Cell/Gene therapy, Blood Transfusion, or clinical manufacturing facility.
• Leadership experience supervising junior staff.
• Use of laboratory information and quality management systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee routine stem cell transplantation service under supervision of the Production Manager.
• Manage compliance with regulatory bodies relating to tissue or cells for human use.
• Lead change management and validation projects.

Skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Able to supervise and train junior staff

Good time management

Ability to work in an organised manner

Ability to problem solve and troubleshoot

Education

Relevant BSc or equivalent

Relevant MSc or equivalent

PhD

Tools

Q Pulse Quality Management System

Flow cytometry

Ultra Low Temperature storage

Job description

Overview

Senior Healthcare Scientist / Senior Scientist, Band 7. Main area Cellular Therapies. Contract Permanent: Full Time or Part Time. Flexible working hours may be considered. 37.5 hours per week. Job ref 180-B-264033.

Working hours and remuneration

Employer: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Site: Addenbrooke’s Hospital - Division B, Cambridge. Salary: £47,810 - £54,710 p.a. pro rata. Salary period: Yearly. Closing: 12/02/2026 23:59.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Senior Healthcare Scientist/Senior Scientist to join the accredited and fast‑growing Cambridge Cellular Therapy Laboratory (CCTL). Based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, CCTL provides analysis, processing, cryopreservation and storage of cells for therapeutic use, and supports the delivery of CAR‑T and other immune effector cell therapies.

The lab is expanding into a new purpose-built facility within the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, featuring four state‑of‑the‑art cleanrooms and capacity for Class 1 and Class 2 GMOs. CCTL is also working with academic and commercial partners to translate cutting‑edge cell and gene therapy research into clinical practice.

This new role offers the chance to contribute to both routine clinical services and the development of novel therapies. Applicants should hold relevant postgraduate qualifications and have significant experience in cell therapy manufacturing and quality control, supported by strong communication, training and leadership skills.

Main duties of the job

You will play a key role in overseeing the routine stem cell transplantation service under the supervision of the Production Manager. Experience in compliance with regulatory bodies relating to tissue or cells for human use (HTA and JACIE) is desirable. Experience of working within a Quality Management System is required and you will aid the reporting, investigation and CAPA execution of Quality Events. You will lead on change management and validation projects. You will supervise and line manage staff members in a leadership role, assist the CAR T service and participate in the provision of other novel immunotherapies as they develop. It is beneficial to have theoretical and practical knowledge of all aspects of stem cell processing. A background in Cell Therapy, Manufacturing, Pharmacy, Haematology with Transfusion, Immunology, or Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics would be highly advantageous. The role will include working on human blood and tissues in a clean room environment and you will be required to assist in the management of the Liquid Nitrogen facility. Registration with the HCPC is desirable for this post. Key B7 roles and responsibilities will vary dependent on the post-holder registration status. Requirement to support the 24/7 on-call rota.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 12 February 2026.

Interviews are due to be held week commencing 16 February 2026.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Relevant BSc or equivalent.
• Relevant MSc or equivalent.
• IBMS specialist portfolio, completion of STP training or equivalent Cell Therapy specialist training programme
• PhD.

Experience

• Experience in a laboratory such as Cell/Gene therapy, Blood Transfusion, Immunology, H&I, Pharmacy, or clinical manufacturing facility.
• Leadership / supervision of junior staff.
• Use of the laboratory information and quality management systems.
• Experience of change management, validation and designing workflows.
• Experience of pre-inspection audits or HTA/MHRA/JACIE inspection preparation and outcome management.
• Experience of a HTA/MHRA licensed laboratory.
• Proven workflow/ capacity management
• Working to cGMP
• Use of Ultra Low Temperature storage.
• Experience of out of hours working.
• Experience of working in a Clean Room environment or aseptic technique.

Knowledge

• Awareness of Quality Regulations in relation to processing of cells and tissue for human application (HTA/MHRA/JACIE).
• Fully Computer literate.
• COSHH and Risk Assessment procedures.
• Awareness of the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).
• Understanding of how to effectively manage and implement change.
• Receipt, processing, cryopreservation, storage, issue of products for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
• Q Pulse Quality Management System.
• Flow cytometry.
• Cell/Gene Therapy.
• Awareness of genetically modified organisms.

Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to supervise and train junior staff.
• Able to work both in a team and as an individual.
• Ability to work in an organised manner, to high standards and with a very high level of accuracy and precision.
• Good time management.
• Self-motivated.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise.
• Ability to concentrate for long periods.
• The ability to problem solve and troubleshoot.
• Evidenced decision making skills with the potential for clinical impact
• Scientific critical thinking skills
• Ability to cope under pressure.

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.

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