Band 7 Infection Prevention and Control Clinical/Research Scientist
The closing date is 16 January 2026
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Clinical Scientist / Research Scientist with a passion for Infection Prevention, data-driven improvement, and patient safety to join our dynamic Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team.
This is an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of Infection Prevention science, contributing to cutting-edge research, innovation, and quality improvement across one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country.
Why UHB?
At University Hospitals Birmingham, you'll join a forward-thinking team committed to excellence in infection prevention, patient safety, and clinical research.
We offer:
* Opportunities to lead and contribute to innovative IPC research.
* Access to state-of-the-art facilities and multidisciplinary expertise.
* A supportive and inclusive working environment that values scientific development and career progression.
Main duties of the job
As a member of the IPC team, you will play an essential role in supporting the Trust's commitment to delivering safe, high-quality care. Provide expert scientific advice on environmental aspects of infection prevention and control.
* Contribute to Trust-wide surveillance and epidemiological analysis of healthcare-associated infections.
* Offer scientific input to water hygiene management and ventilation systems.
* Support outbreak investigations and the management of infection risks across a complex healthcare environment.
* Lead and contribute to quality improvement and research projects.
Work as an independent clinical practitioner, provide technical and scientific advice. Lead and develop a comprehensive HCAI surveillance programme for UHB. Drive research and innovation, contribute to publications, grant applications, and work to promote and share best practice. Support the development of IPC expertise across the wider microbiology, estates, and clinical teams.
You will be a motivated and analytical scientist with a passion for infection prevention, data-driven improvement, and patient safety. Essential skills and experience:
* A degree (MSc or PhD) in Microbiology, Biomedical Science, Infection Science, or related discipline.
* Registration (or eligibility for registration) as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC.
* Experience in infection prevention, microbiology, or environmental science within healthcare or research setting.
* Strong analytical, problem‑solving and communication skills.
About us
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.
Job responsibilities
Please Note: For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Specialist knowledge of Clinical Microbiology/ Infection Prevention and Control.
* Postgraduate knowledge through training in a relevant field/topic, or experience to master's equivalent level.
* Current relevant professional registration e.g. HCPC-registered Clinical Scientist or Biomedical Scientist.
* Recognised post graduate teaching qualification.
* Specialist qualification in Infection Prevention, e.g. ENB 329, relevant Diploma or Degree.
Experience
* A proven track record of operational service management at a senior level in an acute hospital environment, including staff management, financial management and change management/essential engagement with clients – primarily infection clinicians, Clinical Groups and Trust leadership including, where relevant, patients and their carers.
* Broad clinical experience relevant to the post.
* Demonstrable success in leading and delivering change and performance.
* Significant experience in the environmental aspects of infection prevention and control and decontamination.
* Experience of leading the environmental aspects of an infection prevention and control team or programme.
* Experience of leading healthcare associated infection surveillance infection prevention control programme.
Additional Criteria
* Understanding of the UK regulatory position for buildings, projects, ventilation and water.
* Interpretation and application of national guidance to inform trust policy development and implementation in relation to all aspects of environmental IPC.
* Proven ability to analyse and manage complex problems.
* Ability to think and plan strategically, tactically and creatively, and to prioritise work programs in the face of competing demands.
* A strong sense of personal and team accountability coupled with a clear understanding of service development and the boundaries around delegated authority.
* Ability to collaborate constructively with internal and external partners to create the conditions for successful partnership working.
* Well‑developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams.
* Ability to utilise existing, and identify new, systems/software and employ cutting edge electronic information and audit tools, which integrate with trust patient and informatics teams and systems.
* Ability to produce Board‑level reports which include visuals which are palatable to the audience.
* Ability to be intellectually flexible and to look beyond existing structures, ways of working, boundaries and organisations to produce more effective and innovative service delivery and partnerships.
* Sound political judgement and astuteness in understanding and working with complex policy, and diverse interest groups, and common sense in knowing when to escape problems.
* A commitment to improving patient services through an ability to sustain a clear performance focus on achieving demanding goals.
* Excellent inter‑personal and communication skills with good listening skills.
* Concentration and focus required to deliver complex projects as well as adaptability to react to ad‑hoc service needs arising as necessary.
* A good understanding of the changing NHS environment.
* High level of work organisation, self‑motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude.
* Strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity in undertaking the role.
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.
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
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