Deputy Chief Scientific Officer

A national leadership role driving innovation in transfusion, transplantation and genomics.

Job Summary

As the Deputy Chief Scientific Officer, you will play a pivotal national leadership role within NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). You will support the Chief Scientific Officer to shape and deliver our long‑term scientific strategy, ensuring that our largest professional workforce, the scientific workforce, of over 1,500 staff continue to drive innovation in transfusion, transplantation, genomics and digital health.

You will lead multi‑year scientific and clinical education programmes, align research with operational priorities, and represent NHSBT at senior national and international forums. Working collaboratively with partners across government, academia and the NHS, you will help ensure our services continue to save and improve lives. If you are a forward‑thinking scientific leader who brings clarity, ambition and compassion, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Note: This is a national role requiring travel across the United Kingdom and abroad in line with business requirements. It offers hybrid working, and you will be assigned a base location at an NHSBT centre, to be mutually agreed with the hiring manager following the final interview and confirmed at the verbal offer stage.

Main Duties of the Job

• Provide visible, strategic leadership for NHSBT’s scientific workforce and act as a national ambassador for NHSBT science.
• Lead scientific and clinical education strategies, including multi‑year training plans and delivery frameworks.
• Drive research translation, innovation and horizon scanning to keep NHSBT at the forefront of scientific developments.
• Build strategic partnerships across the NHS, government, academia, industry and professional bodies.
• Align scientific activity, research, and operational goals to improve patient outcomes and service quality.
• Manage multi‑million‑pound budgets and oversee funding portfolios for education and research activities.
• Lead digital, scientific and educational systems integration, ensuring robust data governance and key performance indicators reporting.
• Represent NHSBT at national and international conferences and policy discussions.
• Oversee succession planning, talent development and an inclusive culture aligned with NHSBT values.
• Contribute to risk management, corporate planning and regulatory compliance.

Experience and Knowledge (Essential)

• Vast strategic scientific leadership, including shaping long‑term strategies, contributing expert insight to major initiatives and policy, and translating scientific vision into measurable organizational outcomes.
• Deep scientific and technical expertise across NHSBT specialist services with the ability to apply research, evidence and emerging science to improve donor and patient services.
• Innovation and future‑facing capability, demonstrated through horizon scanning, understanding of digital transformation in healthcare, and leading the adoption of new technologies or research.
• Extensive senior leadership of large, complex scientific teams, including workforce planning, talent and succession development, performance leadership and managing organizational change.
• Systems‑level leadership across healthcare, academia and industry, with a track record of delivering major programs, policies or initiatives requiring multi‑stakeholder collaboration.
• Operational awareness and performance improvement, including experience working with operational teams and using key performance indicators or performance metrics to drive service, workforce and training improvements.
• Experience designing and implementing scientific or clinical education and development programs, ensuring future skill needs are built into strategic workforce planning.

Qualifications and Training (Essential)

• Doctorate‑level qualification.
• Broad understanding of the NHS and wider healthcare community.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development (CPD).
• Advanced leadership and management knowledge.
• Knowledge and experience of change management.

About Us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you will join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.

Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do.

By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.

You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

What we offer:

• NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities where the role will allow.
• 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions ‎
• We’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

To learn more, please see the job description and person specification for the role. This can be accessed via the link below, or by clicking ‘Apply’ if you are viewing this advert on another site.

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on 12^th April 2026

The interview process will consist of three stages:

1. Video presentation – for mid-listed candidates to be submitted by 22 April 2026.
2. Final interviews – shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend in person interviews during the week commencing 4 May 2026 (subject to confirmation).

For informal enquiries please contact

Name: Swati Bagga

Job Title: Recruitment Business Partner

Contact Details: swati.bagga@nhsbt.nhs.uk