Chief Medical Scientist

CHIEF MEDICAL SCIENTIST (MICROBIOLOGY)

Reporting To: Administratively – Laboratory Manager

                          Clinically – Consultant Microbiologist

Job Summary: To participate in planning, co-ordinating and promoting all activities within the relevant department ensuring the achievement of agreed targets and standards.  The fundamental philosophy guiding this position is to promote and preserve the Bon Secours Mission, Values and Ethos.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the general direction and control of the Laboratory Manager and the Consultant Microbiologist, the Chief Medical Scientist will be responsible for the following:

General:

• Be responsible for the daily operation and performance of the microbiology service, ensuring internal and external measures of quality are in place.
• Provide strategic and clinical leadership, which results in the delivery of effective, efficient, quality assured and patient centred laboratory service.
• In collaboration with pathology and hospital management, develop a vision for the service and deliver that vision through strategic planning and project management
• Develop a shared sense of commitment and participation among staff in the development of the microbiology service.
• Ensure open channels of communication between Senior Management and laboratory staff to promote an open and well-informed workplace.
• Collaborate with the Laboratory Manager, Consultants, other Department leads and Service users within a broader laboratory and hospital environment to ensure the service provided matches user requirements and supports the clinical needs of the patient.
• Perform routine and specialised work to the highest professional standards.
• Demonstrate professional behaviour consistent with the values of the Hospital.
• Provide a working environment that stimulates and motivates staff and attracts and retains the best people.

Operations:

• Lead out on the implementation of new procedures, technologies and IT systems.
• Advise on equipment selection, purchase, replacement or upgrading.
• Participate in future development of the Laboratory Service that support the clinical needs of the patients and are consistent with the mission, vision, values, and strategic plan of the wider Hospital.
• Explore new and innovative methodologies to continually improve and modernise the microbiology service.
• Make necessary preparations to foresee service failures and plan contingency measures accordingly (such as those required by surges in service demand, power outages, problems with the computer systems, analyser downtime, implementing the Major Emergency Plan etc.)
• In collaboration with the Laboratory Manager, identify and implement operational processes in microbiology to the standards of ‘best practice’, optimising the most efficient and effective use of resources.
• Identify and communicate resource requirements in the event of altered service demand.
• Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water, and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
• To maintain an asset register of all equipment in the Laboratory, ensure regular preventative maintenance is carried out, hold documentation as appropriate on external maintenance contracts and liaise with equipment manufacturers on maintenance issues.
• To take responsibility for monitoring, presenting and troubleshooting internal and external quality assurance procedures.
• To ensure there are adequate processes of communication in the department with regard to any changes in policy, methods etc.
• To participate in the writing of SOP’s and in any other duties required to secure and maintain Laboratory Accreditation.
• To co-ordinate the training of student medical scientists in addition to new scientific and medical staff as required.
• To facilitate and encourage continued education and further training of staff as appropriate and support the career development of staff.
• To represent the Laboratory at scientific and other meetings within and outside the hospital as required.
• To perform such other duties appropriate to the office as may be assigned to him/her by Laboratory Manager and/or Consultant Microbiologist.

Quality Assurance and Risk Management:

• Oversee the delivery of a high-quality service to the patient aligned to and compliant with all applicable standards and statutes, including ISO15189.
• To perform tasks and duties in a manner that ensures compliance with relevant regulations so that the requirements of International standard ISO 15189 (current version), JCI accreditation standards for hospitals, and relevant Medical Devices Directives 93/42/EC and 98/79/EC are met.
• Have a working knowledge of the relevant INAB, JCI and Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc and comply with associated hospital protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role
• In collaboration with the Pathology Quality Manager, ensure compliance with all aspects of the quality management system and ISO:15189 including, but not limited to document control, audit, management of non-conformances, management of risk and clinical risk in line with ISO 15189:2022.
• Ensure compliance with S.I. (Statutory Instrument) No. 360 of 2005 European Communities, ISO 15189 and IVDR.
• Adequately identify, assess, manage and monitor risk within area of responsibility.
• Handle feedback relating to the service as required, including responding appropriately to advisory notices from regulatory authorities.
• Assume responsibility for the quality of work in the microbiology department and carry out all duties in accordance with Hospital policy and accreditation standards.
• Achieve compliance with all legislation and EU Directives on Laboratory Quality and Safety and in conformance with the Hospital’s and Laboratory’s quality and safety policies and procedures.
• Observe the strictest confidence, in line with BSHS GDPR policy, when dealing with all aspects of patient or Hospital information.
• Participate in Laboratory, Hospital and/or external committees as required.
• Develop, update, and review policies, procedures and guidelines for the department and be an active participant in formulating and carrying out hospital policies and procedures.
• Maintain a clear understanding of the importance of providing a quality and safe service to all patients.
• To attend relevant meetings and to actively participate in formulation of policies, clinical guidelines, operational policy / procedures and the sharing of information.
• To investigate all relevant complaints and provide a timely response in accordance with the Hospital protocol, policies and procedures.  Take a leadership and management role in relation to all such issues.
• Take an active role in the pursuit and maintenance of accreditation in conjunction with relevant Line Managers.

Safety, Health & Welfare at Work

• Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements in relation to Health and Safety as outlined in the Safety, Health and Welfare Act 2005 and the Hospital Safety Statement.
• Provide a safe working environment that is compliant with relevant Health and Safety legislation and with the Hospital Safety Statement, where staff are empowered to deliver the required service to the best of their ability.
• Maintain a safe environment for all staff in consultation with appropriate personnel and direct staff on procedures to be followed in an emergency or disaster situation.
• Ensure that the management of safety, health and welfare is successfully integrated into all activities undertaken within their area of responsibility, so far as is reasonably practicable.
• Participate in regular Health and Safety audits.

Education & Training:

• Keep abreast of scientific and medical research, support research activities and participate fully in the development of the post.
• Engage in and support development initiatives and research activities.
• Participate in mandatory training programmes and other training as required to keep up to date with developments.
• Lead out on multi-disciplinary training strategies.
• Facilitate arrangements for training of under-graduates and post-graduates as required.
• Provide supervision and guidance to all grades as required (e.g., clerical, domestic, support)
• Take responsibility for and keep up to date with current practice by participating in continuing professional development*.
• Encourage and promote professional development of staff, through self-learning, formal courses, or formal and/or informal on the job training within the Hospital procedures.
• Maintain up-to-date personal training / retraining records in accordance with laboratory policy.

Financial & Administrative

• Be accountable for the delivery of a high quality, cost-effective service, working within approved pay and non-pay budgets.
• Ensure that financial, human and IT resources are deployed appropriately and utilised effectively to support the clinical service to the patients.
• Adhere to best practice in the management of stock, procurement of equipment, audit and stocktake, and all matters pertaining to the National Financial Regulations
• Represent the Department in meetings, reports, scientific papers, presentations, negotiations, etc. as required and provide data in response to requests.
• Provide statistical and management information as requested.
• To assist the Laboratory manager and the Hospital Manager in implementing any corrective programme necessary for adherence to financial budgets.
• To utilise financial and other information to plan and deliver agreed levels of service.

Human Resource Management

The post holder is responsible, through appropriate line management delegation, for the supervision and development of staff to motivate and maximise their performance potential. Such delegated duties will ensure that:

• Staff attendances are optimised in relation to work schedules.
• All annual, examination, parental and other leave is scheduled and recorded.
• Hospital HR policies are complied with.
• Appropriate induction training of new staff
• Hospital Health and Safety Regulations are complied with.
• Staff review and development is carried out for all staff.
• Participate as appropriate in the recruitment and selection process of staff.
• Develop, implement and foster a high level of moral amongst staff by effective motivation and communication.
• Develop and promote, in conjunction with the HR Department and Line Managers an appropriate training programmes for staff that is consistent with hospital policy and encourages skill mix.
• To ensure that annual leave and study leave of all Microbiology staff are cost effectively scheduled to always ensure the availability of cover.
• In collaboration with other disciplines, promote good industrial relations

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates for appointment must

Possess:

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medical Science from the Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT). Or
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biomedical Science, Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT). Or
• Bachelor in Science Honours degree in Biomedical Science from the Joint University College Cork – Cork Institute of Technology course AND Diploma in Clinical Laboratory Practice. Or
• Certificate in Medical Laboratory Science, Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) or Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) AND Bachelor in Science (Applied Science) Honours degree (Biomedical option) from the University of Dublin/Dublin Institute of Technology (Awarded prior to 2002). Or
• Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) AND BSc (Honours) Biomedical Sciences, University College Cork (UCC). (Awarded prior to 2013). Or
• Diploma in Medical Laboratory Sciences of the Dublin Institute of Technology, (DIT) or the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) (Awarded prior to 1994). Or
• Certificate in Medical Laboratory Science awarded before 1997 by Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) or Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT). Or
• An equivalent qualification validated by the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine (ACSLM).

And

Possess one of the following NFQ Level 9 post graduate qualifications or equivalent qualification at minimum Level 9 validated by the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine;

• MSc Clinical Laboratory Science, Dublin Institute of Technology.
• MSc MicrobiologyMicrobiology, University of Dublin, Trinity College.
• MSc Biomedical Science, University of Ulster.
• MSc Biomedical Science, Cork Institute of Technology / University College Cork.
• MSc Molecular Pathology, Dublin Institute of Technology / University of Dublin, Trinity College. Or
• Have attained the Fellowship examination of the Institute of Biomedical Science (Awarded prior to 1999). And
• Possess seven years full time clinical experience (or an aggregate of seven years’ clinical experience) as a medical scientist in a clinical diagnostic laboratory since qualifying as a medical scientist. , two of which were spent in a promotional post.
• Demonstrate evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
• Must be registered with CORU or eligible for membership upon completion of study or in the process of applying for state registration, see https://www.coru.ie/about-us/registration-boards/medicalscientists-registration-board/apply-for-registration/

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 7-years post–graduate experience in a Pathology Laboratory, 2 of which must have been spent in a promotional grade.
• Knowledge and experience of working in an ISO15189 accredited Medical Laboratory.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

• Experience of working with iLab Laboratory Information System

CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS 5TH OCTOBER 2026

Bon Secours Health System is an equal opportunities employer. Our values of Human Dignity, Compassion, Stewardship, Service and Integrity guide everything we do. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees have the opportunity to thrive. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, abilities and perspectives, and provide reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require any assistance, please contact [email protected]