Overview
Post Title:
Principal Clinical Biochemist
Post Status:
Permanent
Department:
Laboratory
Location:
Beaumont Hospital & Affiliated Sites
Reports to & Accountable to:
Accountable to the Laboratory Manager on non-clinical operational matters. Accountability will be to the Consultant Chemical Pathologist on clinical matters and the Principal Biochemist will be an active member of the senior management team within the Department of Chemical Pathology, this will include working with Chief Medical Scientist to ensure operational management of the department.
Salary:
Appointment will be made on the Principal Biochemist Scale (€82,376 - €118,365) at a point in line with Government pay policy
Hours of work:
Full-Time, 35 hours per week
Closing Date:
12.00 Noon on 24/02/2026
Please note the hospital reserves the right to close the competition early should a substantial number of applications be received.
Responsibilities
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
1. To take responsibility for the delivery of a safe, high quality and comprehensive service to
2. Chemical Pathology, meeting the needs of the services users, while maximising the use of resources and ensuring that up to date scientific findings are incorporated into the service.
3. To provide clinical and scientific advice to clinicians on the appropriateness and choice of biochemical investigations and their interpretations within approved scope of competence and practice.
4. Be an active member of the Chemical Pathology Management team, to include cross cover in all managerial duties of the Chemical Pathology Laboratory.
5. To be involved in clinical validation, follow-up and reporting of test results.
6. To monitor and ensure the quality of analyses and service provided by the department, through quality control and quality assurance programmes, which incorporate corrective and remedial action. Be actively involved and ensure all Scientists are committed to departmental
7. Accreditation, Audit and Quality Assurance, maintaining effective Clinical Governance.
8. Comply, contribute and be involved in the revision, training and implementation of departmental and professional policies and procedures such as: - Health + Safety including risk assessment and COSHH - ISO15189 Accreditation Standards including audit and continuous improvement - Quality Assurance Programmes - Clinical Effectiveness.
9. To be actively involved in, performance monitoring and in the training, education and supervision of other staff members. Maintain knowledge of technological and technical advances in methods of Chemical Pathology practice and procedures in order to promote a culture of continuous improvement within the department.
10. To optimise the method and range of biochemical investigation provided, by undertaking and directing evaluations of methods and instruments and by participating in clinical and laboratory audits.
11. To work in co-operation with other professional groups, including scientific, clinical,
12. technical staff, and hospital management to achieve the optimal Chemical Pathology service in an efficient and cost effective manner and with due regard to regulations governing health, safety and working conditions within the laboratory.
13. To keep abreast of development in Chemical Pathology in particular in relation to
14. international best practice and the application of new techniques to the delivery of Chemical
15. Pathology services.
16. To initiate, direct and participate in research and development projects as appropriate.
17. To undertake specialised analyses, when required.
18. To participate and contribute to appropriate management committees and clinical conferences.
19. To participate and lead in preparation for, and maintenance of, laboratory accreditation to
20. ISO15189.
21. Contribute to the management of the provision of all relevant training in the laboratory.
22. Maintain the required knowledge and skills to provide effective training, keeping up to date with
23. current advances in technology and diagnostic techniques.
24. To participate in out-of -hours on call, as appropriate.
25. Be able to exercise personal responsibility and make decision in complex and unpredictable
26. circumstances.
27. Delegate appropriate tasks and supervise Senior and Basic Grade Scientists, Medical
28. Laboratory Assistants and Non Laboratory staff to achieve the desired quality of patient care.
29. The Principal Biochemist, as part of the Chemical Pathology management team, will assist
30. and advise the hospital's procurement committee by preparing functional specifications and
31. business cases for major pieces of equipment. The Principal Biochemist will also be responsible
32. for the maintenance, calibration, quality control, validation and verification of major pieces of
33. equipment.
34. With the Laboratory System Information Manager, the Principal Biochemist will ensure the
35. efficient and effective functioning of the LIS, and associated software applications.
36. The Principal Biochemist is required to take responsibility for daily departmental
37. organisation of staff breaks and workload allocation within their area of responsibility. The
38. Principal Biochemist is responsible for assigning, as appropriate, to Senior and basic grade
39. scientists roles involving management of the quality management system, Health and Safety,
40. COSHH, Risk Assessment, Infection Control, Learning/CPD, Departmental Protocols and
41. Accreditation.
42. Provide leadership and supervision to all staff grades in difficult situations such as very busy
43. periods, and with patients requiring multiple examinations.
44. To undertake other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned from time to time by
45. the Clinical Director or their nominee as prescribed under Section 2.
The job description is an outline of the post as it is currently perceived by the hospital and will be subject to review and amendment. This job description will therefore be subject to change in light of the various strategies for the hospital and the development of the Clinical Directorate model and any future developments that arise and will evolve and change over time.
Qualifications
Selection Criteria:
Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.
Mandatory:
46. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc (See Recognised
Qualifications* below):
(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:
(i) (a) Possess a BSc (Hons)/BA (Mod) in a subject area related to clinical
biochemistry/laboratory medicine and diagnostics (See recognised
qualifications* below)
OR
(b) An equivalent qualification.
OR
(ii) (a) Have obtained before March 2018, a degree in which Biochemistry was taken as a subject in the final examination, or equivalent.
AND
(b) Be currently employed as a Biochemist in the Irish Health System.
AND
(iii) Possess an MSc (Taught or Research) (or higher qualification) in Clinical Biochemistry or relevant subject area. (MSc degree may be by examination or thesis) or equivalent qualification.
AND
(iv) Possess a PhD in a subject relevant to clinical Biochemistry/clinical diagnostics/laboratory medicine or Part I FRCPath (UK) or equivalent qualification
AND
(v) Have 5 years fulltime (or an aggregate of 5 years fulltime) relevant experience in clinical biochemistry/related discipline of which 2 years full time (or an aggregate of two years fulltime relevant experience) should be in a senior post. (Clinical/translational Post-Doctoral experience may be considered).
AND
(b) Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, (including a high standard
of suitability, management, leadership and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
If an appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and that appointee is entitled to or in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service or where a Civil/ Public Service pension comes into payment during the appointee's re-employment that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012.
Please note: In applying for this position you are acknowledging that you understand that the abatement provisions, where relevant, will apply. It is not envisaged that the employing Department/ Office/ Body will support an application for an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position.
Supplementary information:
The Hospital
Management Unit:
Other (Please specify):
Informal Enquiries ONLY to: (Please note NO APPLICATIONS will be accepted via the Informal Email)
Name:
John Crumlish
Title:
Laboratory Manager
Email address:
A short listing exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application. The criteria for ranking and or short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. In the event of a high volume of applications additional shortlisting criteria may be utilised.