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An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Substantive Consultant Microbiologist to join a modern and well-equipped diagnostic service in Scotland. This post offers the chance to work within a supportive consultant team delivering high-quality Medical Microbiology, Infection Prevention & Control, antimicrobial stewardship, and clinical liaison services across acute and community healthcare settings.

The successful candidate will join an established department with strong laboratory infrastructure, excellent clinical networks, and opportunities to develop specialist interests in microbiology, infection control, OPAT, or infectious diseases. Flexible job planning and part-time working options can be considered.

Main Duties of the Job

• Provide Consultant-led Medical Microbiology services, including diagnostic advice, clinical interpretation, and laboratory oversight.
• Authorise and interpret microbiology, virology, serology, molecular, and culture results.
• Participate in daily ward clinical liaison rounds, including Critical Care support.
• Deliver specialist infection advice to clinicians, GPs, nursing teams, and allied healthcare professionals.
• Support and contribute to the Infection Prevention & Control service across hospital and community sites.
• Lead or contribute to outbreak management, surveillance programmes, policy development, and incident response.
• Promote prudent antimicrobial prescribing and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.
• Attend multidisciplinary meetings including OPAT, diabetic foot infection, orthopaedics, paediatrics, surgery, and infectious disease MDTs.
• Supervise Biomedical Scientists and laboratory staff in quality assurance and safe service delivery.
• Participate in audit, governance, accreditation, service improvement, and strategic planning.
• Contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, education sessions, and continuous professional development.
• Participate in the out-of-hours rota if reinstated, with the capability to work remotely.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Registration

Essential

• MBChB / MBBS or equivalent medical degree
• Full GMC Registration with a licence to practise
• FRCPath (or equivalent)
• GMC Specialist Register in Medical Microbiology / Virology, or within 6 months of CCT
• CESR applicants who have already been awarded

Desirable

• MD / PhD / MSc
• Diploma in Hospital Infection Control
• Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene

Experience

Essential

• Broad-based experience in Medical Microbiology
• Recent experience in modern healthcare microbiology services
• Strong Infection Prevention & Control experience
• Experience in antimicrobial stewardship
• Ability to liaise effectively with multidisciplinary teams
• Minimum 1 year NHS experience

Desirable

• Experience in maintaining UKAS accreditation standards
• Additional specialist expertise complements the existing consultant team

Skills & Attributes

Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong clinical judgement and organisational ability
• Leadership skills with the ability to chair meetings
• Teamwork and a collaborative approach
• Ability to manage stressful situations calmly
• Commitment to CPD and service improvement

Governance / Research / Teaching

Essential

• Understanding of Clinical Governance
• Clinical audit participation
• Ability to teach and train staff

Desirable

• Research involvement
• Publications or service development work