ScotlandMicrobiologyPermanentConsultant109,725 to 145,478 a year
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Consultant Microbiologist (with or without Infectious Diseases) to join a well-established and modern Microbiology service in Scotland. This post offers the chance to work within a collaborative multidisciplinary environment with strong support for service development, education, innovation, and specialist interests.
The successful candidate will join a Consultant-led team delivering comprehensive Diagnostic Microbiology, Infection Prevention & Control, and clinical liaison services across acute and community healthcare settings. Opportunities are available for candidates with dual training in Infectious Diseases to contribute to inpatient Infectious Diseases services and OPAT clinics.
The Consultant Microbiologist will:
- Provide Consultant-led Diagnostic Microbiology and Infection Prevention & Control services
- Deliver clinical liaison and advisory support to hospital and community clinicians
- Participate in report authorisation, blood culture reviews, and critical care liaison rounds
- Support antimicrobial stewardship and infection management pathways
- Participate in multidisciplinary infection and microbiology meetings
- Contribute to OPAT, diabetic foot infection, orthopaedic infection, paediatric, and surgical infection MDTs
- Participate in Infection Prevention & Control policy development and outbreak management
- Support laboratory governance, audit, accreditation, and quality improvement initiatives
- Contribute to teaching, supervision, and training of laboratory and clinical staff
- Participate in annual appraisal, revalidation, and continuing professional development activities
- Assist in strategic service development and implementation of new diagnostic technologies
The Microbiology department is part of an integrated Laboratory Medicine service that provides comprehensive diagnostic and advisory services across the region. The service includes:
- Diagnostic Microbiology and Virology services
- Infection Prevention & Control services
- Molecular diagnostics
- Antimicrobial stewardship programmes
- OPAT services
- Clinical liaison services
- ICU and ward-based infection support
- Multidisciplinary infection management pathways
The Consultant team works closely with Acute Medicine, Intensive Care, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Haematology, General Practice, Public Health, and Infection Control teams.
The department is UKAS-accredited to ISO 15189:2022 standards and provides a highly developed, modern diagnostic service with extensive automation and advanced laboratory infrastructure.
Facilities and technologies include:
- Molecular diagnostic platforms
- PCR-based respiratory and meningitis testing
- Automated blood culture systems
- MALDI-TOF bacterial identification
- Automated susceptibility testing
- Virology and serology services
- Advanced Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
- ICNet and epidemiological surveillance systems
- Rapid diagnostic testing platforms
The laboratory processes substantial microbiology, serology, molecular, and environmental workloads annually and participates in all major external quality assurance schemes.
The Consultant will contribute significantly to Infection Prevention & Control services, including:
- Infection surveillance and outbreak management
- Antimicrobial stewardship initiatives
- Policy development and implementation
- Infection control in clinical and built environments
- Clinical leadership within infection prevention programmes
- Advice regarding isolation, decontamination, ventilation, and infection management
- Participation in incident management meetings where required
The role offers close collaboration with Infection Prevention & Control teams and Public Health structures.
The department has strong multidisciplinary engagement, including regular MDT meetings involving:
- OPAT services
- Diabetic foot infection pathways
- Infectious Diseases services
- Orthopaedic infection services
- Paediatric infection services
- Surgical infection management
- Antimicrobial management programmes
Daily ward liaison, ICU reviews, and consultant advice services are key components of the role.
- Full-time permanent Consultant post
- 10 PA contract with flexible job planning
- Part-time applications considered
- Combination of diagnostic, clinical liaison, infection control, and SPA sessions
- Weekend/on-call commitment previously operated on a 1:4 rota with remote working capability
- Flexible working arrangements supported
- Additional SPA opportunities available for leadership or specialist roles
The department has a strong commitment to education and professional development with:
- Weekly educational meetings and journal clubs
- Modern education and clinical skills facilities
- Opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
- Support for CPD and external study leave
- Participation in audit and research activities
- Opportunities to develop specialist interests within Microbiology or Infectious Diseases
- Full GMC Registration with Licence to Practise
- FRCPath or equivalent qualification
- GMC Specialist Registration in Medical Microbiology/Virology or eligibility within 6 months
- Broad-based Medical Microbiology experience
- Experience in Infection Prevention & Control
- Demonstrable commitment to antimicrobial stewardship
- Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams
- Strong communication, leadership, and organisational skills
- Understanding of Clinical Governance and audit principles
- Ability to undertake Consultant-level responsibilities within a modern diagnostic service
- Additional postgraduate qualifications such as MD, PhD, or MSc
- Diploma in Hospital Infection Control
- Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
- Experience with UKAS laboratory accreditation standards
- Research and audit experience
- Specialist expertise complementing existing departmental interests
- Experience in service development and innovation
