Clinical Senior Lecturer/ Reader/ Prof in Haematology and Cell Therapy

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Clinical Senior Lecturer/Reader/Professor in Haematology and Cell Therapy
Division of Cancer and Genetics
School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cardiff University

Cardiff University School of Medicine is seeking to appoint a Consultant Haematologist and Cell Therapy Academic Lead to provide leadership for translational haemato-oncology research, innovation, and education at Cardiff University. 

The post holder will be responsible for building a scientific portfolio that aligns with, and supports, the cancer research strategy of the School, Cardiff University and Wales. These activities will be closely aligned with clinical research conducted by our NHS partners and offer the opportunity to drive world-leading research in a supportive, interdisciplinary and dynamic environment. 

It is envisaged that the post holder will develop and lead an active cellular therapy research portfolio across haemato-oncology malignancies and solid cancers at Cardiff University. Depending on experience and expertise, the successful candidate may be a Clinical Academic, based primarily in the research clinic with links to the laboratory, or a Clinician Scientist, based primarily in the laboratory with links to the clinic.

The post holder will lead the Section of Haematology located in the Division of Cancer and Genetics (DCG) . Here research involves development of novel drugs, immunotherapies and other highly targeted approaches, including cellular therapies and molecularly directed agents, as well as the identification of genetic changes and molecular disease characteristics that can be exploited to direct patient-specific therapy. Clinical research with expanding early phase clinical trial activity, molecular diagnostics and target identification is closely aligned with more basic laboratory research. The Haematology research groups work together across College themes to analyse various haematological cancers with respect to mechanisms of leukaemogenesis, leukaemic stem cells, drug development, animal models, microenvironmentally determined therapy resistance and novel cellular therapies. DCG is host to the Wales Cancer Research Centre (WCRC) , Wales Gene Park (WGP)  and Wales Cancer Biobank (WCB)  and has strong links with the Division of Infection and immunity (DII) , the Centre for Trials Research (CTR) , the Medicines Discovery Institute (MDI) , and the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute (ESCRI) . The appointee will work closely with haemato-oncology colleagues in the Early Phase Clinical Trials Team and the Bone Marrow Transplant Team (BMT) , solid cancer colleagues at Cardiff and Vale UHB (C&V UHB) and Velindre University NHS Trust, and scientists within the immunology and translational haematology laboratories at Cardiff University.   

The appointee will also have the opportunity to play an active role within several cancer infrastructures at Cardiff University, including the recently re-funded Cardiff Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) and the Cardiff Cancer Research Hub (CCRH), a facility for clinical and translational cancer research based at the University Hospital of Wales, developed in partnership by Cardiff University with its NHS partners, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board and Velindre University NHS Trust. The CCRH will drive the immuno-oncology, cell therapy and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) research portfolio in Cardiff in both haemato-oncology and solid cancers.  There is an opportunity for the appointee to play a prominent role within the leadership team of CCRH which will be discussed with the successful candidate.

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (incl bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

This post is full-time (37½ hours per week), open-ended, and available immediately. 

Salary: £91,722 - £119,079 per annum (Clinical Grade D6).

When submitting your application, please state which level (Clinical Senior Lecturer, Reader or Professor) you wish your application to be considered for.

For the full Job Description, please contact [email protected] to request this. 

Date advert posted: Friday, 12 April 2024

Closing date: Monday, 13 May 2024
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements. 

“Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at:Responsible research assessment - Intranet - Cardiff University  

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

Provisional Job Plan

Job plans will set out a Consultant’s duties, responsibilities, time commitments and accountability arrangements, including all direct clinical care, supporting professional activities and other NHS responsibilities (including managerial).  Annual job plan reviews will also be supported by a joint academic and NHS appraisal process which reviews the clinical academic’s work and performance and identifies development needs, as subsequently reflected in a personal development plan.

A job plan will be agreed at appointment, provisional below:

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
AM Direct Clinical Care (DCC) Clinical Trials* University Academic University Academic University Academic University Academic
PM Direct Clinical Care (DCC) Clinical Trials* (0.5)

Supporting Professional Activities (SPA): clinical management/
clinical research (0.5)

University Academic University Academic University Academic University Academic

*this may include review of unscheduled inpatient admissions  

(each session represents 10% of a 37.5 hour working week)

Job Purpose

The appointee will be responsible for building a scientific portfolio that aligns with, and supports, the cancer research strategy of the School, Cardiff University and Wales. These activities will be closely aligned with clinical research conducted by our NHS partners and offer the opportunity to drive world-leading research in a supportive, interdisciplinary, and dynamic environment. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities cont'd below ..

Job Description

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research
•    Lead the Section of Haematology within the Division of Cancer and Genetics
•    Lead the development of a cell therapy research portfolio in haemato-oncology and support the development of a parallel portfolio in solid cancers
•    Establish a vibrant and internationally competitive research programme in haemato-oncology, encompassing clinical, translational and/or discovery research
•    Build a multi-disciplinary Clinical Academic and Clinician Scientist workforce by developing future research leaders and supporting Early and Mid-Career researchers to develop their research capacity and to secure fellowship funding
•    Disseminate research findings in open access REF-eligible scientific publications, national and international meetings and conferences, and research seminars
•    Lead and support external funding applications focusing on UKRI, Core MRC and centre style funding, bringing new investment into Cardiff and Wales
•    Play a prominent role, and potential academic leadership for, the tripartite Cardiff Cancer Research Hub (CCRH) based at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW), for delivery of immuno-oncology, cell therapy, ATMP and other intermediate and high-risk clinical trials, and for the development of translational and reverse translational research
•    Promote partnership and cross-site working within the School of Medicine, and between academic and NHS colleagues based in C&V UHB and Velindre Cancer Centre
•    Supervise postgraduate research (PGR) students including masters and doctoral students
•    Contribute to PGR progress monitoring as chair or member of review panels

Teaching
•    Work with the Centre for Medical Education (C4ME) to shape the content and delivery of undergraduate haematology teaching within the School of Medicine
•    Contribute directly to undergraduate medical teaching at the School of Medicine as set out by the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences (BLS) and the forthcoming School of Medicine Teaching Charter (the precise level will be commensurate with the FTE appointment and concurrent Academic/Leadership duties)
•    Undertake work associated with examinations, such as setting and marking assessments and providing student feedback
•    Seek opportunities for research-led teaching in experimental and clinical Haemato-oncology 

Clinical 
A job plan (80% Academic, 20% NHS) will be agreed at appointment. For clinical (NHS) duties the post holder will be responsible to the Clinical Director, and professionally accountable to the Medical Director, at C&V UHB.  They will be required to:

•    Provide a consultant service in Haemato-oncology, primarily based around the treatment and oversight of trial patients at the Cardiff Cancer Research Hub (CCRH)
•    Provide Direct Clinical Care (1.5 PA) and Supporting Professional Activities (0.5 PA) in line with the provisions of the amended Consultant Contract for Wales
•    To hold and maintain a license to practise with the General Medical Council
•    To hold an honorary consultant contract with Cardiff and Vale UHB (CVUHB)
•    Work with the Research & Development (R&D) Director at CVUHB to develop clinical and translational research programmes relevant to patients with haematological cancers 

Main Duties and Responsibilities cont'd below ..

Person Specification

The essential criteria described below refers to the required standard for the award of a Professor.

It is recognised that those applying at Reader or Senior Lecturer level will not meet this level of the person specification. 

However, applicants will be expected to clearly demonstrate an appropriate career stage level of achievement commensurate with the position they are applying for.

As a guide the following overarching standard is expected: 

•    Senior Lecturer: Established National Reputation,
•    Reader: Emerging International Reputation,
•    Professor: Established International Reputation. 

Essential Criteria 
1.   Full General Medical Council registration, Licence to practise and Membership/Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK), or equivalent
2.   Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or equivalent and registration on the Specialist Register for Clinical Haematology (or be within 6 months of eligibility for inclusion) (applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT)
3.   Postgraduate research degree, PhD or equivalent, relevant to the research area outlined in the job description
4.   Substantial teaching experience at a high level of quality at undergraduate/postgraduate level and senior academic leadership in teaching and learning, demonstrating teaching innovation and course development and design
5.  Demonstrable knowledge of good clinical practice and research governance
6.  Experience in the development and/or implementation of novel and advanced therapies, particularly cellular therapies for haemato-oncology +/- solid cancer patients and significant experience of clinical trials and their governance and an understanding with evidence of the importance of the clinical impact of health research
7.   A strong track-record of academic success in the NHS and/or in a higher education institution
8.   Proven track record of high impact scientific output and ability to capture substantive grants
9.   Evidence of vision and previous strategic leadership including the ability to lead integration of partnerships between NHS and HEI and/or industry
10.   Proven communication and networking skills, evidence of successful relationship building, initiative, and excellent project management abilities

Desirable
11.  Experience of medical teaching and supervision and clear evidence of commitment to nurture and support the development of the next generation of cancer research leaders

Main Duties and Responsibilities cont'd ... 

Clinical
•    To ensure that arrangements are in place, at all times, for adequate medical staff to be available in relation to the treatment and care of patients. Appropriate arrangements for continuity of patient care (e.g. cover for leave and/or academic sessions) will be via mutual agreement with consultant colleagues, subject to the approval of the Clinical Director and in line with the Health Board policy.
•    Contribute to educational programmes in haemato-oncology (undergraduate and postgraduate) both locally and nationally
•    Provide professional supervision and management of junior staff. If appropriate, the post holder will be named as the person responsible for overseeing the training of junior staff.
•    To participate actively in clinical audit, in liaison with other colleagues in-line with the NHS policy on the implementation of Clinical Governance
•    To participate actively and comply fully with NHS policies, including the clinical academic / NHS joint appraisal and job planning processes and the requirements for consultant re-validation. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities cont'd below ..

Additional Information

Main Duties and Responsibilities cont'd ...

Clinical
•   To participate actively in Continuing Professional Development, in line with guidance from the relevant Royal College and in agreement with the Chief Executive of the relevant NHS Trust(s)

Other 
•    To engage effectively with industrial, commercial, and public sector organisations, charities, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally, nationally and internationally to raise awareness of Cardiff University’s and C&V UHB profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities - these activities are expected to contribute to C&V UHB and the enhancement of its regional and national profile
•    To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to, and which will enhance performance
•    To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world
•    Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role

For the full Job Description, please contact [email protected] to request this. 

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria
It is School of Medicine's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.
Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to your application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance for this post, 18159BR.

If candidates do not provide written evidence of meeting all of the essential criteria then their application will not be progressed. The School of Medicine welcome the submission of CVs to accompany evidence of the job-based criteria.

Job Category

Academic - Teaching & Research