Cardiac Surgery Chief Perfusionist
Closing date: 19 July 2026
Cardiac Surgery at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts is a tertiary centre for the management of patients requiring cardiac surgery treatment including trauma. We have five substantive consultants and perform more than 600 procedures a year. Our services include minimally invasive procedures and complex mitral and aortic programs.
The Chief Perfusionist (CP) is responsible for providing professional leadership and the operational management of the Perfusion Department, ensuring the efficient and effective use of resources and the development and maintenance of the highest standards of patient care and service delivery. The CP is responsible for the development and well-being of all members of the perfusion team.
The CP must also be an experienced autonomous practitioner who will be responsible for cardiopulmonary bypass procedures in adults undergoing a range of cardiac procedures, and have commitment to the on-call rota. All accountabilities here are in addition to what would be expected of a Senior Clinical Perfusionist.
The post holder will divide their time between clinical and managerial responsibilities as required; ensuring service delivery targets are met.
Main duties of the job
In addition to the below summary, familiarize yourself with the full Job Description and Person Specification documents attached to this advert.
Provide senior clinical, professional, and operational leadership for the Perfusion Service, acting as the Trust’s lead expert. Lead strategic planning, workforce development, budget management, and service transformation to ensure safe, effective, and efficient delivery.
Maintain highly specialist clinical practice, offering expert advice on complex cases and leading the development of policies, protocols, and advanced practice. Oversee governance, quality, and risk, ensuring compliance with all regulatory and Trust requirements.
Ensure effective day-to-day service delivery, capacity planning, and optimisation of patient pathways and resources. Lead education, training, and staff development, promoting research, innovation, and a high-quality learning environment.
Support organisational resilience, contribute to Trust-wide initiatives, and uphold professional registration and standards while acting as a role model for clinical excellence and leadership.
Responsibilities by domain
Clinical Leadership
Maintain expert-level clinical practice in perfusion, operating at a highly specialist level and participating in the on-call rota as required.
Provide professional leadership and expert guidance on complex clinical cases, ensuring the highest standards of patient care and safety.
Lead the development and implementation of advanced clinical practice, policies, and protocols in line with national standards and emerging evidence.
Ensure continuous improvement in clinical outcomes through benchmarking, audit, and adoption of best practice.
Maintain advanced knowledge of cardiopulmonary bypass, associated physiology, and pharmacology, ensuring this expertise informs service delivery and staff development.
Governance, Quality & Risk
Take overall responsibility for clinical governance within the Perfusion Service, ensuring compliance with all regulatory, statutory, and Trust requirements.
Lead on risk management, including ownership of the departmental risk register, ensuring risks are identified, escalated, and mitigated appropriately.
Oversee audit programmes, quality assurance, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety and clinical effectiveness.
Ensure robust systems are in place for infection prevention, health and safety, and regulatory compliance.
Prepare and present governance, quality, and performance reports at senior committees and boards as required.
Operational & Service Delivery
Ensure the effective day-to-day operational delivery of the perfusion service, including capacity planning and responsiveness to service demand.
Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders to optimise patient pathways and theatre efficiency.
Lead service planning and redesign to meet evolving clinical and organisational priorities.
Ensure effective resource utilisation, including workforce, equipment, and consumables, delivering value for money.
Education, Training & Workforce Development
Create and sustain a high-quality learning environment for perfusion staff, wider theatre teams, and trainees.
Lead education and training strategy for the service, ensuring alignment with professional standards and future workforce needs.
Promote continuous professional development, research, and innovation within the team.
Identify and address current and future training needs, ensuring staff are equipped to deliver advanced and evolving practice.
Organisational Responsibilities
Ensure robust business continuity, resilience, and emergency planning arrangements for the service.
Contribute to Directorate and Trust-wide reporting, performance management, and strategic initiatives.
Ensure full compliance with mandatory training and organisational policies across the team.
Professional Responsibilities
Maintain professional registration with the College of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain and Ireland.
Adhere to the standards and code of conduct set by the Society of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain and Ireland.
Act as a professional role model, upholding the highest standards of clinical practice, leadership, and integrity.
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
- Post Graduate Diploma / BSC / MSC in Perfusion science or equivalent
- Accredited by Society Of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain and Ireland
- Registered with College of clinical perfusion scientists of Great Britain and Ireland
- Proven leadership skills
- Recognised leadership and management qualification or relevant study and / or experience.
- Further education and post qualification development
Experience
- Extensive experience as a senior clinical Perfusionist or deputy chief Perfusionist
- Extensive post registration experience of working effectively in a relevant multi-professional environment
- Extensive working knowledge of routine and specialised clinical techniques.
- Supervision of Trainees
- Evidence of taking responsibility for own and other’s actions
- Demonstrate experience in managing staff and services.
- Evidence of project management
- Evidence of developing training programmes
- Evidence of participating in research, seminars, presentations
Communication and Relationship Skills
- Evidence of relevant professional development
- Ability to demonstrate effective change management
- Ability to work as an effective team leader
- Ability to represent department effectively at both local and National level
- Good interpersonal skills
- Excellent motivational skills
- Ability to facilitate the development of staff
Analytical and Judgement Skills
- Able to maintain intense levels of concentration
- Evidence of commitment to Evidence Based Practice
- Monitor and act upon a wealth of highly complex and routinely conflicting clinical information on a continual basis
- Ability to review and interpret performance data
- Ability to understand and interpret dynamics and behaviours with the team and act promoting teams collaboration
Planning and Organisation Skills
- Responsible for the planning and delivery of a work programme. This involves effective allocation and readjustment of staff, identifying where shortfalls in staffing may occur due to annual leave, sickness or other leave and coordinating appropriate cover, while taking into account skill mix and clinical complexity of cases
- Demonstrable time management skills to manage clinical and managerial responsibilities
- Accountable for own professional conduct and able to work within professional guidelines
- Able to interpret/implement national and local policies to improve patient care
Physical Skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to adapt to changing needs and environment
Other requirements
- Ability to participate fully in a 24/ 7 on call rota
- Able to work unsocial hours and ensure appropriate cover by all team members through additional hours to meet service demands
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts
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