NHS Highland is looking for a Consultant Microbiologist to work at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, and applications close at midnight on Wednesday 25 November 2026. The full-time post pays £115,331 to £153,247 a year pro rata, and the successful candidate will join the infection team covering medical microbiology, infection control and infectious diseases across the Highlands.

The role is based almost entirely at Raigmore Hospital, with some respiratory virus testing carried out at the rural general hospitals in Fort William, Wick and Oban. The microbiology laboratory processes more than 200,000 samples a year from primary and secondary care, and it holds UKAS accreditation against ISO 15189:2022. The department also runs the Scottish Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory and the Scottish Lyme Disease and tick-borne infections Reference Laboratory.

What the Consultant Microbiologist role involves

The post is offered as a single or dual certificate of completion of training (CCT) in medical microbiology, and it can also cover infectious diseases or medical virology with infectious diseases. The postholder will work a 40-hour week across 10 programmed activities, with medical microbiology on call on a one-in-five rota, an availability supplement and time off in lieu. Less-than-full-time applicants will also be considered, and the advert says the working pattern can be adapted, with hybrid working possible by agreement.

Clinical work includes the diagnostic microbiology service, covering culture, molecular testing and serology, plus an inpatient infection ward with 16 beds at Raigmore and outpatient clinics for general infection referrals and HIV, shared with the sexual health team. An outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy service based at Raigmore coordinates cover across the Highlands, and a monthly Lyme multidisciplinary team links with the Scottish Lyme and tick-borne infections reference laboratory.

Who can apply

Applicants must be on the Specialist Register or be within six months of obtaining their CCT at the date of interview. The clinical lead for microbiology is Dr Mary Peirse, and informal enquiries can be made to her through NHS Highland. NHS Highland is the largest of Scotland's 14 regional health boards by area, covering 12,500 square miles across Highland and Argyll and Bute, and it employs more than 10,700 people.

How to apply for the Raigmore microbiologist job

Apply through the NHS Scotland jobs site using Jobtrain, quoting job reference 261695. Do not upload a CV, as it will not be used for shortlisting. Applications must be submitted before midnight on Wednesday 25 November 2026, and correspondence will be by email, so applicants should check their inbox and junk folder regularly. The advert was published on 27 October 2026. For help with the Jobtrain application process, see the NHS Scotland careers guidance linked below.