Higher Radiation Protection Scientist

Job summary

The Radiation Metrology Group deliver a comprehensive national capability in the field of practical and reliable measurement and interpretation of external ionising radiation. The job holder will be working across the Instrument Testing Service and Environmental Survey teams, as well as providing input to projects in Radiation Metrology. This will involve performing regulatory periodic testing of radiation protection instrumentation, performing environmental surveys at and around nuclear licenced sites, and the preparation of scientific reports and certificates.

The job holder will be required to work as part of a small team of scientists, which is responsible for the processing of several thousand instrument tests per year using specialised precision equipment. Main duties will involve participating in the day-to-day work of the laboratories whilst ensuring that a high level of accuracy is maintained, in accordance with standard operating procedures.

Further stakeholder work may also be required when fulfilling UKHSA’s emergency response obligations as a Category 1 responder, for example via other government and regulatory departments as necessary.

Job description

Contribute to the delivery of key services provided by Radiation Metrology by:

• Providing provision of regulatory testing and calibration of ionising radiation instrumentation, including the operation of specialised equipment, following quality and safety documents, keeping accurate records, performing calculations and preparation of scientific reports and certificates
• Taking measurements and samples at and around nuclear licensed sites in support of projects for the Office of Nuclear Regulation
• Advising customers on all aspects of the progress of work, including technical aspects
• Entering and updating information on the instrument testing databases and systems
• Processing internal documentation and other tasks to facilitate the functions of the Group
• Performing measurements to ensure the facilities to maintain traceability to national standards
• Carrying out work to deadlines specified in QA documentation or by line managers
• Carrying out quality audits in support of UKAS accredited facilities.
• Providing input to presentations, exercises and demonstrations for visitors and course students
• Fulfilling an emergency role during radiation emergencies and exercises

Duties in support of the Instrument Testing Service (ITS) team include:

• Contributing to regulatory examination/test/calibration/repair upon radiological protection instrumentation, aiming to becoming a Qualified Person, making decisions on Pass/Fail criteria, motivating others ensuring a high level of quality is maintained.
• Contributing to projects deciding depth and detail of work, drafting reports and assessing compliance against standards. Projects may include lead equivalence, lab characterisation, type-testing, technical development plus validation of procedures. Motivating team to complete projects on time/budget.
• Maintaining procedures, guidelines and accreditations (ISO 17025 UKAS) to ensure compliance best practice/international standards.
• Suggesting improvements to quality/efficiency via audits/documentation. Dealing with complaints/queries quickly to improve customer satisfaction.
• Providing coaching to trainees, demonstrating good practice in instrument testing, correct use of radiation facilities and ensuring Health & Safety practice is followed.

Duties in support of the Environmental Survey (ES) team include:

• Providing technical input into the Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR) portfolio: assessment of complex technical reports and data to produce detailed summary reports making judgements against regulations.
• Contributing to on-site surveys/sampling, ensuring H&S of surveying team. Competent in use of radiation metrology instrumentation in lab conditions and during outdoor field operations on difficult terrain and all-weather conditions.

Other duties include:

• Line management and career development of staff, acting as a point of contact, taking independent action, providing advice on procedures or processes.
• Building/maintaining excellent working relationships with customers, suppliers and colleagues with a range of differing levels of knowledge from administrators to specialist radiation professionals. Communicating effectively using appropriate language, verbally/in-writing, to explain/resolve technical queries promptly and/or motivate them to deliver on agreements/contracts.
• Providing updates to senior colleagues on status of work via briefings/presentations/reports with recommendations.
• Fulfilling emergency role during radiation emergencies/exercises.
• Delivering formal lectures and practical exercises on courses including Radiological Protection Training Scheme Instrumentation and assisting in the development/modification of course material.
• Representing UKHSA at meetings/conferences maintaining a professional approach to build good relationships with customers/colleagues to promote UKHSA commercial services and expertise.
• Write technical procedures, researching options to provide the best solutions to managers and colleagues.
• Using sound judgement to address problems in project or service delivery i.e. technical issues, equipment failure, time slippage, variation from specification or quality and take responsibility to propose and implement solutions.
• Self-motivation and initiative to continually drive own progress, determining work priorities, methods and allocation of time/resources.
• Performing procurement and assisting in the preparation of competitive tenders, assisting with drafting specifications and business cases, upgrading or replacing equipment/sources/control systems.

The above is only an outline of the core components, tasks and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division and the UKHSA.

Person specification

Essential Role Criteria

• Degree level and/or post-graduate qualifications in a physical science relevant to radiation metrology or substantial equivalent experience related to radiation protection.
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles, methods, challenges, standards and legislation associated with ionizing radiation metrology.
• Experience of working in a customer facing team that delivers technically complex services in an area with stringent technical requirements.
• Ability to analyse scientific, technical and operational problems delivering sound recommendations.
• Ability to follow and apply ISO and IEC standards relevant to the generation of reference radiation fields and perform tests in those fields.
• Good interpersonal and written communications skills, and able to use the appropriate style and method for a wide range of situations.
• Competent to use a full range of radiation metrology instruments in laboratory conditions and appropriate instruments during field operations.
• Be adaptable and resourceful. Able to manage and prioritise a personal portfolio of short- and long-term work, make decisions autonomously, when required, working to tight and changing timescales.
• Hold, or be willing and able to obtain, a full UK driving license as is required to be able to do on-site sampling and outdoor field operations.
• Have an understanding of, and commitment to, equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable Role Criteria

• Knowledge of Radiological Protection or radiation physics and experience in radiation metrology and instrument testing, including a good understanding of current best practice.
• Experience of planning and implementing challenging projects, project management principles, techniques, and tools.
• Experience of delivering formal lectures and training.
• Evidence of continued professional development in the field of ionizing radiation metrology.
• Knowledge and understanding of the legislation relating to licensing of nuclear sites and dose assessments from measurements against legislative requirements.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,587, UK Health Security Agency contributes £10,309 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information: UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework assessing your qualifications, knowledge, experience, skills and abilities outlined in the listed Essential Criteria.

Application & Sift - Competency Based

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 10 Essential Criteria in this advert and will be in the form of:

• An Application form (‘Employer/ Activity History section on the application)
• 1000 word Supporting Statement

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the Essential Criteria.

Please note you will not be able to upload or send/email your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500 but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications, we may longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all Essential Criteria
  
• Meets some Essential Criteria
  
• Meets no Essential Criteria

Only those that 'Meets all Essential Criteria' &'Meets some Essential Criteria' will progress to Shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift on the following Essential Criteria:

• Knowledge and understanding of the principles, methods, challenges, standards and legislation associated with ionizing radiation metrology.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview - Competency Based

You will be invited to a face-to-face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Interview location and date(s) to be confirmed.

Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-minute presentation at the start of the interview on a topic relevant to the role - Radiation Metrology. This must be emailed prior if progressed to interview.

You will also be asked at the end of the interview to participate in a practical test involving the use of a radiation monitor.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Salary Information

HEO Outer: £35,587 - £43,244 per annum, pro rata

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Location

This role is being offered as office based at our Scientific Campus in Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RQ.

Please note, hybrid working is not available for this role.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must also meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. You will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK. The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Sarah Handy
• Email : sarah.handy@ukhsa.co.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.co.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/v7780604