Laboratory Supervisor

Job summary

The PDS is a group of around 25 staff, plus bank staff, who issue and assess doses from dosemeters to workers in the UK and overseas. This post contributes to the health and safety of employees exposed to radiation in their work environments and requires highly specialised technical, scientific and legislative knowledge and skills coupled with extensive relevant experience. The post holder will be responsible for supervising the day-to-day running of the PDS labs, ensuring an efficient and smooth service for our customers. This will involve planning, prioritising and participating in the routine work, allocating staff to tasks and ensuring targets are met. The post holder will have line management responsibility and will also be responsible for supervision of the main Lab duties; including allocating resources, prioritising work, staff development/training, maintaining lab documentation, ensuring adequate supplies, and maintaining the overall efficiency of the Lab. PDS also has an emergency response function for population monitoring in the event of a radiation incident. The Laboratory Supervisor will help the Lab in its response to an incident, liaising with Lab Manager and other PDS staff as needed, to issue up to 10,000 TLD’s to the public for monitoring public exposure. There will also be a requirement for rapid dose assessments as well as longer programme of monitoring of the public to feed into government response to the situation.

Working for your organisation

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.

Job description

The post holder will be required to manage a team which is responsible for the processing and issuing of 9,000 dosemeters per week to over 7,000 commercial customers. This will include:

• Line management of 3 to 5 staff.
• Managing resources (staff and equipment) to ensure the service runs effectively, meeting issue and processing targets:
  o taking decisions on work planning and task allocation
  o adjusting these in the light of changing circumstances
  o negotiating with colleagues to inform these decisions.
  o Effectively supervising the staff in discharging the following tasks:
  o Daily QA checks for automatic dosemeter readers - analyse results and check data quality.
  o Reliable processing of customer dosemeters for dose assessment within required timescales.
  o Prioritising work of laboratories.
  o Preparing wrapping machine and issuing dosemeters for customer use.
  o Calibration and individual dosemeters and dosemeter batches
• Preparation of new dosemeters and seeing them through the different stages of initialisation; liaising with Finance on introduction of stock.
• Carrying out system of regular calibration of all readers to ensure reliability of service and assessments.
• Monitoring and management of equipment; using internal and external support to ensure efficiency of Laboratory machines.
• Investigating and acting upon results which fail QA.
• Responding to and resolving customer queries and liaising with customers by phone, letter, email or in person; providing interpretation of results and advice on personal dosimetry.
• Ensuring excellent communication within own team, the rest of PDS (including participation in Supervisors meetings) and with customers.
• Forward planning for work of laboratories, based on expected demand.
• Ensuring the teams deliver an excellent level of customer service that meets the relevant quality standards; reliable, prompt, courteous and clearly communicated.
• Reviewing and developing laboratory procedures (Manuals, Standard Operating Procedures) and input into quality documents, including maintaining approval for PDS under ISO17025 standard.
• Carrying out projects to develop the thermoluminescence dosimetry services as necessary.
• Dealing with problems, e.g. in changes to requirements, software errors, IT failures, supplier failures, by prompt liaison with external and internal colleagues.
• Training of staff where necessary

Person specification

Essential criteria

• At least two A-Levels (including English and Maths at Grade C or above) and five GCSEs (including a science subject at Grade C or above) or equivalent qualifications; or equivalent experience working a senior role within a laboratory environment with supervisory responsibilities
• Experience of working in a scientific environment, including extensive experience of working in a commercial environment to include direct contact with customers.
• Experience of working in a team
• Excellent customer care skills, which includes the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Ability to form good working relationships with customers, staff and suppliers; working flexibly within the PDS team
• Excellent organisational and planning skills; including prioritisation
• Good analytical and decision-making skills
• Competent computer skills, including a good understanding of computer record functions and processes
• Physically fit/ able to carry out moderate lifting tasks
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of managing a team, to include staff appraisals and training junior staff
• Experience in radiation protection and of working in an HSE approved Dosimetry Lab environment, with knowledge of IRR2017

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,441, UK Health Security Agency contributes £8,818 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%

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 which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed (10) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 800 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.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 800 words. We will not consider any words over 800 words.

Longlisting:

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

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. Meets no essential criteria

If used, the following proceed to shortlisting.:

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Experience of working in a scientific environment, including extensive experience of working in a commercial environment to include direct contact with customers.
• Excellent customer care skills, which includes the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Competent computer skills, including a good understanding of computer record functions and processes

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

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

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

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

There will be a Presentation which will be assessing:

• Time keeping
• Communication skills

Full details will be provided at interview stage.

Interviews are planned for week beginning 22nd June 2026. Please note these dates are subject to change.

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

Location

This role is being offered as lab based at our Scientific Campus in Chilton.

Based at our scientific campus, 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. 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.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check.

Eligibility Criteria – External

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

Salary Information
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.

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.

Careers website
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers.

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 : Gurkamal Bhambra
• Email : gurkamal.bhambra@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.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 the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: 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 for
further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk