Radiation Specialist Inspector (Band 3/SEO)

Job summary

Our Radiation Specialist Inspectors help to ensure employers in Great Britain work safely with radiation across a range of sectors (e.g. industrial, medical, oil and gas). In this role, you can utilise your considerable scientific technical knowledge and practical experience to influence not only individual employers but whole industries and sectors.

Working as part of a unique national specialist team, you will carry out your own inspections and investigations, taking enforcement where necessary, including the serving of notices and completion of prosecution reports. You will also provide specialist support to other parts of HSE.

We are looking for experienced radiological protection professionals who can, under challenge, think strategically, identify underlying core issues, and engage at different levels with colleague and site technical staff, as well at the most senior levels within an organisation. You will be decisive and able to influence those organisations to bring about improvements.

We value people who respect others, work well in a team and can build robust relationships with employers and other stakeholder.

Given that HSE regulates across the whole of GB, you will be expected to spend short periods working away from home which will include overnight stays and regular travel.

Please see attached a candidate pack to learn more about HSE and why it’s a great place to work and further information about the position and benefits at HSE.

Working Pattern

Due to the nature of the work involved, this role is only suitable for full time working.

Job description

Successful candidates will be expected to typically undertake the following work:

• Carry out inspection work with ionising and non-ionising radiation. Concentrating in particular on practices requiring consent using the RADAN system.
• Carry out investigations following radiation incidents and reported concerns, comparing conditions with minimum legal requirements and good practice to identify underlying causes and support legal action to avoid further risk.
• Apply radiation protection expertise and providing opinion in a wide variety of workplaces, working on their own or supporting colleagues inspecting, investigating and enforcing the law to secure risk controls.
• Identify reasonably practicable control measures and address underlying management failings, using enforcement action where appropriate.
• Provide specialist opinion and expert evidence in reports for legal proceedings and expert witness statements, and when required, presenting these to courts and tribunals.
• Continue to bring about Health and Safety improvements to national and international standards for radiation protection.
• Secure intelligence, share information and advice towards policy, research and guidance to benefit other Government departments, the public, industry, professional bodies and trade associations.

Training Programme

From day one, you will be supported by your manager, team, and wider colleagues to understand and develop in your role in HSE. We support your continuing professional development directly through formal training and through stakeholder support.

You will join our Regulatory Learning Academy and undertake the learning pathway relevant for your role. This pathway will reflect the core operational functions and skills required in this role.

Person specification

Essential Skills and Criteria

• Substantial deep and broad experience in radiological protection.
• Experience of providing advice on compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations, and ideally the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations, to a range of dutyholders in different sectors, for example, by acting as a Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA). Equivalent experience of advising on international standards would be considered.
• The ability to analyse effectively to identify underlying gaps and deficiencies related to risk management and be able to communicate effectively to influence change at all levels in the organisations HSE regulate.
• The ability to take initiative and make effective decisions based upon available evidence.
• The ability to organise and plan, taking responsibility for delivering expected outcomes on time and to the required standard, and have the ability to write effective technical reports and present complex technical information in a clear and concise way for a non-technical audience.
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, maintaining positive professional working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders whilst also managing your own workload.

Hybrid Working

At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work.

There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities, e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, you will be expected to attend the office, or other business-related site, for 60% of your working week. The arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.

Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.

Travel

Occasional travel will be required to fulfil the role of Inspector, including inspections, meetings, training and events as business requires. This will, on occasion, necessitate overnight stays.

Licences

A full driving licence that enables you to drive in the UK is essential. This should be held at the point of application.

Qualifications

A degree, or equivalent qualification at NQF Level 6 or higher, in a physical science or related discipline. For example - Physics, Chemistry etc.

Memberships

Applicants should be a Chartered Member of the Society for Radiological Protection (CRadP) or have the ability to achieve this within twelve months. The assessment criteria are available at: https://srp-uk.org/careers-and-registration/chartered-radiation-protect…-

We would consider other memberships, but please contact us if you have any other membership apart from CRadP. To enquire if you are eligible to apply, please contact lauren.kinsella@hse.gov.uk

If you do not currently hold the membership but are able to achieve this within 12 months, please tick 'yes' to this question.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Government Science and Engineering Career Technical Framework - Building and Applying Knowledge - Applying Knowledge
• Government Science and Engineering Career Technical Framework - Building and Applying Knowledge - Regulatory Knowledge

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,063, Health and Safety Executive contributes £15,951 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

We invest in our people with;

• Competitive rates of pay

• Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97% far more than in the private sector.

• Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career

• Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture

• 185 hours annual holiday increasing to 222 hours after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave (recorded as 7.4 hours) in addition to your annual leave balance).

• Parental leave benefits
• As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards, and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed.

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 is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application information

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete an anonymised CV that displays your career history, skills, experience and qualifications.

Please ensure you tailor your CV to match the Essential Skills and Criteria as listed within the advert.

You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 1250 words, demonstrating how you meet the essential skills and criteria detailed within the person specification.

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a personal statement https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/

Please access the following link for more information on the Government Science and Engineering capability framework - Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Career Framework, November 2021 (Version 2)

Sift information

The sift will take place during the week commencing 7th September 2026 and/or 21st September 2026, where you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement.

Interview information

Interviews will take place face to face in our Bootle HQ office - Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, L20 7HS during week commencing 28th September 2026.

At interview, you will be assessed against the behaviours and technical skills detailed within the advert, as well as your experience.

As part of your interview, you will be required to deliver a 10 minute presentation. Further details of this will be sent out with your interview invitation, if you are successful at sift. You will also be asked questions and be presented with scenarios to assess your experience and skills relevant to the role.

The presentation will be used as the lead criteria in the event of a tie-break.

We will conduct interviews via teams in exceptional circumstances - Please contact stewart.robertson@hse.gov.uk at application stage if you feel you have an exceptional circumstance whereby you will need to complete your interview virtually and he will be able to advise if this is possible.

Sponsorship

This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.

Further Information

Due to the nature of security checks undertaken, applicants must have 3 years continuous residency in the UK up to the date of the application and, Home Office approval for indefinite leave to remain within the UK.

Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.

HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.

From 23rd June 2025, if you are successful at interview, as part of your pre-employment checks, HSE’s Recruitment Team are required to check your details against the Internal Fraud Hub (IFH), using your personal details – name, NINO, and date of birth. If you are included on the database, you will be refused employment. If you believe that there has been an error in the inclusion of your data and wish to make an appeal, please contact the CO email box internal.fraud@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Details of the types of internal fraud/dishonesty covered by this process are defined by the Cabinet Office and can be found here Internal Fraud Register privacy notice - GOV.UK

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.

Progression through pay ranges is subject to annual pay awards as permitted within annual Civil Service pay remit guidance and negotiations with Trade Unions.

HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.

If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example, if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk

If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.

Any move to HSE from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.

Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security 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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : Stewart Robertson
• Email : stewart.robertson@hse.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk

Further information

If you believe that Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition have not been met, you can raise a complaint by emailing: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk or by writing to HSE at the following address:

HR Resourcing Team, 2.3 Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners:

https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecode…

Attachments

HSE Terms and Conditions - CSJ Advert Annex Opens in new window (pdf, 116kB)