About the job

Job summary

The Radiation Metrology Group, a vital component of the Dosimetry Services department, offers a national capability in the practical and reliable measurement and interpretation of external ionizing radiation. Our scientific and administrative staff specialize in providing technical services for regulatory testing of thousands of ionizing radiation monitoring instruments. Additionally, we engage in various projects related to ionizing radiation measurement in both workplace and environmental contexts.

As the postholder, you will play a crucial role by providing administrative and operational support to our Instrument Testing Service (ITS) and Environmental Survey teams. You’ll also collaborate with the broader Radiation Metrology Group, which interfaces with public and private sectors, radiation protection instrument manufacturers, users, and nuclear-licensed sites. Furthermore, your responsibilities may extend to fulfilling emergency response obligations as a Category 1 responder for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), including coordination with other government and regulatory departments.

Join our dynamic team within the Instrument Testing Service (ITS), where you’ll contribute to day-to-day operations, ensuring accuracy and adherence to standard operating procedures. As part of the ITS team, you’ll work alongside scientific and administrative colleagues, actively supporting the processing of thousands of radiation instrument tests annually.

This role will be based full time at our UKHSA Chilton office (Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RQ). No hybrid working is available due to the nature of the role.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern – Full Time, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working

Job description

• Provide administrative support for ITS work, assisting with duties relating to general administration such as filing of test data, data entry, and raising invoices.
• Monitoring stocks of specialised spares required for the ITS and placing procurement requests using the UKHSA Finance systems to order replenishments as appropriate.
• Physical reception and handling of ITS equipment received for testing and dispatch back to customers after testing, including physical manual handling of loaded trolleys to and from Stores and processing UK and overseas logistics.
• Processing documentation and other routine tasks such as entering and updating information on databases, ensuring accurate input of data in accordance with procedures relating to contacts with and measurements for customers.
• Processing the returned post. This includes checking returned questionnaires to identify potential service improvements, errors, or changes to the customer information.
• Assisting others in the provision of regulatory testing and calibration of ionising radiation instrumentation, including operation of specialised equipment, following quality and safety documents, keeping accurate records, performing calculations and preparation of scientific certificates.
• Maintain timescales required for each task to maintain set levels of service delivery
• Fulfil administrative roles during radiation incidents and emergencies, following sufficient training in emergency exercises. Whilst in those roles, maintain communication with other UKHSA teams and external bodies that are providing monitoring support. If required, assist monitoring teams in the field during an emergency.
• Communication with other members of the ITS team regarding the status of incoming and outgoing of customers’ instruments.
• Providing customers, via telephone and e-mail, with basic information relating to ITS work, including quotes, scheduling, and progress updates.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 750 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

Essential

1. Educated to NVQ Level 2 (GCSE A-C) in a relevant subject or equivalent level of qualification or significant equivalent previous proven experience.
2. Previous experience in dealing with customers. oven experience.
3. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams.
4. Physically able to manually handle a trolley loaded with several individual items weighing up to 20 kg each. Ability to undertake manual handling of packages.
5. Good written and verbal skills including the ability to explain technical information to lay people.
6. Good interpersonal skills and able to build good working relationships with customers and colleagues to confidently deal with queries.
7. Good attention to detail and data entry skills ensuring accuracy.

Desirable

1. Educated to NVQ Level 3 (AS and A level) plus relevant experience, ideally in a customer orientated discipline.
2. Previous experience of communicating information to members of the public and professionals.
3. Competent in the use of MS Access.
4. Understanding of Data Protection and handling sensitive information.

Benefits

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

• 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 average employer contribution of 27%
• Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA 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 at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an in person interview.  

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. 

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 17th of March 2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: w/c 18th of March 2024

Interviews: w/c 1st of April 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

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

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.  Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.