About the job

Job summary

UKHSA’s Radiation, Chemical and Environment (RCE) Hazards Directorate provides advice, research and services to protect the public from exposure to chemicals and poisons, ionising and non-ionising radiation, and other environmental hazards. RCE provides a specialist assessment and advice function within UKHSA’s overall response as a Category 1 responder to radiation and chemical emergencies. RCE has an extensive and diverse research function part of which is carried out in the context of NIHR Health Protection Research Units.sc

The Radiation Dosimetry Department provides authoritative public health information and advice about exposures to lasers and optical radiation, electromagnetic fields, and ionising radiation used for medical diagnostic imaging. In addition, the department provides the secretariat to the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE).

The work of the Department encompasses the provision and maintenance of calibration facilities, research programmes of physical measurement and theoretical dosimetry, health hazard exposure assessments, and the development of standards. It includes the provision of training courses, and liaison and collaborative input to national and international bodies concerned with setting and promulgating standards for protection.

Location

This role is based at UKHSA Chilton, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxford, OX11 0RQ

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow.  This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).  Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.

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, Flexible Working

Job description

Responsibilities Section:

As a Higher EMF Scientist your responsibilities will include:

• Experimental assessment of exposure from sources of electromagnetic fields using specialised scientific equipment. This may be in the laboratory or off site.
• Technical, computing and analytical work underpinning the assessment of exposure of people to electromagnetic fields.
• Developing methodologies and instrumentation for the assessment of exposure to electromagnetic fields.
• Contributing to externally funded research and services work, including lectures and other support with training courses.
• Working within a project management framework, agreeing and respecting allocated budgets, managing risks and maintaining quality standards.
• Participation in the UKHSA response to radiological emergencies, in accordance with the roles described in the RCE Emergency Plan. These roles will include carrying out environmental sampling and measurements as part of an emergency monitoring team, and laboratory analysis of samples.
• Laboratory work and scientific functions. These will involve physics, mathematical modelling, biology, epidemiology, laboratory work, and engineering as appropriate.
• The assessment of exposure to EMF by means of measurement and calculation for a range of exposure sources and situations.
• The assessment of exposure from EMF sources and facilities on the premises of customers, and the writing of technical reports incorporating the results of any measurements, recommendations for safe working etc.
• Routine maintenance checks on specialised laboratory facilities, and confirmation of the satisfactory operation of safety and warning systems.

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. Please review the job description for a full list of roles and responsibilities.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 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, you must review this to produce your statement of suitability):

Essential

• Educated to degree level in electrical/electronic engineering or a physical science discipline, or equivalent level of experience working at a similar level.
• Current full UK driving license.
• Experience of electromagnetic field (EMF) sources and applications
• Experience of EMF laboratory facilities and equipment such as network and spectrum analysers, oscilloscopes etc
• Understanding and ability to apply electromagnetic theory.
• Strong mathematical/statistical and analytical skills to use existing computational models and ability to write new codes.
• Confident in use of Microsoft office packages, especially Word and Excel
• Ability to communicate effectively, formally, informally, orally and in writing (including presentation of scientific work) to colleagues, customers, and representatives from other organisations.

 Desirable Criteria

• MSc in electrical/electronic engineering or a physical science discipline
• Postgraduate or on-the-job experience of scientific work gained in a project or research environment.

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%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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 interview in Person.

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. Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 5-minute presentation to the panel.  This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment.  The presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role.  Full details will be provided prior to the interview. 

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 30th June 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  1st July 2024

Interviews: TBC

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)

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

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.