About the job

Job summary

Are you an experienced laboratory professional with a passion for quality in radioanalytical sciences? Do you have the skills and knowledge to lead a team of technicians in a fast-paced and dynamic environment? If so, you might be the perfect candidate for the laboratory services supervisor position in the Operational Services Department at the UK Health Security Agency.

UKHSA is an industry leader in radiation protection providing a national emergency response capability and servicing a wide range of commercial clients. We are looking for a laboratory services supervisor to oversee the daily operations of our operational services laboratory facilities in Leeds and Chilton (Oxfordshire) and ensure the highest standards of quality and compliance.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• Science degree or its equivalent in a relevant science discipline, or relevant experience in the scientific support of radiation protection services or projects
• Ability to assess complex situations and interpret detailed documents that may include legislation
• Capable of working accurately and consistently in setting up equipment and in making complex measurements
• Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines and to prioritise the workload
• Ability to communicate effectively, formally, informally, orally and in writing to clients, UKHSA staff and representatives from other organisations
• A proficiency in Microsoft Office and other relevant software applications
  
  

Location

Based at UKHSA Cookridge, Leeds – due to the nature of the role, you will be expected to be based on-site on a full-time basis.

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

Job description

As a laboratory services supervisor, you will be responsible for:

• Supervision of the department’s radiometric laboratories and personal dosimetry services at the Leeds and Chilton locations
• Shared responsibility for the acquisition and maintenance of the ISO 17025 standard for the dosimetry services
• Acting as the quality manager for the department’s RPA-body management arrangements
• Supervision and training of laboratory staff
• Contributing to the commercial services of the department
• Specialised scientific projects
• Providing emergency response support
• Scientific analysis of gamma spectrometry measurements, metrology data, and the output of other specialised scientific equipment and reporting results, either to other OSD staff, or to external clients
• Routine maintenance checks on specialised laboratory facilities, and confirmation of the satisfactory operation of safety and warning systems
• Measurement of radiation fields, radiochemistry, and laboratory work as appropriate
• Assessment of radiation facilities on the premises of clients, and writing of technical reports incorporating the results of any measurements together with recommendations for safe working etc
• Troubleshooting and resolving any technical or quality issues that may arise in the laboratory

Many of these duties will entail working alone and unsupervised. The postholder will be expected to carry out accurate scientific work in accordance with established procedures and protocols, and comment on and develop new standing operating procedures where appropriate. This will require a good level of knowledge and technical skill.

The postholder will be responsible for the use and maintenance of complex scientific equipment and will use a range of IT software including databases and software developed in house. These may be used for record keeping and the calculation of scientific information.

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 see job description attached for full list of duties and competencies associated with the post.

Person specification

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

Essential:

• Science degree or its equivalent in a relevant science discipline, or relevant experience in the scientific support of radiation protection services or projects
• Knowledge of Microsoft office packages, especially Work, Access, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams
• Ability to assess complex situations and interpret detailed documents that may include legislation
• Capable of working accurately and consistently in setting up equipment and in making complex measurements
• Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines and to prioritise the workload
• Ability to communicate effectively, formally, informally, orally and in writing to clients, UKHSA staff and representatives from other organisations

Desirable:

• Postgraduate or on-the-job experience
• Membership of professional body, e.g. Society for Radiological Protection
• Good knowledge of radiation protection and radiometric principles

In addition, it would be desirable for you to have:

• Postgraduate or on-the-job experience
• Membership of professional body, e.g. Society for Radiological Protection
• Good knowledge of radiation protection and radiometric principles

Please ensure that your statement of suitability does not contain any personal identifiers such as Name, Gender, Location, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation or Religion. The UKHSA operates a fair and open recruitment policy.

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 interview by video. 

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.

The competency-based framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following will be used at the interview:

• Technical Skills
• Knowledge
  
  

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 5th 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: 9th March 2024

Interviews: w/c 18th March 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)

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/

Complaint process:

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: Complaints1@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.

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.