About the job

Job summary

The Personal Dosimetry Service (PDS), approved by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), supports over 5,500 employers in the industrial, research, and medical sectors. Our mission is to assess radiation doses for employees using passive personal dosemeters. These dosemeters are worn by employees and then returned to the PDS for processing and reporting.

Our work not only benefits employers but also contributes to the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) advisory services. Additionally, it significantly impacts the Radiation Control and Environmental Health Department’s (RCEHD) annual income. The PDS team, consisting of approximately 25 staff members, issues dosemeters to over 80,000 workers across the UK and overseas.

As part of a small and dedicated team, we handle the reception of used radiation dosemeters, dispatch fresh dosemeters (averaging 8,750 per week), manage customer inquiries, and ensure accurate packing of orders. Our commitment to excellent customer care remains unwavering for our 5,000+ valued customers.

As part of a mixed team of scientists and administrative staff, the post holder will provide administrative support for specialised personal dosimetry services. This role involves interpreting customer queries, maintaining accuracy, and ensuring excellent customer care. Close collaboration with various PDS areas, including laboratories, Customer Services, Dose Records Office, and Facilities, is essential.

Key responsibilities include:

• Participating in the day-to-day operations of the Dosemeter Logistics Office.
• Investigating and responding to customer and colleague queries (verbal or written).
• Occasionally working independently on tasks like dosemeter packing and unpacking.

Location

This role will be based at our UKHSA Chilton office (Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0RQ). The role will be part time working 15 hours per week spilt over Thursday and Friday.

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

Job description

• Manual packing and unpacking of dosemeters.
• Dealing with incoming paperwork and distributing it to other sections of the group.
• Communicating effectively with other areas including internal and external customers, to ensure an excellent service.
• Helping to monitor stock levels.
• Liaising with the Team Leader and Assistant Supervisor on planning and staffing operating and monitoring office equipment.
• Check delivery note requirements against dosemeter supply, always following the QA procedures to check accuracy.
• Liaising with colleagues in PDS to manage the collation/delivery of the dosemeters to the customer requirements (e.g. with the laboratories for specialist dosemeters and Customer Services for special delivery options such as courier).
• Enter customer address and special reporting requirements onto the PDS bespoke database to set up new customer sites. Data entry is manual, and requires a high level of thoroughness and accuracy.
• Following office procedures.
• Keeping accurate records (for example spreadsheets of courier/Special deliveries).
• Carrying out routine quality assurance procedures.

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 500 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

• 5 GCSE’s including Maths, English or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of good customer care and experience of good customer service
• Previous experience of working in an administrative environment using computerised data systems
• Experience of working in a customer-oriented environment as part of a team
• Experience of office-based database entry work
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word and Excel

Desirable

• General awareness of the hazards and uses of ionising radiation
• Understanding of Data Protection legislation
• Experience of working for an Approved Dosimetry Service
• Familiarity with the uses of personal dosimetry and awareness of the regulatory framework for personal dosimetry

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

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

Your Statement of Suitability (500 words maximum) 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.

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This stage will involve an interview held at our UKHSA Chilton site.

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. 

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 22nd of April 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 23rd of April 2024

Interviews: w/c 6th of May 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

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.