About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a physiologist to join the Survival and Thermal Medicine (STM) team at the Institute of Naval Medicine. The STM team is part of the Environmental Medicine and Science Division and combines scientists and medical personnel who provide occupational health services and advice to the Royal Navy and wider military to support operational capability.

The position will support the activities of the STM group. This will include undertaking routine physiological assessments in the heat illness clinic; assisting with STM clinical and survival research projects and the roll-out of a technological programme to mitigate heat illness.

The position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The Institute of Naval Medicine (INM) is the Naval Service’s Centre of Excellence for occupational health advice, information, training, and research. It brings together scientists and medical professionals to improve the health of UK Armed Forces. The unique opportunities offered within the INM are varied, challenging and exciting, supporting Navy Command’s role to generate and operate forces for today; and to ensure they are ready for tomorrow by developing and delivering the Navy and military of the future.

The successful candidate will be one of several physiologists who undertake the physiological assessment of patients to the heat illness clinic, this includes equipment calibration and operation, patient interaction and data handling. The role also supports a number of research projects including examining risk factors for heat illness, acclimatisation and heat illness mitigation, and also assessing survival equipment.

Responsibilities

Specific tasks include (but are not limited to):

• Providing physiological and administrative support to the heat illness clinic.
• Supporting the STM group through provision of evidence-based outputs by assisting with research projects.
• To maintain or work towards professional competency (e.g. the requirements of BASES).

These tasks will involve equipment handling, calibration, operation and maintenance; interacting and liaising with patients, volunteers and medical professionals; conducting physiological tests; collecting, recording and analysing data; and preparing written reports.

The post-holder will mainly work in collaboration with other members of the STM team or the wider EMS division; but depending on the needs of the task will at times work independently. Some travel may be required, including overseas.

Person specification

We are seeking an enthusiastic and diligent individual capable of working with a variety of people in teams and independently. Relevant training, support and guidance will be provided. Conference attendance and publication, where relevant to the organisation and tasked work outputs is encouraged and supported.

Qualifications and skills

Essential

(1) Upper second class honours degree in physiology or sports science; and

(2) Post graduate (Masters Level) qualification in human applied physiology / exercise sciences or allied discipline OR at least one year’s equivalent experience in providing physiological support in a professional sport or military or clinical environment.

Desirable

• Experience of making physiological measurements in either a performance, research, or clinical setting.
• Applied physiological research experience including data handling and analysis and report writing.
• Full driving licence.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,641 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

To apply for this position, complete the on-line application in Civil Service jobs. Please attach a CV with your application; your CV should include job history, details of education and qualifications, plus relevant experiences and skills.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profiles elements that have been chosen for this campaign, each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate appointed on merit.

In the event of a high number of candidates the sift will be by CV alone.

Applicants invited for interview will be asked to give a short presentation (5 min).

We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of gender and ethnic group.

Behaviours

We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and influencing (application)
• Delivering at pace (application)
• Working together (interview)
• Making effective decisions (interview)

Technical skills

We will assess you against these two technical skills during Interview:

• Applying scientific knowledge
• Disseminating science effectively

Interviews will be undertaken the week beginning 29 Jan 2024 (tentatively). 

Feedback will only be provided if you attended an interview.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk  

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.  

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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.