About the job

Job summary

Radiation Metrology Environmental Survey Team Leader

Grade 7 Outer London - £53,812 to £63,252

Based at UKHSA Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ

Permanent Contract

The Radiation Metrology Group is at the forefront of delivering a comprehensive national capability in the field of practical and reliable measurement of external ionizing radiation. Our team offers an extensive suite of services, from precise measurement of external ionising radiation to insightful analysis of data. Additionally, we undertake various projects related to the measurement of ionizing radiation (IR) in the workplace and the environment.

As a leader in our commercial division, you will play a pivotal role in our commercial services. Your excellent technical, communication, and organizational skills will drive our portfolio of environmental survey and project work. Specifically, you’ll collaborate with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) on nuclear site delicensing and nuclear site perimeter monitoring.

We’re looking for a candidate with a robust blend of technical expertise and business acumen, combined with hands-on capabilities. If you’re ready to lead projects, engage in business and financial planning, make critical decisions, author and review key documents, and ensure compliance, we want you on our team.

Elevate your career with us—where science meets precision.

Location - Based at UKHSA Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ

 

*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

Job description

Responsibilities section:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

Lead, manage and develop the Environmental Radiation Survey service. This team delivers the delicensing, nuclear licenced site (NLS) perimeter survey and public dose assessments work portfolio of projects on behalf of ONR. 

• Assessment of technical reports and production of detailed contracts and survey strategies to enable measurement reports to be written and making judgements against international regulations.
• Be the lead for on-site surveys and sampling, including health and safety of the surveying team.
• Senior level meetings with Government Agencies such as the ONR and EA, and the commercial customer.

Management of specialist projects including:

• Supporting UK Government Departments and agencies to characterise and meet their needs relating to IR measurement and instrumentation (e.g., technical requirement specifications, independent monitoring surveys of industrial or nuclear sites, and for CBRN monitoring).
• Designing, proposing, and managing IR metrology projects for commercial customers.

IR training specialist:

• Develop, and provide lectures and demonstrations for the RPTS Instrumentation specialist module
• Contribute to the other RPTS modules and a variety of training programmes.

Emergency response monitoring team leader:

• Act as team leader for the Environmental Monitoring and Coordination team and resources at the UKHSA Chilton Emergency Centre during radiation or nuclear emergencies and exercises. Provide expert advice on the interpretation of the results taking responsibility for advice issued by the team.
• Be responsible for the technical development and maintenance of radiation protection instrumentation and the associated systems needed for emergency monitoring.

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

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 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

• Degree level and/or post-graduate qualifications in a physical science relevant to radiation metrology or substantial equivalent experience.
• Have proven evidence of substantial knowledge and understanding of the principles, methods, challenges, standards, and legislation associated with ionizing radiation metrology. For example, achieved a pass mark on the UKHSA’s RPTS Foundation course, the RPTS Management of Radioactive Waste, and the RPS course. https://www.ukhsaprotectionservices.org.uk/rpts
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of the legislation relating to licensing of nuclear sites and dose assessments from measurements against legislative requirements.
• Extensive experience of working in a scientific environment managing a commercial service that delivers technically complex work in an area with stringent technical requirements.
• Able to analyse large volumes of customer’s detailed technical / scientific data, radiological surveys and sampling regimes, and to verify these to enable judgements against international regulations.
• Experience of planning and implementing challenging projects in a fast-paced multi-disciplinary radiation laboratory and able to manage and prioritise a personal portfolio of short- and long-term work, make decisions autonomously, when required, working to tight and changing timescales.

 

Desirable

• Authorised as a Qualified Person, as defined in the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017, to approve that instrument results are typical of type.
• Have attained the status of SRP Incorporated Radiation Protection Professional (IRadP) or Chartered Radiation Protection Professional (CRadP), or equivalent independently assessed status.
• Demonstrated experience of planning and implementing complex and challenging projects, including development and monitoring of contractual business plans and budgets.
• Knowledge and experience of writing method statements and risk assessments for a variety of situations.

 

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

Alongside your salary of £53,812, UK Health Security Agency contributes £14,529 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

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.  Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 10-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 behaviours will be used at the interview:

• Seeing the big picture
• Changing and improving
• Making effective decisions
• Leading and communicating
• Collaborating and partnering
• Achieving commercial outcomes
• Delivering value for money
• Managing a quality service
• Delivering at pace

 

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 23rd 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: TBC

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)

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/

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.