About the job

Job summary

Radiation Protection Scientist

Grade EO -  £25,976 (National) - £27,722 (Outer)

(Leeds is National Grading, Chilton is Outer grading)

UKHSA Chilton (Oxon) or UKHSA Leeds , Cookridge

Permanent

4 Roles Available

Are you passionate about radiation protection, cutting-edge technical services and safeguarding public health? We have four great opportunities to join the Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards directorate (RCE). The RCE protects the UK from all radiation risks. Our groundbreaking technical activities shape policies and protect lives.

As a Radiation protection scientist, your role encompasses a variety of exciting scientific tasks. You’ll primarily engage in radiation surveys and related work to support our technical services, which include dental x-ray protection, airport x-ray security surveys, instrument testing and non-ionising radiation protection. You’ll delve into the technical and scientific aspects to assess radiation exposures and provide expert support to the client. Your tasks may involve scientific measurements, laboratory experiments and mathematical modelling. Joinus in advancing radiation protection and making a meaningful impact!

UKHSA Chilton or UKHSA Leeds – opportunity for hybrid working

*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 a selection of the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Visit dental practices, airports and other commercial clients to carry out technical assessments of X-ray equipment and other radiation generators
• Review technical assessment results, client questionnaires and write assessment reports for all types of radiation generators (including both routine tests and critical examination/acceptance tests)
• Assist with technical project work in the department. This will involve scientific measurements, laboratory work and mathematical modelling
• Assess and comment on measurements of doses to dental patients
• Support the provision of medical physics expertise to clients on issues such as the optimisation of dental X-ray exposures and quality assurance
• Provide technical advice and deal with technical queries from both other staff and clients
• Carry out leak tests on client premises and routine preparation and analysis of samples in the counting laboratory
• Assist with the testing and maintenance of radiation protection instrumentation
• Contribute to the training courses by way of assistance with practical/group exercises
• Provide monitoring assistance as specified in the RCE radiation emergency plan

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 750 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

• Science degree or its equivalent in a science discipline, or significant experience in the scientific support of radiation protection services.
• Knowledge of Microsoft office packages, especially Word, Access, PowerPoint, Excel and Teams.
• Willingness to travel within the UK and full UK driving licence
• Ability to communicate effectively, formally, informally, orally and in writing to clients, UKHSA staff and representatives from other organisations
• Technical competence in making measurements coupled with good numerate ability.
• Good organisational skills and high degree of personal integrity.

Desirable

• Ability to observe and question to gather information and sift it to disregard the irrelevant and identify key issues.
• Ability to assess complex situations and interpret detailed documents that may include legislation.

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 £25,976, UK Health Security Agency contributes £6,964 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

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. 

Your Statement of Suitability 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.

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

• Experience
• Knowledge
• Technical Skills

There will also be a written and technical assessment immediately after the interview.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 17th 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: 22nd March 2024

Interviews: w/c 8th April 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)

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.

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.