About the job

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Radiation Protection Scientist to join the Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards team within UKHSA. 

UKHSA’s Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (RCE) team provides advice, conducts research, and delivers services to protect the public from hazards resulting from exposure to chemicals and poisons, ionising and non-ionising radiation, and other environmental hazards. The Radiation Hazards and Emergencies Department is central to RCE’s radiation emergency planning and response role and comprises three groups: Emergency Response, Radiochemistry and Internal Dosimetry.

As Radiation Protection Scientist you will provide support to the metrology area within Internal Dosimetry (ID) as well as providing support in the maintenance and running of the Radiation Monitoring Unit. The role will also involve performing quality assurance, counting calibrations and maintenance for both UKAS accredited gamma spectrometry capability and the whole-body monitoring capability.

Location

This role will be based on-site at Chilton, Didcot, Oxford OX11 0RQ.

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

Job description

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

• Assist with operation and maintenance of the UKHSA’s Body Monitoring Facility for assessment of gamma-emitting radionuclides in people, and the Environmental Gamma Spectrometry Facility for measurement of gamma-emitting radionuclides in environmental and bioassay samples.
• Assist with the equipment for the Radiation Monitoring Units (RMUs) (which would be set-up to monitor people in response to an emergency involving the large-scale release of radioactive material).
• Provide support to members of ID group on internal projects.
• Contribute to specialised scientific contract work for external customers.
• Participate in the UKHSA response to radiological emergencies, as necessary, which may include working unsociable hours.
• Have a good level of self-motivation and attention to detail as some of these duties will entail working alone and unsupervised.
• Identify, discuss, and action own professional performance and training/development needs with your line manager through an appraisal/individual development plan and attend internal and external training events.
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, e.g., fire safety and information governance.

Please review the Job Description for the full list of responsibilities

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

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

• Honours Degree in a relevant scientific subject or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of Microsoft office packages, especially Word, Access, and Excel
• Experience of using complex equipment
• Attention to detail and ability to remain focused on a task (e.g., when carrying out detailed measurement protocols)
• Ability to form good working relationships with colleagues and customers
• Able to travel within the UK and overseas as required

Desirable

• Full Driving License
• Knowledge of basic radiation protection principles
• Ability to analyse and interpret scientific data
• Good degree of self-motivation and able to work independently and unsupervised.

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 (750 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 a face-to-face interview at the Chilton site. 

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

• Changing and Improving
• Collaborating and Partnering
• Delivering at pace

 Expected Timeline

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 19th 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 22nd April 2024

Interviews: TBC

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.