Job summary
Employer heading
Principal Radiation Protection Scientist - Team leader
Civil Service: Grade 7
Job overview
The Radiation Hazards and Emergencies Department (RHED) leads UKHSA’s emergency response and preparedness function in case of radiation and nuclear emergencies. It also provides advice and support to external organisations and central Government on issues surrounding emergency response and countermeasures to be taken.
The Radiochemistry Group (RG) has a primary role to provide analytical measurements of environmental and biological samples to support emergency response advice, as well as providing commercial services to a broad range of customers. The work is performed under accredited systems (ISO 17025, ISO 14001).
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities
• Manage a team of staff working in radiochemical analysis
• Contribute to current commercial contracts e.g. sample analysis, report preparation etc
• Project manage commercial contracts or developmental work within the group
• Contribute to the development of UKHSA’s radiation emergency preparedness and response arrangements
• Develop testing protocols for required analyte/matrix combinations for commercial and emergency samples
• Ensure the work of the team satisfies applicable QA requirements
• Work with the team to ensure new protocols are written and implemented, and staff competency has been demonstrated. Manage the accreditation process for new procedures as required
• Work with other Team Leaders and RG Group Leader to develop polices and business plans for RG
• Work with staff across RHED and broader RCE/UKHSA to ensure emergency testing procedures are integrated with broader ER response systems
• Undertake broader corporate tasks as directed by the Group Leader and/or Head of Departmen
Working for our organisation
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Job description
The postholder will be responsible for managing a team of staff within the Group, focussed principally, but not exclusively, on researching, developing, and applying radiochemical analysis methods supporting of RG’s primary roles. This involves developing and maintaining a range of suitable testing and reporting procedures for environmental, industrial, and emergency samples and ensuring staff are fully trained and competent in these procedures.
They will be responsible for the training of their Team ensuring training programmes are prepared, in place and adhered to, as well using their expertise and experience to provide on-the-job training to a range of staff members Reporting to the Radiochemistry Group Leader, the postholder will be required to act on behalf of the Group Leader on occasions. The postholder may also be asked to undertake more general corporate duties, in areas such as safety management, environmental management or radioactivity management.
Essential Criteria:
• Graduate level, or higher, in chemistry or a related discipline
• High level of experience in all aspects of radiochemical analysis (laboratory processing and use of instrumentation)
• Good understanding of the principles of analysis and detectors for a range of radiochemical processes
• Experience of working in a formally accredited QA environment
• Experience of line management of staff
• Experience in setting up and managing development or application projects to completion and evaluating effectiveness
• Ability to produce clear well-structured written material
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to work on several separate tasks at the same time, often independently, whilst keeping to agreed deadlines often working under pressure with competing priorities
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships. Good problem-solving skills and adaptability to rapidly changing demands
• Strong IT skills in Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, SharePoint, Teams etc)
Desirable Criteria:
• Full UK Driving License
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
The Application and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the essential criteria, and this will be in the form of
• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a (1500) word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
Please do not exceed 1500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2 – Interview
You will be invited to a face to face interview, however in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Behaviours, technical, experience, and strengths will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Developing Self and Others
Interviews will be held week commencing 12th August. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location information
This role will be based at UKHSA site at Chilton. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
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.
Person specification
Application form and Statement of Suitability
Essential criteria
- Application form and Statement of Suitability
Behaviours
Essential criteria
- Changing and Improving
- Leadership
- Developing Self and Others
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sarah Okonkwo
- Job title
- Resourcing Support Officer
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
For queries relating to your application please contact [email protected], for queries relating to the role please contact ([email protected])
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