Principal Radiation Protection Scientist - Electromagnetic Field Dosimetry

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

• Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
• Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
• Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
• Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
• Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.

Job overview

UKHSA’s Radiation, Chemical, Climate and Environment (RCCE) Hazards Directorate provides advice, research and services to protect the public from exposure to chemicals and poisons, ionising and non-ionising radiation, and other environmental hazards. RCCE provides a specialist assessment and advice function within UKHSA’s overall response as a Category 1 responder to radiation and chemical emergencies. RCCE has an extensive and diverse research function part of which is carried out in the context of NIHR Health Protection Research Units.

The Radiation Dosimetry Department provides authoritative public health information and advice about exposures to lasers and optical radiation, electromagnetic fields, and ionising radiation used for medical diagnostic imaging. In addition, the department provides the secretariat to the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE).

The work of the Department encompasses the provision and maintenance of calibration facilities, research programmes of physical measurement and theoretical dosimetry, health hazard exposure assessments, and the development of standards. It includes the provision of training courses, and liaison and collaborative input to national and international bodies concerned with setting and promulgating standards for protection. 

The Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Dosimetry Group's role is to assess exposure characteristics of emerging and established EMF technologies, including mobiles phones, base stations and power lines. The group acts as the national contact point for UKHSA’s advice on the public health aspects of exposures to EMFs, input to regulations; research on health impacts and environmental monitoring of exposures to EMFs; training and input to the international and national guidance and standards on exposure to EMFs; development of methodology of public and occupational exposure assessments, and measurement infrastructure; support to the EMF capabilities of the Operational Services Department.

The EMFD Group has two laboratories at Chilton in Oxfordshire; one primarily used for EMF exposure investigations and maintenance of measurement equipment, and the other for dielectric properties research. The Group carries a heavy burden of correspondence, with high-level requests and short deadlines arriving on a daily basis.

Main duties of the job

We are currently looking for a Principal Radiation Protection Scientist - Electromagnetic Field Dosimetry whose main duties will include:

• To initiate, plan, lead and execute specialist research or equivalent advisory projects related to the assessment of exposure to electromagnetic fields, including experimental and numerical dosimetry and managing the work of others as necessary.
• To provide the lead in writing and maintaining elements of published UKHSA advice on exposure to electromagnetic fields, including webpages.
• To prepare scientific review material for UKHSA publications, including consultancy input and secretariat support for advisory and other high-level committees, e.g. the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE).
• To prepare and disseminate advice in response to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), enquiries from public officials, members of the public, industry and other stakeholders.
• To assist the Group Leader in conducting general management duties, for example in carrying out health and safety risk assessments, quality assurance audits and preparing proposals for new business opportunities. 
• To manage and maintain numerical simulation platforms, perform required updates and upgrades if necessary. 
• To manage and develop specialist measurement facilities and equipment related to experimental dosimetry, ensuring health and safety procedures are adhered to and supervising others in the use of equipment.
• To prepare authoritative scientific reports and papers for publication.
• To prepare and deliver scientific presentations at national and international conferences and for training courses and represent UKHSA at local, national and international meetings.  
• To provide support in UKHSA emergency plans, typically at the level of operations support manager of one of the RCCE emergency cells.
• There will be an occasional need to work irregular hours. There will also be a requirement to travel within the UK and occasionally overseas.

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.  

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Professional Development

• To identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training/development needs with your line manager through appraisal/individual development plan, and attend internal/external training events.
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

Key Working Relationships

The postholder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;

Internal

• Daily with Group Leader, Head of Department and other scientific and administrative staff throughout RCCE.
• Frequently with RCCE Directorate.
• Frequently with staff in other RCCE Departments (up to Heads of Department) including corporate function staff.
• Frequently with staff in Health Protection Operations.

External

• Customers and stakeholders for advice and research project including Government Departments and Agencies, Devolved Administrations, commercial organisations, local authorities, NHS, advisory and professional bodies, training organisations. This includes staff up to Directorate level and from a variety of professional backgrounds.  This may take place on client’s premises with the post holder acting alone.
• Members of the public to answer queries in the post-holder’s specialist area of expertise.
• Equipment suppliers and contractors delivering outsourced elements of projects.
• Regularly with national or international level contacts from a range of government, regulatory, academic, research or advisory organisations who have senior roles in radiation protection.
• The postholder may be required to be the sole representative of UKHSA or occasionally UK and thus will require a high degree of autonomy.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Directorate.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Essential Criteria

• Qualification to PhD level in an appropriate scientific or public health/health protection discipline or equivalent experience.
• Post-doctoral experience sufficient to undertake experimental and numerical EMF dosimetry research with minimal input from line management.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge within the area of experimental dosimetry, sufficient to be acknowledged nationally and internationally.
• Experience in scientific project management and co-ordinating collaborative work with UKHSA and non-UKHSA scientists.
• Extensive experience in publishing scientific reports and peer-reviewed papers.
• Experience in giving presentations at national /international scientific meetings and conferences.
• Ability to interpret and explain the relevance of empirical findings in a wider multidisciplinary context for discussion at meetings, conferences and publication in the peer-reviewed literature.
• Experience in planning and execution of complex scientific projects, identifying and managing risks appropriately.
• Confident and proficient in the use of scientific data analysis software.
• Working knowledge of Information Governance i.e. freedom of information and data protection.
• Able to manipulate equipment and perform experiments in the EMF laboratory.
• Able to operate a DSE workstation.
• Able to load/unload measurement equipment from vehicles when performing surveys.
• Ideally current full UK driving licence and ability to drive vehicles to off-site locations.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable Criteria

• Theoretical and practical knowledge within the area of numerical dosimetry, sufficient to be acknowledged nationally and internationally.
• Experience in the appropriate use of specialised EMF measurement equipment, including network analysers, spectrum analysers and field probes.
• Experience in the use of specialised EMF numerical simulation platforms, including device and process design and interactions with anatomical phantoms.
• Experience in planning and execution of complex scientific projects, identifying and managing risks appropriately.
• Comprehensive understanding of the health and safety aspects of running an experimental dosimetry laboratory.
• An understanding of risk management in the context of health and safety legislation.
• Broad knowledge of a wide range of Health protection/Public health related topics.
• Training/experience in emergency response.

Application & Sift  

This vacancy is using Success Profiles.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the (15) essential criteria listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• Up to 1500 number of words) word supporting statement

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500. Your supporting statement must be no more than 1500.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV – please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible).

Longlisting

In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of: 

• Meets all essential criteria  
• Meets some essential criteria  
• Meets no essential criteria  

We will only take through candidates who meet all essential criteria.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist against the lead criteria as follows:

• Qualification to PhD level in an appropriate scientific or public health/health protection discipline or equivalent experience.
• Post-doctoral experience sufficient to undertake experimental and numerical EMF dosimetry research with minimal input from line management.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge within the area of experimental dosimetry, sufficient to be acknowledged nationally and internationally.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview 

You will be invited to a face-to-face interview.

If face-to-face interviews are planned, in some circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles. During the interview we will assess you against the below Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Based on previous skills and experience.

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5–10 minute presentation. The subject of this will be:

• Latest technical project that you have led

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. 

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).   

Location

This role is being offered as lab based at our Chilton Scientific Campus in Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RQ.

As the role is based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

All successful candidates must meet the basic security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

• Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

For this role you will also need to meet:

• Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

DBS Requirement: 

• Basic DBS

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires CTC clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.  

Please note: If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms. 

Person specificationApplication form & supporting StatementEssential criteria

• Application form and supporting statement

Behaviours & StrengthsEssential criteria

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Essential CriteriaEssential criteria

• Presentation: Latest technical project that you have led

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ 

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. 

Link below:

Artificial intelligence and recruitment | Civil Service Careers

This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks. 

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

For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)

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.  

The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment. 

For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary. 

For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment.  You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment.  If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy.  

Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment. 

Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered. 

Working for the Civil ServiceThe 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 equality of opportunity. 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:  Complaints@ukhsa.gov.ukIf 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 here. 

Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list. 

The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available. 

Interview expenses will not be reimbursed. 

UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more. 
 
If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there. 

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. 

 Benefits of working at UKHSA include: 

• Generous annual leave: 
  • 26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service 
  • 28 days after 5 years of continuous service 
  • 32 days after 10 years of continuous service 
  • Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday 
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions. 
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
• Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
• We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
• We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package. 

Hybrid Working

UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow.  This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce.  

As a hybrid worker, you will usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home. 

Disability Confident Scheme

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview.   If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.  

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.

To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you.

An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. 

This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. 

If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should: 

Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. 

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police Check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check.  This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and could be time accrued over that period. 

Internal Fraud check 

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Security Vetting

Please check the Security Clearance needed for the role and follow the link for more information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels 

Future location 

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.