Higher Radiation Protection Scientist

The Radon Group is part of the Dosimetry Services Department in the Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards Directorate and heads the research and data analysis of radon exposure in the UK, having one of the biggest single databases with more than 900,000 measurements. The Radon Group is a multidisciplinary team including scientists, data managers and administrative staff, currently working across four teams: Radon Dosimetry Team (RDT), Radon Information and Data Team, Radon Programmes Team and Radon Services Team.

The post of Higher Radiation Protection Scientist is within RDT, which provides a specialised radon instruments calibration service to customers in the UK and internationally. RDT operates a world-class radon exposure facility for the calibration and research of a wide variety of passive and active radon detectors and instruments. RDT produces, issues and analyses large numbers of passive etched-track detectors that are used in homes and workplaces as part of the Radon Group’s health protection programme.

As a Higher Radiation Protection Scientist you will be responsible for:

• Providing scientific support to a highly specialised passive radon measurement service
• Supervising detector processing in accordance with standard operating procedures
• Planning and organising the passive radon detectors production
• Assisting the calibration work using various radon instruments and radon detection techniques
• Maintaining a high level of accuracy in accordance with standard operating procedures and in house developed QA protocols.
• Managing various projects independently
• UKAS accreditation submission and continuous improvement under ISO 17025

• Providing input to reports and scientific journal articles related to radon

Main Duties of the Job

• Supervising the production of passive radon detectors
• Deputizing for the Manager of the passive radon detectors
• Maintaining the instrumentation and production capability
• Calibration of the radon instruments and passive radon detectors
• Critically reviewing and developing new procedures for radon measurement and calibration methods
• Maintaining a high standard of technical skill.
• Ensuring important or unusual results are drawn to the attention of senior staff and/or to reporting complaints and anomalies as soon as possible
• Having a very good level of physical dexterity, hand/eye coordination and manual handling abilities.

• Implementing the Local Rules for working with ionising radiation
• Planning and scheduling of own work to meet various work programme requirements, deadlines and turnaround objectives
• Identifying and solving problems, critically analysing working practices and proposing and implementing changes

• Ensuring compliance with ISO 17025
• Contributing to the design and management of specific projects
• Contributing to publications such as reports and scientific journal articles
• Having an appropriate role within the UKHSA radiation emergency plan

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

To identify, discuss and action your own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events.

To participate in all mandatory training as required, e.g. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder 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

• Scientific staff in RDT including Line Manager and Team Leader
• Scientific and administrative staff in other Radon Group teams
• Radon Group Leader
• Staff in Dosimetry Services Department including Head of Department
• Peers working on related topics, e.g. radiation measurement

External

• Commercial customers
• Suppliers
• Radiation specialists
• Internal and external laboratory visitors

Essential criteria

• Science degree, or equivalent qualifications or experience
• Experience of scientific project work
• Knowledge and experience of statistical analysis of scientific/technical data
• Good working knowledge of MS Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access
• Ability to follow and carry out complex instructions
• Proven ability to identify and solve problems, critically analysing working practices and propose and implement changes
• Self-motivated and ability to work independently, prioritising workload and to take responsibility for own standards of work and time management; ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Ability to communicate complicated technical information effectively to specialists and lay people in spoken and written forms
• Ability to train and supervise junior staff members
• Flexible attitude to working as team member or alone, and across teams in the Radon Group, good interpersonal skills
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable criteria

• Post-graduate degree in Material Science, Radiation Detection and Instrumentation, Nuclear Physics, Radiation Chemistry, Radiation protection or equivalent experience
• Experience of working in a radiation laboratory; operating a laboratory QA system, coordinating multiple activities across in a complex and challenging environment.