Principal Radiation Protection Scientist

Posting date:	12 December 2025
Salary:	£58,340.00 to £68,574.00 per year
Additional salary information:	£58340.00 - £68574.00 a year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	07 January 2026
Location:	Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	K9919-25-0452

Summary

Prepare and disseminate advice in response to enquiries from public officials, members of the public, industry and other stakeholders. 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. Preparing authoritative scientific reports and papers for publication. Prepare and deliver scientific presentations at national and international conferences and for training courses. Represent UKHSA at local, national and international meetings. Provide support in UKHSA emergency response activities, typically at the level of operations support manager of one of the Directorates emergency cells. Professional Development Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training/development needs with your line manager through appraisal/individual development plan. Attending internal/external training events. Participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training. Key Working Relationships The Principal Radiation Protection Scientist 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, subject to transition: Internal Daily with Group Leader, Head of Department and other scientific and administrative staff throughout the Directorate. Frequently with the Directorate. Frequently with staff in other Departments in the Directorate (up to Heads of Department) including corporate function staff. Frequently with staff in Health Protection Operations. External Customers and stakeholders for advice and research projects 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, UK and international technical standards bodies (e.g. IEC, CIE, BSI), academic, research or advisory organisations who have senior roles in radiation protection. The post holder may be required to be the sole representative of UKHSA or occasionally UK and thus will require a high degree of autonomy. Occasional travel within the UK and overseas may be required. Some irregular and out of hours working may also be required. 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 optical radiation dosimetry research including ability to plan, initiate, design and manage all stages of research projects independently. Extensive knowledge in the field of optical radiation assessments and related public health protection matters. Experience in scientific project management and co-ordinating collaborative work with UKHSA and non-UKHSA participants. 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. 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. Broad knowledge of a wide range of Health protection/Public health related topics. Confident and proficient in 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 laboratories and field surveys. Able to operate a DSE workstation. Able to load/unload measurement equipment from the vehicle when performing surveys. Current full UK driving license and ability to drive vehicles to off-site locations. An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships. Desirable Criteria An understanding of risk management in the context of health and safety legislation. Knowledge of QA procedures and audits. Training/experience in emergency response. Application & Sift This vacancy is using Competency. At sift stage you will be assessed against the (17) 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 a 1,000-word supporting statement Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1,500 but your supporting statement must be no more than insert word count 1,000 words. This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role. The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together. 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 take through 'Meets all essential criteria' and 'Meets some essential criteria'. Shortlisting In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist against the lead criteria as follows: Extensive knowledge in the field of optical radiation assessments and related public health protection matters. Experience in scientific project management and co-ordinating collaborative work with UKHSA and non-UKHSA participants. Extensive experience in publishing scientific reports and peer-reviewed papers. Ability to interpret and explain the relevance of empirical findings in a wider multidisciplinary context. Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage. Interview You will be invited to a face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. This vacancy is being assessed using Competency. During the interview we will assess you against the below: Knowledge Experience Skills and Abilities You will be asked to prepare and present a 510 minute presentation. The subject of this will be: Optical Radiation and Public Health Once this job is 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). Salary 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. Location This role is being offered as hybrid working based at Chilton Scientific Campus, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using 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 be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at our Chilton scientific campus. If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. 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) DBS Requirement: Basic DBS For this role you will also need to meet: Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) 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 vettingand applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.