Job summary
Applications
are invited for a 5 yr fixed-term, 0.5 WTE Band 8A position for a Principal
Clinical Scientist in Radiotherapy Physics, Medical Physics and Engineering,
Leeds Cancer Centre, St Jamess University Hospital.
The
post-holder will provide specialist expertise to support the Radiotherapy
Imaging Group & contribute to other areas of radiotherapy physics. A
strong interest in research and innovation is desirable. This role offers an
excellent opportunity for a radiotherapy physicist with the skills and
experience to operate at the level of a Medical Physics Expert (MPE). The
successful candidate will be highly motivated and will work closely with the
multi-professional team responsible for integrating advanced imaging
technologies into the radiotherapy service. Key responsibilities include
commissioning, clinical implementation, contributing to the strategic
development of imaging in radiotherapy. The role also offers opportunities to
participate in and lead research and innovation activities, including support
for clinical trials.
Leeds
Cancer Centre is a major treatment centre delivering over 7,800 new
radiotherapy plans annually. The department is equipped with advanced
technology, including Elekta linear accelerators, CT and MR simulators, SGRT,
RayStation TPS, HDR brachytherapy, prostate brachytherapy, and Gamma Knife
ICON.
For
informal enquiries, please contact:
Dr
Bashar Al-Qaisieh bashar.al-qaisieh@nhs.net
Main duties of the job
- To fulfil the role of Medical
Physics Expert as required by the Ionising Radiations (Medical Exposures)
Regulations 2017, IR(ME)R (Statutory Instrument 2017 No.1322).
- To provide Medical Physics Expert
(MPE) advice and support for the provision of radiotherapy within the
Trust. Area of expertise will include
one or more of the following: radiotherapy technology/equipment and systems,
Brachytherapy and Gamma Knife, radiotherapy treatment planning, radiotherapy
imaging, radiotherapy research and innovation. Duties to include equipment installation,
acceptance, commissioning, calibration, dosimetry, quality assurance and
quality control. Radiotherapy, Brachytherapy and/or Gamma Knife treatment
planning, plan checking and technique development; Radiotherapy Imaging
clinical support, technique development and clinical implementation.
- To give expert Medical Physics
advice on radiotherapy dosimetry, planning, imaging, computing and
technology.
- To develop radiotherapy technology,
techniques, utilisation, verification and quality assurance. To design,
develop and manage appropriate radiotherapy systems, usage, data and
databases.
- To deputise for appropriate Section
Heads or senior staff in the Radiotherapy Physics Sections.
- To participate in the departmental
teaching and training programme for clinicians, radiographers, scientists and
technologists.
About us
Leeds
Cancer Centre at St Jamess University Hospital is a leading UK radiotherapy
centre delivering over 7,800 new treatment plans annually. Our Department of
Medical Physics and Engineering fosters clinical excellence, innovation, and
patient-centred care. The Radiotherapy Physics team is collaborative,
supportive, and research-active, with a strong culture of knowledge sharing
and professional development. We value curiosity, precision, and teamwork.
Our
team is recognised for advancing and supporting image- guided workflows, such
as CT/MRI auto contouring, CBCT adaptive techniques, and MR Only Rt pathway.
Staff work alongside clinicians, radiographers, and engineers in a
multidisciplinary environment. Benefits include exposure to cutting-edge
technology and have meaningful impact on service development and patient
outcomes.
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'
members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts
are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove
adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the
shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this
process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any
questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Role
Purpose
The
postholder fulfils the statutory role of Medical Physics Expert (MPE) under
the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R). The
role provides highly specialised scientific, technical, and clinical
expertise supporting safe, accurate, and innovative radiotherapy services
across domains such as radiotherapy technology, treatment planning, imaging,
brachytherapy, Gamma Knife, and research.
Scientific
& Clinical Duties
Deliver
expert medical physics support to radiotherapy services; act as a Medical
Physics Expert (MPE); provide advice on dosimetry, radiation protection,
imaging, planning, and technology. Perform and oversee equipment
installation, acceptance testing, commissioning, calibration, dosimetry, QA
and QC. Assess equipment safety and clinical readiness, lead responses to
technology failures, and support treatment planning, plan checking, and
technique development (e.g. IMRT/VMAT/SABR).
Leadership
& Supervision
Deputise
for Section Heads or senior physicists. Supervise scientific and technical
staff, assess trainee competency, identify training needs, and ensure
adequate equipment and resources.
Quality
& Safety
Manage
Quality Assurance programmes and datasets. Maintain compliance with IR(ME)R,
radiation safety legislation, and Local Rules. Conduct risk assessments and
maintain equipment/data records.
Clinical
Service Development
Identify
opportunities for service improvement. Implement new techniques and
technologies. Lead evaluation and clinical implementation of new equipment
and software. Contribute to strategic planning.
Teaching
& Training
Deliver
teaching and training to physicists, radiographers, clinicians, and students.
Contribute to academic programmes (e.g. MSc Medical Physics), FRCR training,
and trainee supervision.
Research
& Innovation
Lead
and participate in research and development activities. Evaluate emerging
technologies and techniques. Publish and present scientific work. Support
clinical trials and supervise research staff/students.
Professional
Responsibilities
Participate
in Continuing Professional Development (CPD), maintain professional
registration, and remain current with advances in radiotherapy physics.
Working
Relationships
Collaborate
closely with clinical oncologists, radiographers, clinical scientists,
technologists, engineers, and external NHS/academic/industry partners.
Communicate complex technical information regularly.
Special
Working Conditions
Regular
handling of heavy QA equipment; prolonged concentration and VDU use;
interaction with cancer patients; work with ionising radiation, radioactive
sources, high-voltage systems, RF/laser systems, and lead materials.
Occasional out-of-hours work and travel may be required.
Values
& Conduct
Aligned
with organisational values including patient-centred care, collaboration,
fairness, accountability, and empowerment. Emphasis on safety, integrity,
quality, confidentiality, and continuous improvement.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Role
Purpose
The
postholder fulfils the statutory role of Medical Physics Expert (MPE) under
the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R). The
role provides highly specialised scientific, technical, and clinical
expertise supporting safe, accurate, and innovative radiotherapy services
across domains such as radiotherapy technology, treatment planning, imaging,
brachytherapy, Gamma Knife, and research.
Scientific
& Clinical Duties
Deliver
expert medical physics support to radiotherapy services; act as a Medical
Physics Expert (MPE); provide advice on dosimetry, radiation protection,
imaging, planning, and technology. Perform and oversee equipment
installation, acceptance testing, commissioning, calibration, dosimetry, QA
and QC. Assess equipment safety and clinical readiness, lead responses to
technology failures, and support treatment planning, plan checking, and
technique development (e.g. IMRT/VMAT/SABR).
Leadership
& Supervision
Deputise
for Section Heads or senior physicists. Supervise scientific and technical
staff, assess trainee competency, identify training needs, and ensure
adequate equipment and resources.
Quality
& Safety
Manage
Quality Assurance programmes and datasets. Maintain compliance with IR(ME)R,
radiation safety legislation, and Local Rules. Conduct risk assessments and
maintain equipment/data records.
Clinical
Service Development
Identify
opportunities for service improvement. Implement new techniques and
technologies. Lead evaluation and clinical implementation of new equipment
and software. Contribute to strategic planning.
Teaching
& Training
Deliver
teaching and training to physicists, radiographers, clinicians, and students.
Contribute to academic programmes (e.g. MSc Medical Physics), FRCR training,
and trainee supervision.
Research
& Innovation
Lead
and participate in research and development activities. Evaluate emerging
technologies and techniques. Publish and present scientific work. Support
clinical trials and supervise research staff/students.
Professional
Responsibilities
Participate
in Continuing Professional Development (CPD), maintain professional
registration, and remain current with advances in radiotherapy physics.
Working
Relationships
Collaborate
closely with clinical oncologists, radiographers, clinical scientists,
technologists, engineers, and external NHS/academic/industry partners.
Communicate complex technical information regularly.
Special
Working Conditions
Regular
handling of heavy QA equipment; prolonged concentration and VDU use;
interaction with cancer patients; work with ionising radiation, radioactive
sources, high-voltage systems, RF/laser systems, and lead materials.
Occasional out-of-hours work and travel may be required.
Values
& Conduct
Aligned
with organisational values including patient-centred care, collaboration,
fairness, accountability, and empowerment. Emphasis on safety, integrity,
quality, confidentiality, and continuous improvement.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd class) honours degree in a relevant subject
- MSc or equivalent in radiotherapy physics [or equivalent field]
- State registration as a Clinical Scientist.
- Advanced experience to expert level in wide range of radiotherapy physics, in one or more of: radiotherapy tech/external beam treatment planning/radiotherapy imaging/brachytherapy physics/Gamma knife
- Management and supervision skills
Desirable
- PhD
- -Staff recruitment/Interviewing/ appraisal skills
Experience
Essential
- -Qualifications, knowledge and experience to act as Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R within the field of radiotherapy.
- -Expert knowledge and extensive practical experience of all main areas of radiotherapy physics, particularly radiation physics, radiotherapy technology, radiation dosimetry, computing and planning.
- -Acceptance testing and commissioning of radiotherapy equipment, other technology and Quality Assurance Techniques
- -Radiation Protection
- -Understanding of all aspects of patient progress through radiotherapy and the requirements of a radiotherapy physics service to ensure that it is performed in a safe and accurate manner.
- -Detailed understanding of patient and staff risks arising from the use of ionising radiation and radioactive sources for radiotherapy
- -Detailed understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, codes of practice, professional and other guidelines
Desirable
- -Working knowledge of CT, PET-CT, MRI and ultrasound imaging
- -Understanding of research matters including study design, funding and ethical issues.
- -Software Development Tools
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- -To act at all times in a professional manner, showing courtesy and respect for other staff and patients.
- -Maintain patient dignity and confidentiality
- -Ability to work flexibly
- -Ability to cope with large and variable workload
- -Ability to make decisions quickly and accurately in a stressful situation
- -Positive attitude to change
- -Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary), including clearance on blood borne viruses in compliance with Trust Policy.
Desirable
- -Able to develop good working relationships with external bodies (contractors, research partners, suppliers, academic bodies)
- -Able to negotiate with external contractors and PFI partners.
- -Able to direct and supervise the work of others.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd class) honours degree in a relevant subject
- MSc or equivalent in radiotherapy physics [or equivalent field]
- State registration as a Clinical Scientist.
- Advanced experience to expert level in wide range of radiotherapy physics, in one or more of: radiotherapy tech/external beam treatment planning/radiotherapy imaging/brachytherapy physics/Gamma knife
- Management and supervision skills
Desirable
- PhD
- -Staff recruitment/Interviewing/ appraisal skills
Experience
Essential
- -Qualifications, knowledge and experience to act as Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R within the field of radiotherapy.
- -Expert knowledge and extensive practical experience of all main areas of radiotherapy physics, particularly radiation physics, radiotherapy technology, radiation dosimetry, computing and planning.
- -Acceptance testing and commissioning of radiotherapy equipment, other technology and Quality Assurance Techniques
- -Radiation Protection
- -Understanding of all aspects of patient progress through radiotherapy and the requirements of a radiotherapy physics service to ensure that it is performed in a safe and accurate manner.
- -Detailed understanding of patient and staff risks arising from the use of ionising radiation and radioactive sources for radiotherapy
- -Detailed understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, codes of practice, professional and other guidelines
Desirable
- -Working knowledge of CT, PET-CT, MRI and ultrasound imaging
- -Understanding of research matters including study design, funding and ethical issues.
- -Software Development Tools
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- -To act at all times in a professional manner, showing courtesy and respect for other staff and patients.
- -Maintain patient dignity and confidentiality
- -Ability to work flexibly
- -Ability to cope with large and variable workload
- -Ability to make decisions quickly and accurately in a stressful situation
- -Positive attitude to change
- -Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary), including clearance on blood borne viruses in compliance with Trust Policy.
Desirable
- -Able to develop good working relationships with external bodies (contractors, research partners, suppliers, academic bodies)
- -Able to negotiate with external contractors and PFI partners.
- -Able to direct and supervise the work of others.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
