Group Leader – Existing Exposures

Job responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead and manage a group in the Radiation Assessments department staffing, research, services, strategic and scientific direction and work programme (including income generating activities).
• Ensure that RCCE maintains an effective existing exposures assessment capability in this specialist area across a whole range of existing exposure situations (including recovery). This will include the maintenance of skills within the group for existing exposure assessments and associated radiation protection matters as well as a requirement to train and develop staff across the wider RCCE as required to ensure effective support to this function.
• Lead for RCCE in support of the international work in which UKHSA is participating in radiation assessment-related activities and related public protection matters.
• Assume a lead role in emergency response.
• Represent the organisation on a range of international/national and internal working groups and committees.
• Provide expert advice within RCCE and to government departments in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on radiation assessments and associated public health protection matters.
• Pursue the commercial exploitation of software developed for existing exposures and radiation assessment calculations.
• Have significant autonomy within their specialist areas of expertise.
• Contribute to the management of the Radiation Assessments Department including representing the Head of Department as appropriate.
• The postholder will possess skills and experience to lead specialised teams on potentially novel and complex projects for which there is no precedent and where there is a need for adaptive and creative thought.
• The direct line management of several senior members of the group.
• The postholder will promote consistency and the sharing of knowledge across the Department by supporting the activities of the Departmental scientific Co-ordination Groups and the Quality Management System.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Selection process details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 10 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application

• 1000 word Statement of Suitability

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

Please note that you will only be assessed on the essential criteria listed within the advert and not all those listed in the job description.

The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

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

• Meets all essentialcriteria

• Meets some essential criteria

• Meets no essential criteria

Piles Meets all essentialcriteria and Meets some essential criteriawill be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Experience and expertise in carrying out environmental radiation assessments

Please do not exceed 1000 words.We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

There will be a 510-minute presentation at interview, full details of the subject will be provided at the shortlisting stage.

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working at our Scientific Campus in Chilton.

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 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC). 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.

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.

Essential criteria 1

Essential

• Qualification to PhD level in an appropriate scientific or public health / health protection discipline i.e., radiation protection, mathematics, physical science, environmental science, or equivalent experience gained through leading scientific research projects, being involved in regulatory activities or development of advice and guidance in such a discipline

Essential criteria 2

Essential

• Experience and expertise in carrying out environmental radiation assessments

Essential criteria 3

Essential

• Extensive knowledge in the field of radiation assessments and related public health protection matters including ability to plan, initiate, design and manage all stages of research projects independently

Essential criteria 4

Essential

• Excellent understanding of radiation protection

Essential criteria 5

Essential

• Training and experience in project management

Essential criteria 6

Essential

• Experience of managing scientific or similar projects with a number of internal and external collaborators within own area of expertise

Essential criteria 7

Essential

• Experience in writing scientific papers for peer reviewed journal and presenting research findings at national/international scientific conferences with large audiences

Essential criteria 8

Essential

• Training and experience in radiation emergency preparedness (real emergencies or exercises) in a specialist or defined role with ability to develop into the team leader role

Essential criteria 9

Essential

• Information technology experience including familiarity with standard office software and specialist software related to the tasks of the job

Essential criteria 10

Essential

• Proven experience of managing scientific staff plus attendance at formal and practical management training e.g. supervisory skills, time management

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).