Job Description

Details

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Reference number

420995

Salary

81,000 - 117,800
Per annum, pro rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

SCS Pay Band 1

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Radiation, Chemical, Climate & Environmental Hazards Directorate Office

Type of role

Science

Senior leadership

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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UKHSA Chilton, Didcot OX11 0RQ

About the job

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Job summary

The UKHSA Radiation, Chemical, Climate and Environmental Hazards (RCCE) Directorate primarily focusses on non-infectious diseases allowing UKHSA to fulfil its mission of preventing preparing for and responding to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, keeping communities safe, saving lives and protect livelihoods.


The Deputy Director of the Radiation Protection Sciences Division supports the Director by taking the lead on all scientific matters pertaining to radiation protection within RCCE, with the objective of ensuring that the UKHSA sustains its reputation as the nation's foremost repository of expertise in the science of radiation protection.


Radiation Protection Sciences Division provides a full suite of services and capabilities that facilitate the safe use of radiations, both ionising and non-ionising, in industry and medicine and also protecting the public from harm in daily life and in case of a radiological or nuclear emergency.


As part of the Civil Contingencies Act the Division maintains a Category 1 Response capability to respond to a radiation or nuclear incident.


The Division develops evidence through research activities and applies that research to develop services, many of which generate significant income.

Job description

The Division delivers first class radiation protection advisor services, personal dosimetry services, environmental/people monitoring capabilities, instrument testing services, radiological assessment capabilities and advice to all sectors, including the medical sector.


Key responsibilities will include:


o Providing all specialist radiation protection functions for UKHSA. This includes core-funded services to UKHSA, DHSC, and other government Departments, including the emergency response functions and externally funded services to funding bodies, customers including various industry and healthcare sectors, international bodies, the public, and others.


o Providing scientific advice on radiation protection to government, industry, international bodies, professional groups, and others.


o Managing UKHSA input into relevant Expert Committees.


o Making decisions on radiation protection advice, routine and major incidents, emergency preparedness and response plans, content of communications with parliamentarians, the public, professionals and others, external funding strategy, and service provision. Strengthening emergency response capacity and capabilities to ensure a robust function in line with UKHSA's ambition.

Performance of reporting Departments, reputation with stakeholders on radiation protection matters

o Developing business plans that cover resources, activities, outputs, and outcomes, tracking performance, delivery, and results and all stages


o Leading approximately 250 people currently organised in 6 Departments, located in Chilton, Leeds, and Glasgow.


o Managing resources of approximately 20 million directly


o May act as RCCE Deputy Director lead for the RCCE estate in Chilton, Leeds and Glasgow, capital equipment, and key information assets.

For further details, please see the attached Candidate Pack.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

o PhD or equivalent experience in one or more of the scientific disciplines that underpin radiation protection


o Substantial experience of engagement in national and international advisory work in relation to radiation protection


o Experience of contributing in a senior role to a radiation emergency incident or national level civil nuclear or military emergency exercises


o Strong scientific leadership skills to promote and develop RCCE's radiation protection functions through internal UKHSA engagement and engagement with external stakeholders/funders


o High level technical/scientific writing and presentation skills to develop and communicate advice at the international level


o Ability to communicate complex science to non-specialist audiences, including the public, sometimes in challenging environments


o Ability to work under pressure and to short deadlines

Desirable Criteria

Additional knowledge of the following is preferable but not mandatory:

o Experience of managing a large and complex scientific function

For further details, please see the attached Candidate Pack.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:


Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Managing a Quality Service Delivering at Pace

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 81,000, UK Health Security Agency contributes 23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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 consider 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/

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours.
Essential Criteria

o PhD or equivalent experience in one or more of the scientific disciplines that underpin radiation protection


o Substantial experience of engagement in national and international advisory work in relation to radiation protection


o Experience of contributing in a senior role to a radiation emergency incident or national level civil nuclear or military emergency exercises


o Strong scientific leadership skills to promote and develop RCCE's radiation protection functions through internal UKHSA engagement and engagement with external stakeholders/funders


o High level technical/scientific writing and presentation skills to develop and communicate advice at the international level


o Ability to communicate complex science to non-specialist audiences, including the public, sometimes in challenging environments


o Ability to work under pressure and to short deadlines


Desirable Criteria

Additional knowledge of the following is preferable but not mandatory:

o Experience of managing a large and complex scientific function

For further details, please see the attached Candidate Pack.

External

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Success Profiles


At sift stage you will be assessed against Experience, using the essential criteria listed in the .


You will be required to complete an:


o Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application)

o up to 1000 word Supporting Statement.



This should detail how you meet the essential criteria referencing evidence of your experience and skills.


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 C.V. - please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible).


Your statement of suitability must be no more than 1000 words.


If we receive a large number of applications we will conduct an initial sift against qualifications / equivalent experience.


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


Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

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


Interviews will be held week commencing 22nd September 2025, please note these dates are subject to change.


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


Behaviours:


o Seeing the Big Picture

o Communicating and Influencing

o Managing a Quality Service

o Delivering at Pace


You will be asked to prepare and present a 5 minute presentation. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview. Slides will be permitted.


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


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


Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security 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 it could be time accrued over that period.


Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Developed Vetting.


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 10 years as the role requires Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. 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.


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.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 2 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.




As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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) 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
Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : RCCE Private Office Email : rcceprivateoffice@ukhsa.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : scs.mdrecruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

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.uk If 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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk