Job Description

Details

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Reference number

433739

Salary

30,441 - 35,576
per annum, pro rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Science

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, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RQ

About the job

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Job summary

Personal Dosimetry Services (PDS) is a commercial service, approved by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), that measures and reports the radiation doses to employees working with ionising radiations in various sectors, such as industrial, research and medical. PDS uses passive personal dosemeters, which are worn by the workers and then sent back to PDS for analysis. PDS also contributes to UKHSA's expertise and advice on radiation matters and generates a significant income for UKHSA. PDS has a staff of around 25 people and serves over 80,000 workers in the UK and abroad.


As a Laboratories Supervisor, you will be part of the laboratories team that supports PDS with ensuring the effective issuing and processing of customer dosemeters. You will be responsible for supervising the day to day running of the PDS dosemeter laboratories, ensuring an efficient and smooth service for our 7000+ customers. This will involve planning, prioritising and participating in the routine work, allocating staff to tasks and ensuring issue and processing targets are met for an average of approx. 9,000 radiation dosemeters/week.


PDS also has an emergency response function for population monitoring in the event of a radiation incident. The Laboratory Supervisor will help the Lab in its response to an incident, liaising with Process Manager and other PDS staff as needed.

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Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.


UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.


Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

The post holder's main duties will involve participating in the day-to-day work of the Laboratory and maintaining a high level of efficiency in accordance with the standard operating procedures. They will be required to supervisor a team which is responsible for the processing and issuing of 9,000 dosemeters per week to over 7,000 commercial customers.


They will be responsible for managing resources (staff and equipment) to meet issue and processing targets, taking decisions on work planning and task allocation to meet demand. This will involve liaising/negotiating with colleagues and other teams to inform these decisions and ensure smooth issue and assessment of customer dosemeters.


The role also involves the maintaining the quality assurance and reliability of the service including carrying out the daily QA checks for the dosemeter readers, preparing wrapping machine and issuing dosemeters for customer use, calibration of individual dosemeters and dosemeter batches. The stock levels must be regularly checked and liaison with the Lab Manager/PDS Manager on introduction or purchase of stock.


The job holder will be responsible for the routine technical aspects of the service such as monitoring and management of equipment, investigating and acting upon results which fail QA, and dealing with problems, e.g. in changes to requirements, software errors, IT failures, supplier failures, by prompt liaison with external and internal colleagues.


They will need to respond to and resolve customer queries and liaising with customers to provide interpretation of results and advice on personal dosimetry. The post holder will plan for the work of laboratories, based on expected demand, ensuring the teams deliver an excellent level of customer service that meets the relevant quality standards; reliable, prompt, courteous and clearly communicated.


The post holder will be required to manage a team which is responsible for the processing and issuing of 9,000 dosemeters per week to over 7,000 commercial customers. This will include:

Line management of 3 to 5 staff. Managing resources (staff and equipment) to ensure the service runs effectively, meeting issue and processing targets:
+ taking decisions on work planning and task allocation
+ adjusting these in the light of changing circumstances
+ negotiating with colleagues to inform these decisions.
+ Effectively supervising the staff in discharging the following tasks:
+ Daily QA checks for automatic dosemeter readers - analyse results and check data quality.
+ Reliable processing of customer dosemeters for dose assessment within required timescales.
+ Prioritising work of laboratories.
+ Preparing wrapping machine and issuing dosemeters for customer use
+ Calibration and individual dosemeters and dosemeter batches
Preparation of new dosemeters and seeing them through the different stages of initialisation; liaising with Finance on introduction of stock. Carrying out system of regular calibration of all readers to ensure reliability of service and assessments. Monitoring and management of equipment; using internal and external support to ensure efficiency of Laboratory machines. Investigating and acting upon results which fail QA. Responding to and resolving customer queries and liaising with customers by phone, letter, email or in person; providing interpretation of results and advice on personal dosimetry. Ensuring excellent communication within own team, the rest of PDS (including participation in Supervisors meetings) and with customers. Forward planning for work of laboratories, based on expected demand. Ensuring the teams deliver an excellent level of customer service that meets the relevant quality standards; reliable, prompt, courteous and clearly communicated. Reviewing and developing laboratory procedures (Manuals, Standard Operating Procedures) and input into quality documents, including maintaining approval for PDS under ISO17025 standard. Carrying out projects to develop the thermoluminescence dosimetry services as necessary. Dealing with problems, e.g. in changes to requirements, software errors, IT failures, supplier failures, by prompt liaison with external and internal colleagues. Training of staff where necessary

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 and administrative staff within PDS group - frequently during the day Scientific staff in Department up to Group Leader - daily Administration staff in Department - daily. Specialist staff in other groups/departments (Including Leeds PADC Lab) - daily/weekly. Head of Department - monthly. Scientific staff in other Departments up to Head of Department - weekly/monthly.

External

Commercial customers - daily. This is likely to be phone or e-mail contact with customers at a wide range of levels, from non-specialists up to senior management. It will involve communicating non-routine results such as high doses, urgent assessments and dose queries. Customers' specialist Radiation Protection Advisers - monthly. PDS Suppliers, including support engineers - weekly. Colleagues in other dosimetry services - several times/ year. HSE specialists - several times/ year.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attend internal / external training events. Participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

This is not an exhaustive list.

Person specification

At least two A-Levels (including Maths and a science subject at Grade C or above) and five GCSEs (including English at Grade C or above); or equivalent qualifications; or equivalent experience working a senior role within a laboratory environment with supervisory responsibilities Experience of working in a scientific environment, including extensive experience of working in a commercial environment to include direct contact with customers. Experience of working in a team Excellent customer care skills, which includes the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to form good working relationships with customers, staff and suppliers; working flexibly within the PDS team. Excellent organisational and planning skills; including prioritisation. Good analytical and decision-making skills Competent computer skills (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel and web-based products), including a good understanding of computer record functions and processes Physically fit/able to carry out moderate lifting tasks

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 30,441, UK Health Security Agency contributes 8,818 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%

Things you need to know

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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.

Stage 1: Application & Sift


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

an application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) a 800 word supporting statement

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


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.


The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.


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

Experience of working in a scientific environment, including extensive experience of working in a commercial environment to include direct contact with customers.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.


Please do not exceed 800 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.


Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview


You will be invited to a face to face interview.


Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.


You will be required to prepare a 5 minute presentation as part of the interview. The subject of this will be of your choice but relevant to the role.


The interview will also include a tour of the labs and a short practical of assembling dosemeters.


Interviews will be held week commencing 17th November 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.


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 lab based at UKHSA Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0RQ. Please note that hybrid working is not available with this role.

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.


Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter Terrorism Check clearance.


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 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.

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/

International Police 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.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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

Internal Fraud check

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.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers




Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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 counter-terrorist check .



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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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 : Jon Payne Email : jonathan.payne@ukhsa.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@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


http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7553912