Job Description

Details

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Reference number

439549

Salary

56,185 - 66,581
per annum pro rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Grade 7

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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Glasgow, G51 4LS

About the job

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Job summary

The Radiation Hazards and Emergencies Department (RHED) leads UKHSA's emergency response and preparedness function in case of radiation and nuclear emergencies. It also provides advice and support to external organisations and central Government on issues surrounding emergency response and countermeasures to be taken.


The Radiochemistry Group (RG) has a primary role to provide analytical measurements of environmental and biological samples to support emergency response advice, as well as providing commercial services to a broad range of customers. The work is performed under accredited systems (ISO 17025, ISO 14001).

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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 postholder will be responsible for managing a team of staff within the Group, focussed principally, but not exclusively, on researching, developing and applying radiometric methods and instrumentation supporting of RG's primary roles. This involves developing and maintaining a range of suitable testing and reporting procedures for environmental, industrial and emergency samples and ensuring staff are fully trained and competent in these procedures.


They will be responsible for the training of their Team ensuring training programmes are prepared, in place and adhered to, as well using their expertise and experience to provide on-the-job training to a range of staff members Reporting to the Radiochemistry Group Leader, the postholder will be required to act on behalf of the Group Leader on occasions.


The postholder may also be asked to undertake more general corporate duties, in areas such as safety management, environmental management or radioactivity management.


Your key responsibilities will include:

Manage a team of staff working in radiometrics Contribute to current commercial contracts e.g. sample analysis, report preparation etc Project manage commercial contracts or developmental work within the group Contribute to the development of UKHSA's radiation emergency preparedness and response arrangements Develop testing protocols for required analyte/matrix combinations for commercial and emergency samples Ensure the work of the team satisfies applicable QA requirements Work with the team to ensure new protocols are written and implemented, and staff competency has been demonstrated. Manage the accreditation process for new procedures as required Work with other Team Leaders and RG Group Leader to develop polices and business plans for the Radiochemistry Group Work with staff across RHED and broader RCCE / UKHSA to ensure emergency testing procedures are integrated with broader ER response systems Undertake broader corporate tasks as directed by the Group Leader and/or Head of Department

This is not an exhaustive list.


The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include:

Internal

Radiochemistry Group Leader and other Group staff - Daily Staff in other in Departments with RCCE - Weekly. Staff across UKHSA - Weekly and during incidents.
External

Commercial customers - frequently Instrument manufacturers - frequently External auditors and regulators (e.g. SEPA, UKAS etc) - frequently

Person specification

Essential Criteria

At least an Under Graduate level degree in Chemistry or a related discipline, or equivalent qualification, or substantial professional experience in a laboratory environment High level of experience in all aspects of radiochemical analysis and radiometrics (laboratory processing and use of instrumentation) Good understanding of the principles of analysis and detectors for a range of radiochemical processes Experience of working in a formally accredited QA environment Experience of line management of staff Experience in setting up and managing development or application projects to completion and evaluating effectiveness Ability to produce clear well-structured written material Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) Ability to work on a number of separate tasks at the same time, often independently, whilst keeping to agreed deadlines often working under pressure with competing priorities An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable role criteria:

Good problem-solving skills and adaptability to rapidly changing demands Strong IT skills in Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, SharePoint, Teams etc

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes 16,276 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 is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours and strengths.

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 1500 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.


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

Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.



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

At least an Under Graduate level degree in Chemistry or a related discipline, or equivalent qualification, or substantial professional experience in a laboratory environment High level of experience in all aspects of radiochemical analysis and radiometrics (laboratory processing and use of instrumentation) Good understanding of the principles of analysis and detectors for a range of radiochemical processes

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.


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


Please do not exceed 1500 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. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.


Behaviours and strengths will be tested at interview.


You will be required to prepare a 5 - 10 minute presentation as part of the interview. You will be asked to present an example of troubleshooting a problem you have encountered and how you identified a resolution.


The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

Changing and Improving Leadership Developing Self and Others

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 Glasgow, G51 4LS. 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 (CTC) 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


https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/London/Glasgow/UK_Health_Security_Agency/Science/Science-v7646116?set-locale=en-gb&_ts=1