231524 - Principal Physicist – Radiation Protection

We are seeking to recruit an experienced and motivated Radiation Protection physicist, who will work as a Radiation Protection Adviser and Medical Physics Expert providing expert advice to users of ionising radiation within NHS Lothian.

You will work within a team of 8 physicists and 6 technologists. The Radiation Protection Section provides scientific advice and technical support to Radiology, Radiotherapy, and all other users of ionising radiation and radionuclides. The section also supports users of non-ionising radiation such as lasers and UV phototherapy. The post holder will work closely with the other Radiation Protection Advisers within NHS Lothian to deliver a high quality radiation protection service.

At NHS Lothian we have a strong commitment to staff development, engagement and positive staff experience. This post offers an excellent opportunity to further your career within the beautiful, vibrant city of Edinburgh.

We strive to provide high quality, safe, effective and person-centred healthcare, continually improving clinical outcomes for patients who use our services and for our population as a whole, through the application of NHS Lothian's core values of values of quality, teamwork, care & compassion, dignity & respect, and openness, honesty and responsibility.

You will hold as a minimum an honours degree or equivalent qualification in a physical science or an appropriate engineering discipline (e.g. electrical or electronic engineering). Corporate membership of IPEM and registration as a Clinical Scientist (Medical Physics) with the Health and Care Professions Council are essential. You should have certification through RPA2000 to allow appointment as a Radiation Protection Adviser and be on the RPA2000 list of Medical Physics Experts. Certification as an RWA and/or LPA would be advantageous.

You must be able to demonstrate initiative, written and verbal communication skills as well as tact, diplomacy, leadership, organisational and scientific skills. You must have the ability to work well as part of a team and be keen to help train and develop junior members of the section. The post requires travel across Lothian and Fife.

If you do not have sufficient experience for this role, we are also advertising a part-time (22.2hours 0.6WTE) 8A post at this time.

For an informal discussion about this post or how you can fit into our team, please contact Nicola Macdonald, Head of Radiation Protection, on or

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.