Principal Radiation Protection Specialist

The job holder will lead the work of a topic group of radiation protection specialists and radiation protection scientists who collectively focus on a particular area of radiation protection work. This will involve the development of internal policy and guidance on scientific and technical aspects of the work in addition to co-ordinating smooth service delivery, with emphasis on occupational exposure, patient exposure and exposures to members of the public.
**The primary roles/functions are**:
The provision of commercial radiation protection services to a wide range of clients, advising on and assisting with regulatory compliance and implementation of effective safety management programmes for work with ionising and non-ionising radiations. This is achieved through visits to client premises, situation analysis/risk assessment and the preparation of persuasive and authoritative reports
Contribution to the development and delivery of radiation protection training services, including acting as course manager for training courses
Responding to enquiries on a wide range of radiation protection issues from the public, industry and local and national agencies
Responding to radiation events and incidents on behalf of commercial clients
Support and contribute to UKHSA’s emergency response role for radiological incidents and, when required, non-radiological events
Training and supervising new and less experienced staff in RPA and RWA/LPA/MPE and other related activities
Supporting UKHSA activities relating to the development of standards, legislation etc with respect to operational radiation protection issues
Please see the job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities.
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.
Technical and scientific
To lead the work of a topic group of radiation protection specialists and radiation protection scientists who collectively focus on a particular area of radiation protection work. This will involve the development of internal policy and guidance on scientific and technical aspects of the work in addition to co-ordinating smooth service delivery, with emphasis on occupational exposure, patient exposure and exposures to members of the public.
**Duties include**:
Leading scientific, technical and professional development for a particular area of radiation protection work, including development of internal policy and guidance, and ensuring written advice is of high quality
Identifying, prioritising, leading and coordinating scientific and technical development needs for a particular area of radiation protection work
Significant input into national standards, (e.g. drafting publications recommending revised national DRLs for patient exposure, involvement in development of guidance/protocols for emergent technologies, presentations at conferences) and input into international standards (eg commentary on draft revised standards, reviews of draft papers)
Responsibility for all relevant equipment and facilities
Financial responsibility for the income and expenditure in relation to the particular area of radiation protection work including preparation of bids for capital and revenue budgets and monitoring expenditure
To act as a radiation protection adviser (RPA) and at least one of radioactive waste adviser (RWA), laser protection adviser (LPA) or medical physics expert (MPE) in support of RCE’s radiation protection consultancy services.
To provide expert advice on compliance with all relevant radiation safety legislation, which may include novel interpretation of complex legal requirements
To develop, plan and conduct complex radiation safety audits at clients’ premises
To critically examine and analyse newly installed equipment capable of emitting ionising radiation
To give expert advice on the decommissioning of facilities where radioactive materials have been used
To act as a specialist point of reference, providing expert advice on the design of new facilities and techniques where radiation is used
Radiation protection training
Contributing to the development and delivery of scheduled and customised training courses at occupational and professional levels, including courses provided to senior radiation protection professionals
Health protection
To provide written and verbal advice on protection of the public from radiation hazards and provide information to the public and others on radiological issues as appropriate
Participation in scientific meetings and conferences, presenting papers on radiation protection matters. These may be at internal (UKHSA), national or international level. Disseminate information and knowledge gathered from partici