Job summary
We
are seeking a motivated and experienced Principal Clinical Scientist (Band
8b) to join the Radiotherapy Physics team at St Jamess University Hospital,
Leeds, for a 12-month position. This role is integral to maintaining and
enhancing our clinical services, covering imaging, treatment planning,
dosimetry, and quality assurance of external beam therapy equipment. As
Deputy Lead for Radiotherapy Imaging and R&D, you will also play a
crucial role in research and innovation, translating cutting-edge radiotherapy
techniques into clinical practice.
This
position offers a unique opportunity to work in a leading cancer centre,
treating over 7,500 new radiotherapy patients annually. With a strong focus
on research and development, you will contribute to funded projects,
collaborate on national clinical trials, and help advance imaging
technologies to optimise patient treatments.
If
you are an enthusiastic and skilled professional looking to make a meaningful
impact in radiotherapy physics while developing your expertise in a patient
centred environment, we encourage you to apply.
Expected Shortlisting
Date
22/04/2025
Planned Interview
Date
09/05/2025
Main duties of the job
The
role of this post is to:
Plan
and actively coordinate clinical development projects to meet the advancing
technology demands of the radiotherapy service.
Provide
operational management for, and participate in the execution of, highly
complex, clinically relevant radiotherapy research and development, and the
translation of outcomes into clinical practise.
Work
closely with other clinical radiotherapy professionals providing scientific
leadership and identify and provide scientific support requirements of the
radiotherapy service.
Assist
the lead for Research and Innovation and Radiotherapy Imaging in defining and
developing the research programme and in the writing of project grants to
compete for research funding
About us
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest and busiest acute hospital
trusts in the UK. We are committed to delivering the highest quality and
safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our staff helped to
define the values and behaviours that we should work to so that we can
achieve this vision. This has become known as The Leeds Way, and forms the
foundation of our culture, our ethos and how we work every day.
The
radiotherapy service in St Jamess treats over 7500 new radiotherapy patients
per annum. The centre is equipped with the latest technology, including 12
Versa HDs, 3 CT Simulators, MR Simulator, RayStation treatment planning, a
Flexitron remote afterloading, advanced image guided brachytherapy, I-125
prostate brachytherapy service and Gamma Knife ICON. The managed equipment
service was recently renewed, ensuring equipment replacement and
comprehensive support for the next 15 years.
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'
members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts
are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove
adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the
shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this
process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any
questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
-Clinical
Development
The
role involves leading the development and implementation of new imaging
techniques in radiotherapy, improving treatment outcomes and ensuring optimal
use of imaging equipment. Responsibilities include evaluating and procuring
new imaging technologies, monitoring software development, and contributing
to clinical development projects.
-Research
& Development
A
key responsibility is conducting complex research to enhance radiotherapy
services. The role involves managing R&D projects, supervising research
staff, publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals, securing external
funding, and collaborating with universities and industry partners.
Compliance with data protection and research governance policies is
essential.
-Clinical
Service
Duties
include performing quality assurance on radiotherapy machines, calibrating
equipment, commissioning new technology, and ensuring accurate radiation dose
delivery. The role supports treatment planning and clinical implementation of
advanced techniques like IMRT and IGRT while providing expert advice as a
Medical Physics Expert (MPE).
-Management
The
post holder deputises for the section head when required, oversees staff
recruitment and project management, and contributes to policy development.
Ensuring compliance with UK radiation regulations and negotiating with
technical teams and manufacturers to optimise equipment use are key aspects
of the role.
-Teaching
& Training
Responsibilities
include training junior clinical scientists, lecturing on university courses,
and educating oncologists, radiographers, and other medical staff on
radiotherapy physics and imaging.
-Professional
Development
Maintaining
Clinical Scientist registration, engaging in continuous professional
development (CPD), and staying updated on technical advancements are
required.
-Additional
Duties
The
role may require flexible working hours to support clinical services and
adherence to patient confidentiality and public involvement policies to
improve service quality.
Job description
Job responsibilities
-Clinical
Development
The
role involves leading the development and implementation of new imaging
techniques in radiotherapy, improving treatment outcomes and ensuring optimal
use of imaging equipment. Responsibilities include evaluating and procuring
new imaging technologies, monitoring software development, and contributing
to clinical development projects.
-Research
& Development
A
key responsibility is conducting complex research to enhance radiotherapy
services. The role involves managing R&D projects, supervising research
staff, publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals, securing external
funding, and collaborating with universities and industry partners.
Compliance with data protection and research governance policies is
essential.
-Clinical
Service
Duties
include performing quality assurance on radiotherapy machines, calibrating
equipment, commissioning new technology, and ensuring accurate radiation dose
delivery. The role supports treatment planning and clinical implementation of
advanced techniques like IMRT and IGRT while providing expert advice as a
Medical Physics Expert (MPE).
-Management
The
post holder deputises for the section head when required, oversees staff
recruitment and project management, and contributes to policy development.
Ensuring compliance with UK radiation regulations and negotiating with
technical teams and manufacturers to optimise equipment use are key aspects
of the role.
-Teaching
& Training
Responsibilities
include training junior clinical scientists, lecturing on university courses,
and educating oncologists, radiographers, and other medical staff on
radiotherapy physics and imaging.
-Professional
Development
Maintaining
Clinical Scientist registration, engaging in continuous professional
development (CPD), and staying updated on technical advancements are
required.
-Additional
Duties
The
role may require flexible working hours to support clinical services and
adherence to patient confidentiality and public involvement policies to
improve service quality.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualifications and Training.
- Special Knowledge including Radiotherapy imaging.
- Clinical Experience and Career Progression
- Clinical and Academic Skills
- Behaviours/Skills
Desirable
- PhD in Physical Sciences
- Fellowship of IPEM
- Management qualification
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Creative lateral thinker
- Ability to work flexibly
- Ability to cope with large and variable workload
- Ability to make decisions quickly and accurately in a stressful situation, e.g. about a patient in pain or anaesthetised
- Positive attitude to change
- To act at all times in a professional manner, showing courtesy and respect for other staff and patients.
- Maintain patient dignity and confidentiality.
Experience
Essential
- Expert knowledge of radiation physics, and applications of imaging and computing in radiotherapy.
- Qualifications, knowledge and experience to act as Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R within the field of radiotherapy
- Understanding of all aspects of the patient radiotherapy pathway, and the requirements of a radiotherapy physics service to ensure that it is performed in a safe and accurate manner
- Detailed understanding of patient and staff risks arising from the use of ionising radiation and radioactive sources for radiotherapy
- Detailed understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, codes of practice, professional and other guidelines
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary), including clearance on blood borne viruses in compliance with Trust Policy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualifications and Training.
- Special Knowledge including Radiotherapy imaging.
- Clinical Experience and Career Progression
- Clinical and Academic Skills
- Behaviours/Skills
Desirable
- PhD in Physical Sciences
- Fellowship of IPEM
- Management qualification
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Creative lateral thinker
- Ability to work flexibly
- Ability to cope with large and variable workload
- Ability to make decisions quickly and accurately in a stressful situation, e.g. about a patient in pain or anaesthetised
- Positive attitude to change
- To act at all times in a professional manner, showing courtesy and respect for other staff and patients.
- Maintain patient dignity and confidentiality.
Experience
Essential
- Expert knowledge of radiation physics, and applications of imaging and computing in radiotherapy.
- Qualifications, knowledge and experience to act as Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R within the field of radiotherapy
- Understanding of all aspects of the patient radiotherapy pathway, and the requirements of a radiotherapy physics service to ensure that it is performed in a safe and accurate manner
- Detailed understanding of patient and staff risks arising from the use of ionising radiation and radioactive sources for radiotherapy
- Detailed understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, codes of practice, professional and other guidelines
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary), including clearance on blood borne viruses in compliance with Trust Policy.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
