Group Leader – Laser and Optical Radiation Dosimetry

Job description

Job responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will include to:

• Lead and manage the Laser and Optical Radiation Dosimetry Group staff, research, services, strategic and scientific direction and work programme (including income generating activities).
• Provide expert advice within RCCE and to government departments in England, Scotland and Wales on exposures to optical radiation and their implications for public health. This includes supporting colleagues working with expert advisory committees, such as the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment, when they are working on optical radiation.
• Work collaboratively across RCCE to build scientific capability and to develop income streams from providing research and technical services in relation to exposures to optical radiation.
• Have significant autonomy within their specialist areas of expertise.
• Possess skills and experience to lead or advise specialised teams on potentially novel and complex projects for which there is no precedent and where there is a need for adaptive and creative thought.
• Occasionally travel, within the UK and overseas may be required.
• Some irregular and out of hours working may be required.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Selection process details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your knowledge and experience, and/or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 10 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)

• 1000-word Statement of Suitability

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

The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

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

• Meets all essentialcriteria

• Meets some essential criteria

• Meets no essential criteria

Piles Meets all essentialcriteriawill be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

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

• Extensive knowledge in the field of laser and optical radiation dosimetry and related health protection matters including ability to plan, initiate, design and manage all stages of research projects independently

Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

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.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

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

There will be a 10-minute Presentation at interview, full details will be provided at the shortlisting stage.

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 being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Chilton.

If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. 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. In exceptional circumstances 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.

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.

Person Specification

Essential criteria

Essential

• Qualification to PhD level in an appropriate scientific or public health / health protection discipline (e.g. Physics, Biology) or equivalent extensive experience in optical radiation dosimetry research
• Post-doctoral or similar experience sufficient to undertake all aspects of research or health protection projects with significant autonomy
• Extensive knowledge in the field of laser and optical radiation dosimetry and related health protection matters including ability to plan, initiate, design and manage all stages of research projects independently
• Excellent understanding of optical radiation exposures and protection, and with wider protection issues and the work of UKHSA
• Project management training and experience of managing scientific or similar projects with a number of internal and external collaborators within own area of expertise
• Experience in writing scientific papers for peer reviewed journals and presenting research findings at national/international scientific conferences with large audiences
• Proven experience of managing and motivating scientific staff underpinned by management training e.g. supervisory skills, time management
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills applied to a range of scientific, business and management tasks
• Strong skills in numerical and/or information analysis, problem solving and developing novel solutions for scientific, business and management problems
• Ability to produce clear well-structured written or presentational material for different audiences, including scientific, government departments and decision makers, and the general public, using various media e.g. reports, business proposals, digital platforms, peer-reviewed papers, briefings and correspondence

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Chilton

Harwell Campus

Didcot

OX11 0RQ

Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)