Job responsibilities
The post holders main duties will involve participating in the day-to-day work of the Laboratory and maintaining a high level of efficiency in accordance with the standard operating procedures. They will be required to supervisor a team which is responsible for the processing and issuing of 9,000 dosemeters per week to over 7,000 commercial customers.
They will be responsible for managing resources (staff and equipment) to meet issue and processing targets, taking decisions on work planning and task allocation to meet demand. This will involve liaising/negotiating with colleagues and other teams to inform these decisions and ensure smooth issue and assessment of customer dosemeters.
The role also involves the maintaining the quality assurance and reliability of the service including carrying out the daily QA checks for the dosemeter readers, preparing wrapping machine and issuing dosemeters for customer use, calibration of individual dosemeters and dosemeter batches. The stock levels must be regularly checked and liaison with the Lab Manager/PDS Manager on introduction or purchase of stock.
The job holder will be responsible for the routine technical aspects of the service such as monitoring and management of equipment, investigating and acting upon results which fail QA, and dealing with problems, e.g. in changes to requirements, software errors, IT failures, supplier failures, by prompt liaison with external and internal colleagues.
They will need to respond to and resolve customer queries and liaising with customers to provide interpretation of results and advice on personal dosimetry. The post holder will plan for the work of laboratories, based on expected demand, ensuring the teams deliver an excellent level of customer service that meets the relevant quality standards; reliable, prompt, courteous and clearly communicated.
The post holder will be required to manage a team which is responsible for the processing and issuing of 9,000 dosemeters per week to over 7,000 commercial customers. This will include:
- Line management of 3 to 5 staff.
- Managing resources (staff and equipment) to ensure the service runs effectively, meeting issue and processing targets:
- taking decisions on work planning and task allocation
- adjusting these in the light of changing circumstances
- negotiating with colleagues to inform these decisions.
- Effectively supervising the staff in discharging the following tasks:
- Daily QA checks for automatic dosemeter readers - analyse results and check data quality.
- Reliable processing of customer dosemeters for dose assessment within required timescales.
- Prioritising work of laboratories.
- Preparing wrapping machine and issuing dosemeters for customer use
- Calibration and individual dosemeters and dosemeter batches
- Preparation of new dosemeters and seeing them through the different stages of initialisation; liaising with Finance on introduction of stock.
- Carrying out system of regular calibration of all readers to ensure reliability of service and assessments.
- Monitoring and management of equipment; using internal and external support to ensure efficiency of Laboratory machines.
- Investigating and acting upon results which fail QA.
- Responding to and resolving customer queries and liaising with customers by phone, letter, email or in person; providing interpretation of results and advice on personal dosimetry.
- Ensuring excellent communication within own team, the rest of PDS (including participation in Supervisors meetings) and with customers.
- Forward planning for work of laboratories, based on expected demand.
- Ensuring the teams deliver an excellent level of customer service that meets the relevant quality standards; reliable, prompt, courteous and clearly communicated.
- Reviewing and developing laboratory procedures (Manuals, Standard Operating Procedures) and input into quality documents, including maintaining approval for PDS under ISO17025 standard.
- Carrying out projects to develop the thermoluminescence dosimetry services as necessary.
- Dealing with problems, e.g. in changes to requirements, software errors, IT failures, supplier failures, by prompt liaison with external and internal colleagues.
- Training of staff where necessary
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include:
Internal
- Scientific and administrative staff within PDS group frequently during the day
- Scientific staff in Department up to Group Leader - daily
- Administration staff in Department daily.
- Specialist staff in other groups/departments (Including Leeds PADC Lab) daily/weekly.
- Head of Department monthly.
- Scientific staff in other Departments up to Head of Department weekly/monthly.
External
- Commercial customers daily. This is likely to be phone or e-mail contact with customers at a wide range of levels, from non-specialists up to senior management. It will involve communicating non-routine results such as high doses, urgent assessments and dose queries.
- Customers specialist Radiation Protection Advisers monthly.
- PDS Suppliers, including support engineers weekly.
- Colleagues in other dosimetry services several times/ year.
- HSE specialists several times/ year.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attend internal / external training events.
- Participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
This is not an exhaustive list.
Essential Criteria
- At least two A-Levels (including English and Maths at Grade C or above) and five GCSEs (including a science subject at Grade C or above); or equivalent qualifications; or equivalent experience working a senior role within a laboratory environment with supervisory responsibilities
- Experience of working in a scientific environment, including extensive experience of working in a commercial environment to include direct contact with customers.
- Experience of working in a team
- Excellent customer care skills, which includes the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to form good working relationships with customers, staff and suppliers; working flexibly within the PDS team.
- Excellent organisational and planning skills; including prioritisation.
- Good analytical and decision-making skills
- Competent computer skills (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel and web-based products), including a good understanding of computer record functions and processes
- Physically fit/able to carry out moderate lifting tasks
Selection Process
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
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 800 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.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:
- Experience of working in a scientific environment, including extensive experience of working in a commercial environment to include direct contact with customers.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.
Please do not exceed 800 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.
Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.
You will be required to prepare a 5 minute presentation as part of the interview. The subject of this will be of your choice but relevant to the role.
The interview will also include a tour of the labs and a short practical of assembling dosemeters.
Interviews will be held week commencing 17th November 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
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 Chilton, Didcot,OX11 0RQ. 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 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.
