Radon Support Scientist

at  UK Health Security Agency

JOB SUMMARY

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
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.
Radon gas is the largest single source of ionising radiation exposure to the UK population. It is responsible for the lung cancer deaths of more than 1,100 people in the UK each year, and comes from natural sources in rocks and soils, building materials and water. The Radon Group consists of ~20 people with a mixture of skills: scientific, technical, logistical and business. Our role is to increase awareness of radon, provide measurements and advice on how to tackle radon in homes and workplaces, and undertake the research and development that support our services. Our public-facing website www.ukradon.org is centred on the radon potential map of the UK, which was created from a combination of radon measurement data from almost 600,000 homes and local geology. The Radon Group is part of the Radiation, Chemicals, Climate and Environmental (RCCE) Hazards Directorate.
The Radon Programmes Team focuses on the analysis of large databases of radon measurements, assessing and advising on the effectiveness of radon reduction techniques, interactions with regulators, answering the more complex technical queries from householders and employers, and leading on new programmes such as measurement surveys.
This position is not a home-working position. The post-holder is expected to work 60% of their time in the office (Chilton) and, if desired, 40% from home.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This role will provide an interesting and supported introduction to project management in the Radon Group. The post holder will be responsible for a diverse range of activities to support the delivery of the team’s objectives (usually within larger programmes), will help to support the smooth running of the project by assisting the operation of project management processes, and the co-ordination of business management actions and activities on behalf of the project team. The post holder will be expected to support the project manager with activities such as communication across the business, maintenance of central project records and production of regular management reports.
The post holder will receive extensive training in radiation protection with a view to developing their own areas of interest within the Radon Group. This will lead to the running of their own research and development projects, which may be presented at national and international events.

Specific duties of the role may vary depending on the project in the planning, delivery or analysis phase.

• Planning and scheduling – Assist with and maintain appropriate systems to enable effective planning and scheduling. Experience of working across teams, establishing processes and working to deadlines.
• Monitoring and reporting – Assist in maintaining project controls and in producing project reports.
• Administration – Organise key project meetings, and provide secretariat support using Microsoft Office tools
• Resources – Supervision of junior staff if appropriate.
• Stakeholder – Act as the focal point for project responses to external requests for information.
• Financial control – Assist with the monitoring of project spend and income, and contribute to the compilation of budgets.

In addition, the Radon Support Scientist will be responsible for:

• acquiring detailed knowledge of radon sources, measurements and mitigation
• providing information to householders and employers on radon (scientific support for Radon Services Team) – both written and verbal
• contributing to articles for journals and other publications
• undertaking an appropriate role in the RCCE emergency plan

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree / NVQ level 6 in science-related subject or equivalent experience

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge of radiation and/or environmental protection
• Experience of undertaking projects to completion and delivering results
• Knowledge and experience of MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint)

SKILLS, CAPABILITIES AND BEHAVIOURS

• Flexible attitude to working as team member or alone, and across teams
• Self-motivated and ability to work on own initiative, prioritising workload

STAGE 1: APPLICATION & SIFT

Competency-based assessments

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 6 essential criteria, which have been selected from the job description, 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 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.

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

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on: Experience of undertaking projects to completion and delivering results
All essential criteria and desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates (see attached job description).
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment
Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Specific duties of the role may vary depending on the project in the planning, delivery or analysis phase.

• Planning and scheduling – Assist with and maintain appropriate systems to enable effective planning and scheduling. Experience of working across teams, establishing processes and working to deadlines.
• Monitoring and reporting – Assist in maintaining project controls and in producing project reports.
• Administration – Organise key project meetings, and provide secretariat support using Microsoft Office tools
• Resources – Supervision of junior staff if appropriate.
• Stakeholder – Act as the focal point for project responses to external requests for information.
• Financial control – Assist with the monitoring of project spend and income, and contribute to the compilation of budgets

In addition, the Radon Support Scientist will be responsible for:

• acquiring detailed knowledge of radon sources, measurements and mitigation
• providing information to householders and employers on radon (scientific support for Radon Services Team) – both written and verbal
• contributing to articles for journals and other publications
• undertaking an appropriate role in the RCCE emergency pla