Overview
Contract Type: 0
Salary: £57888 – £64880
Partner Org: Royal Surrey County Hospital
Join Our Expert Team as a Principal Physicist – Radiation Protection
· Are you ready to take your career to the next level?
Our Regional Radiation Protection Service (RRPS) is seeking a Principal Physicist to lead and innovate in radiation protection and diagnostic radiology. This is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of medical physics, shaping services that impact patient safety and clinical excellence across the NHS and beyond.
Why Join Us?
- Diverse and Impactful Work: From X-ray systems to MRI, ultrasound, lasers, and UV, you’ll influence safety and optimisation across a wide range of technologies.
- Specialist Advisory Role: Act as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) under IR(ME)R 2017 and develop towards Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) certification.
- Collaborative Expertise: Be part of a dynamic team of 24+ physicists, technicians, and computer scientists, supported by strong admin and training structures.
- Innovation & Research: Engage in cutting-edge projects, contribute to national training courses, and collaborate with the University of Surrey on MSc programmes.
- Career Development: Ideal for physicists who have achieved MPE status and want to broaden their portfolio with management responsibilities and advanced certification.
Main duties of the job
What We Offer
- A stimulating environment with opportunities for teaching, research, and development.
- Involvement in national and international projects.
Your Impact
You’ll lead complex investigations, advise on compliance with IRR17 and IR(ME)R17, and support the design and safety of new facilities. Your expertise will help shape radiation safety standards across hospitals, private healthcare, and industry.
We are currently able to offer a one off recruitment and retention payment to successful applicants who fulfil the job specification
Job Summary
To be a Principal Physicist (clinical scientist) and a senior member of the Regional Radiation Protection (RRPS) team, working with other team members in the provision of a comprehensive radiation protection and radiological physics service to the NHS and outside bodies. To act as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 [IR(ME)R2017]. To participate in all areas of work, and to take on responsibility for key aspects of the service. The postholder works at a senior professional level, providing advice and services to employers facilitating compliance with ionising radiation legislation and working towards further certification such as RPA. Issues are very specialist, varied and highly complex. They will operate with a high degree of autonomy, particularly in the areas for which they are responsible.
Working for our organisation
Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.
We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.
Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.
Although it isn’t the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
A video about the Royal Surrey – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Regional Radiation Protection Service (RRPS) provides comprehensive radiation protection, diagnostic radiology physics and X-ray engineering services out of the Royal Surrey County Hospital area mainly to the south and south west of the country, but also works nationally and internationally. Services include the statutory provision of Radiation Protection Advisers (RPA), Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in Diagnostic Radiology, Laser Protection Advisers (LPA), Radioactive Waste Advisers (RWA) and MR Safety Experts.
We have a team of 11 clinical scientists,11 medical physics technical officers, a computer scientist and 3 admin staff, plus postgraduate trainees and undergraduate students. The RRPS also provides advice and services to users of non-ionising radiations including MRI, lasers, radiofrequency, ultraviolet and microwaves. The Service provides NHSBSP mammography services for the South East (East) region. The RRPS is active in income generation outside the NHS and provides a wide range of radiation protection advice and services to a variety of employers including corporate organisations, companies, private hospitals, dentists, vets and others. The service is active in research, development and training, including organising courses both locally and at a national level.
Not quite there yet?
We are keen to hear for anyone close to meeting the job specification and can appoint to a temporary development position whist supporting you in getting over the line. Get in touch if you wanted to know more.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Apply now via www.jobs.nhs.uk (Ref: XXXXX)
For informal enquiries, contact Matt Pryor, Head of Service
? 01483 408395 | ✉ rsc-tr.radprot@nhs.net
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Good honours degree in a relevant subject
- MSc or PhD in radiation protection, medical physics [or equivalent]
- Corporate Membership of IPEM [or equivalent]
- Medical Physics Expert in the field of Diagnostic Radiology (certified by RPA2000)
- State Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC
Desirable criteria
- Management qualification
Other
Essential criteria
- A full UK driving license (or entitled to drive in the UK) and vehicle for business use is required for this post, however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Knowledge and understanding of the nature, use, risks and radiation protection of ionising radiations such as X-rays, gamma rays and electrons.
- Knowledge and understanding of all the areas of legislation, approved codes and good guidance, applicable to the use of ionising radiations in the field of medical, dental, veterinary and industry where appropriate.
- Knowledge to act as a Medical Physics Expert regarding the safety of the patient under IRMER within the field of radiology
- Specialist knowledge of the techniques employed to measure the performance and radiological safety of digital and analogue state of the art X-ray imaging equipment.
- Experience in medical physics and radiation protection. Analysing and interpreting highly complex and varied situations and judging measures required to assess performance, risk and benefit in comparison with relevant legislation, codes, guidance and standards.
- Specialist experience or awareness in the use of physics testing equipment and complex procedures employed to measure the application, performance and safety of a wide variety of X-ray and other ionising and non-ionising radiation equipment.
- A level of understanding of clinical risks to patients, staff and public arising from ionising radiation exposure.
- Awareness of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge and understanding of ultrasound and non-ionising radiations including magnetic, electric fields, ultraviolet, infrared, microwaves and particularly lasers.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
