Principal Physicist Radiation Protection

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

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.

Main duties of the job

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.

Driving license and accessibility to a car are required for this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 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
  • Driving license with access to a car

Desirable

  • Management qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • 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

  • Knowledge and understanding of ultrasound and non-ionising radiations including magnetic, electric fields, ultraviolet, infrared, microwaves and particularly lasers.

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 7 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.