Chief Medical Officer - Nuclear Industry

Optima Health; England; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Occupational Health provider in the UK seeks a highly skilled Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to provide clinical leadership for a nuclear industry client. The role involves overseeing clinical processes and governance, with an expectation of one day on-site weekly. Candidates should have substantial experience in occupational medicine and be GMC registered. A competitive salary and benefits package are offered, along with flexible working hours.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Health Cash Plan

Career progression opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Eye care test vouchers

Flu vaccination scheme

Life assurance

Qualifications

• Significant experience in occupational medicine as an Occupational Health Physician in the UK.
• GMC registration with completed FOM/MFOM training.
• Proven experience working within the nuclear sector.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical leadership for the client.
• Ensure compliance with clinical governance and regulations.
• Oversee clinical processes for handling radiological incidents.

Skills

Occupational medicine experience

Occupational Health Physician

GMC registration

Clinical leadership

Nuclear sector experience

Education

FOM/MFOM training

Advanced REAC/TS course

Job description

Job Title: Chief Medical Officer
Location: Berkshire RG7
Salary: Negotiable
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Flexible, minimum of 7.5 hours per week, but can facilitate up to 37.5 hours per week.

Right to live & work within the UK is required for this role.

Role Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to provide senior clinical leadership for our nuclear industry client, based at a secure site in Berkshire. The ideal candidate will be located within 60 minutes of the site, though we are open to applications from individuals based elsewhere in the UK, provided they are willing to travel to site once per week. The onsite day can be discussed during the interview process.

The role will primarily involve one day per week on the nuclear client contract, with opportunities to undertake additional days through Occupational Health Physician (OHP) work for other Optima Health contracts if you would like more than one day per week contracted. There may also be future opportunities to increase time spent on the nuclear contract. For candidates located near the site, the role may also involve participating in the on‑call rota providing remote support and, where necessary, attending onsite in the event of a radiological incident.

As CMO, you will serve as the clinical professional head for all physicians on the contract. You will be responsible for ensuring that clinical governance, policies, and procedures are accurate, evidence‑based, and fully compliant with both the tender requirements and relevant regulations. You will collaborate closely with the Head of Clinical Services, the Emergency Response Team, and radiation protection and dosimetry specialists. You will also oversee one OHP and one Associate OHP within the team. A key responsibility of the role will be ensuring that the organisation is prepared to respond to radiological incidents. This includes overseeing the safe administration of sodium bicarbonate following uranium intake, ensuring the capability to perform wound flushes and excision procedures for contaminated wounds, and overseeing the appropriate use of DTPA when required. The CMO will also ensure effective processes for advising, treating, and counselling individuals exposed to other radionuclides, such as tritium. Additionally, the CMO will oversee the management and readiness of the DTPA stockpile, which forms part of the national reserve, ensuring that it can be made available to NHS hospitals when required.

Main Duties and Responsibilities (Contract Specific)

• Ensure a comprehensive understanding of the services to be delivered
• Ensure that appropriate resources and capability are in place at all times to administer DTPA to a person on the premises who has received an intake of plutonium via wound, inhalation or ingestion, as soon as reasonably practicable following the intake and then, at such frequency as is assessed, to be required by the physician, RPAs and dosimetry team following the event. This capability should include the ability to suitably protect medical employees providing the treatment should the patient be grossly contaminated.
• Ensure that effective processes are in place for the administration of sodium bicarbonate to a person on the premises who has received an intake of uranium via wound, inhalation or ingestion, as soon as reasonably practicable following the intake and then at such frequency as is assessed to be required by the physician, RPAs and dosimetry team following the event. This capability should include the ability to suitably protect medical employees providing the treatment should the patient be grossly contaminated.
• Ensure that processes and capabilities are in place to undertake wound flush and simple excision procedures on wounds that are contaminated with radioactive material, including using DTPA if appropriate. This capability should include the ability to suitably protect medical employees providing the treatment should the patient be grossly contaminated.
• Ensure that robust processes are in place to provide expert medical advice, treatment (where reasonably practicable to do so at the premises) and counselling to individuals following the intake of other radionuclides, including tritium.

Experience, Skills, and Knowledge Required for the Role

Essential

• Able to travel onsite once per week (Berkshire, RG7)
• Significant experience in occupational medicine as an Occupational Health Physician in the UK
• GMC registration with completed FOM/MFOM training.
• Up‑to‑date MRO experience.
• Proven experience working within the nuclear sector.
• Completion of the American Advanced REAC/TS course.
• Appointed Doctor status with current HSE certification under The Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR) 2017, and The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

Desired

• Previous CMO experience is not required, but substantial experience as an Occupational Health Physician is essential.
• Completed the advanced REAC/TS course ideally within the last five years.
• Experience in leading clinical teams or delivering services in high‑hazard, highly regulated environments.
• Candidates located within 60 minutes of the client site are preferred but not essential.

What Can We Offer You?

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Buy and sell holiday scheme
• Pension scheme
• Health Cash Plan
• Career progression opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Eye care test vouchers
• Flu vaccination scheme
• Employee discount scheme
• Life assurance
• Professional registrations fees paid
• Clinical Training Academy

If you would like to have a confidential chat please reach out to me on my email: [e-mail]

About Us

Optima Health are the UK market leader of Occupational Health and Wellbeing services. Our heritage can be traced back to 1947 where we were pioneers in the provision of Occupational Health and have led the way ever since, bringing new and innovative solutions to employers across the UK. We can offer unrivalled clinical expertise and industry leading tailored solutions to our clients. We work with over two thousand businesses, in various industries, and our aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of the UK workforce by supporting healthy high performance in our client organisations, helping them to achieve their full potential through their people.

Optima Health not only provide an excellent package, but we also offer a structured induction and training programme in your first few weeks. We offer tailored career development and opportunities for further training and qualifications, to support you in your career journey. We are committed to making this a really great place to work, so together, we live by our values; We are one team, we do the right thing, we are shaping tomorrow, and we are never too big to care.

Optima Health is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants meeting the minimum criteria for the role will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, gender or gender expression, disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief or sexual orientation.

All salaries are displayed as FTE (full time equivalent)

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