Health Physicist

Nuclear Restoration Services; Thurso; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13.5% employer pension contribution

28 days annual leave + banks holiday

Company bonus scheme

Flexible working

Relocation assistance

Healthcare options

Job summary

NRS Dounreay is seeking a Health Physicist to provide expert radiation protection advice across site operations and projects. The role supports compliance with IRRs, develops Health Physics standards, and contributes to training and emergency preparedness from the Dounreay site, under supervision where appropriate.

The role involves contributing to site audits, delivering specialist protection guidance, and working to Zero Harm principles within a nuclear decommissioning environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Science/Engineering (or equivalent) with relevant experience.
• Strong knowledge of radiological protection, IRRs, and compliance frameworks.
• Ability to analyse data and deliver clear technical reports and advice.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and improve Health Physics standards and procedures.
• Support site audits and inspections for regulatory compliance.
• Provide radiological protection guidance to staff and project teams.
• Deliver radiation protection training and assist with competence assessments.
• Support emergency procedures and participate in on-call rota.

Skills

Radiation protection

IRR knowledge

Data analysis

Technical reporting

Communication

Audit experience

Education

Science/Engineering degree

Job description

NRS Dounreay is a nuclear decommissioning site focused on safely reducing hazards and restoring the environment. This role provides radiation protection advice to ensure compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017, supporting site projects with timely advice and guidance under the direction of a Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA).

We are looking for a Health Physicist (a trainee may be considered) to support the ongoing mission of site decommissioning and environmental restoration, ensuring the highest standards of radiation protection and safety are maintained.

The Role

As a Health Physicist at Dounreay, you will provide expert radiation protection advice and support across site operations and projects. You will contribute to the maintenance of robust Health Physics standards while playing a key role in compliance, training, emergency preparedness and audit. A significant proportion of your work time will be based on the NRS Dounreay Site.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the maintenance and continuous improvement of Health Physics standards
• Support and assist with the site audit programme, including local audits and inspections to ensure compliance with Ionising Radiations Regulations (IRRs) and the NRS Dounreay management systems
• Provide radiological protection advice and guidance to staff and project teams
• Assist in the implementation and delivery of radiation protection procedures, standards, and instructions
• Support the development of site emergency procedures and contingency arrangements
• Deliver specialist radiation protection training
• Assist with Health Physics Surveyor competence assessments
• Support the implementation of emerging radiological protection topics as directed by the Radiation Protection Manager (RPM)
• Participate in emergency arrangements and be a member of the out of hours on-call emergency rota, providing support when required.
• Provide technical support to Radsafe and site teams on a rota basis

About You

• Degree in Science/Engineering (or equivalent - such as NVQ Radiation Protection specific professional qualifications and/or professional registration, such as Incorporated Radiation Protection Professional (IRadP) and Chartered Radiation Protection Professional (CRadP)) with relevant experience
• Strong knowledge of radiological protection, IRRs, and compliance frameworks
• Ability to analyse data and deliver clear technical reports and advice
• Effective communicator able to influence behaviours and deliver training
• Self-motivated team player with audit/inspection experience and ability to work independently in line with Zero Harm principles

Why Join NRS Dounreay?

• Be part of a nationally significant nuclear decommissioning programme
• Work within a highly skilled and supportive team
• Contribute to achieving Zero Harm and environmental restoration goals
• Opportunities for ongoing professional development and progression
• Benefits such as; 13.5% employer pension contribution, 28 days annual leave + bank holiday, Company bonus scheme, Flexible working, Relocation assistance, Excellent flexible benefits & healthcare options

We are looking to hold interviews week commencing TBC, however, please note that this vacancy may close earlier than the stated deadline should we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

If you require assistance at any point during the recruitment process contact [e-mail] at the appropriate time so we can make any necessary, reasonable adjustment.

Please note: All successful candidates who do not already hold security clearance will need to provide proof of identity, eligibility to work in the UK, and employment/education history (typically covering the last 3-5 years) in line with NRS Baseline Security requirements. Some roles may also require full Security Clearance, which involves additional checks. For details, please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) guidance.