Joint Head of Nuclear Medicine Physics

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 99,000 - 114,000; Part time

Job summary

The NHS seeks a Clinical Scientist (Medical Physicist) in Nuclear Medicine for a fixed-term role at University College London Hospitals. The successful candidate will manage a team providing scientific support in a leading center, engaging in research and radiation safety. Candidates must possess a Master's degree in Physics or relevant field, with training in Medical Physics. This unique opportunity offers a competitive salary, flexible working, and the chance to contribute to advanced patient care practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's-level degree and higher in Physics or relevant subject.
• Formal Medical Physics training and UK State Registration as a Clinical Scientist.
• Experience in nuclear medicine physics in a clinical context.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the work of a team of clinical scientists.
• Contribute to research projects and new procedures in nuclear medicine.
• Ensure governance and radiation safety as a Medical Physics Expert.

Skills

Communication Skills

Analytical Skills

Technical Expertise

Education

Master's-level degree in Physics

Doctoral degree (PhD)

Job description

Job summary

Clinical Scientist (Medical Physicist) in Nuclear Medicine AfC Band 8D 0.4 WTE 3 years Fixed Term

This position is to backfill the current Consultant Clinical Scientist for two days a week (or equivalent). This backfill will last for three years to match the available funding.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will help lead and manage the work of an established team of nine clinical scientists who provide critical scientific and technical support to the work of this large department. We have a wide range and expanding portfolio of equipment which includes PET/MR, three PET/CT systems, and four SPECT/CT systems, together with DXA bone densitometry and a full range of supporting nuclear medicine instrumentation. A wide range of routine and innovative experimental inpatient and outpatient radionuclide therapy procedures are also performed, and we have a large central radiopharmacy with laboratory facilities on-site. In addition to scientific and technical support, the role has key responsibilities in governance, and radiation safety including patient safety where the role holder will be expected to as a Medical Physics Expert. There will also be an expectation that the post holder will participate in the very wide range of research and development activities of the department by contributing to the introduction of new procedures, research projects, and supporting the operation of our SPECT/CT, PET/CT, and PET/MR instrumentation. This post offers an excellent opportunity to work as a clinical scientist in nuclear medicine at a highly regarded centre that develops and practices cutting-edge techniques.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals

• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building

• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Details Date posted

23 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£99,808 to £113,803 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS, pro-rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

36 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-6511-A

Job locations

UCLH

235 Euston Road

London

NW1 2BU

Job description Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

The Institute of Nuclear Medicine has an international reputation for excellence in academic and clinical nuclear medicine. We are located in the heart of the UCL/UCL Hospitals campus within University College Hospital, providing a comprehensive nuclear medicine service that now undertakes over 20,000 studies per year to patients referred from UCLH and hospitals throughout the UK. In addition to the extremely varied clinical workload, we have an extensive and internationally recognised internal research programme. We collaborate with both local and external researchers and are actively involved in the Trusts NIHR BRC-funded programme for translational research and with its clinical trials portfolio. Our key strengths include operation of the UKs first PET/MR system, the exploitation of PET and SPECT-based multimodality imaging, and access to a range of experimental PET and SPECT tracers. We are developing cutting-edge techniques for oncological, neurological, and cardiac imaging, and are centrally involved in a very rapidly expanding and developing radionuclide therapy programme.

University College Hospital is located in a very pleasant cosmopolitan area in the heart of Londons West End and one which has excellent local and long-distance transport connections. The department itself has a vibrant, friendly, and multi-disciplinary team and we benefit from Londons unrivalled range of social, cultural and sporting facilities. Hospital accommodation and key worker accommodation packages are available.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Job description Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

The Institute of Nuclear Medicine has an international reputation for excellence in academic and clinical nuclear medicine. We are located in the heart of the UCL/UCL Hospitals campus within University College Hospital, providing a comprehensive nuclear medicine service that now undertakes over 20,000 studies per year to patients referred from UCLH and hospitals throughout the UK. In addition to the extremely varied clinical workload, we have an extensive and internationally recognised internal research programme. We collaborate with both local and external researchers and are actively involved in the Trusts NIHR BRC-funded programme for translational research and with its clinical trials portfolio. Our key strengths include operation of the UKs first PET/MR system, the exploitation of PET and SPECT-based multimodality imaging, and access to a range of experimental PET and SPECT tracers. We are developing cutting-edge techniques for oncological, neurological, and cardiac imaging, and are centrally involved in a very rapidly expanding and developing radionuclide therapy programme.

University College Hospital is located in a very pleasant cosmopolitan area in the heart of Londons West End and one which has excellent local and long-distance transport connections. The department itself has a vibrant, friendly, and multi-disciplinary team and we benefit from Londons unrivalled range of social, cultural and sporting facilities. Hospital accommodation and key worker accommodation packages are available.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person Specification Knowledge, Training and Experience Essential

• Bachelor's-level degree and higher (Master's-level) degree in Physics or other relevant subject, or equivalent. Doctoral degree (PhD), or equivalent relevant knowledge and experience.
• Formal Medical Physics training, including substantial content of Nuclear Medicine, delivered through a recognised training scheme e.g. IPEM. UK State Registration as a Clinical Scientist (Medical Physicist) through the Health Care Professions Council.
• Chartered Membership or Fellowship of the IPEM (Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine), or exceptionally of another equivalent professional body e.g. IoP (Institute of Physics).
• A thorough knowledge of (and as a guide, at least ten to twelve year's experience of) the principles and practice of nuclear medicine physics in a clinical context, or equivalent, to include a full understanding of : -The range of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures; including current professional best practice guidelines and standards and important new clinical and methodological developments.
• -The operation of the full range of current nuclear medicine, SPECT, PET and hybrid imaging equipment using both CT and MR, and image processing workstations.
• -A working knowledge of CT, MR new developments, and of UK and EU medical devices regulation, risk management and safety standards.
• -The performance assessment, acceptance testing, commissioning, quality assurance and calibration of the above equipment; sufficient to ensure compliance with recognised quality systems and standards.
• -Management of capital projects requiring tendering, procurement, installation, commissioning, and acceptance testing of major items of nuclear medicine and PET equipment.
• -The principles and practice of internal radiation dosimetry, sufficient to perform estimates of the patient tumour and critical normal organ doses arising from nonstandard procedures.
• -Current methodologies for the processing and analysis of nuclear medicine, SPECT, PET and CT image data, including application-specific processing techniques and those for image fusion, registration and the correction of inherent artefacts (physiological motion, scatter, attenuation, partial volume). Statistical methods for analysis of clinical and scientific data derived from such systems
• -Windows/Linux/MacOs operating systems and PC applications software including MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, web browsers, mail tools - for regular, proficient use for scientific and management tasks.
• -Programming, e.g. one or more of - Visual Basic, C/C++, Python, scripting languages.
• -Basic knowledge of website development and relational databases, systems and networking including TCP/IP infrastructures
• -Working familiarity with functionality of current PACS and RIS systems. -
• Ability to manage a range of scientific and technical problems as typically arise in delivery of a clinical nuclear medicine service, investigating and resolving these under clinical, operational and safety pressures.
• Knowledge and experience as above, and especially with regard to radiation dosimetry, sufficient to act as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) as defined by the Ionising Radiation Regulations (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017; noting also the 2013 EU Basic Safety Standards.
• Highly specialist knowledge of and experience with the principles and practice of radiation safety applied to unsealed radioactive sources, the practice of clinical nuclear medicine and the control of occupational and medical exposures - and the interpretation of the regulatory framework governing these activities within the UK; at least equivalent to that of a UK accredited Radiation Protection Advisor in the field of Nuclear Medicine.
• Experience of, and a demonstrated commitment to, clinical research and development. The presentation of scientific findings at conferences and seminars, and their publication in peer-reviewed literature.
• Full knowledge and considerable relevant experience of the requirements and role of clinical governance and audit, quality standards, risk management frameworks, and NHS strategy.
• Ability to deliver highly specialised advice and guidance to senior clinicians and managers, and where this is often of a complex nature and requiring the need for sound professional and scientific judgement.

Desirable

• Experience in other relevant areas of Medical Physics
• Good understanding of the physics of CT and its dosimetry
• A good understanding of, and working familiarity with techniques for : -Tracer kinetic modelling, -Monte Carlo modelling, -Reconstruction of tomographic data (SPET/PET)
• UK accreditation as a Radiation Protection Advisor in Nuclear Medicine
• Good track record of presentation and publication

Communication Essential

• Able to communicate clearly, effectively and with authority with colleagues across all disciplines and levels of responsibility; both verbally and in writing, offering and receiving guidance, opinions, and advice in a professional manner at all times and able to communicate with staff and patients under often stressful conditions.
• The ability to generate clear and concise reports, summarising the findings of investigations, audits, surveys or the critical assessment of processes and procedures.

Physical Skills (e.g. keyboard skills, hand-eye coordination) Essential

• Able to operate keyboard, mouse, and trackball. Able to operate clinical image workstations where the fine control of screen icons is required to manipulate image data precisely - e.g. through cursor-based drawing tools, slider bars, complex point-and-click operations.
• Able to distinguish subtle changes in the quality and features of clinical images.
• Able to dispense liquid radioactive materials safely and to prepare precise, small volume sealed sources from these into a range of forms, accurately and reproducibly.

Managerial Essential

• Able to manage, lead and train scientist and technologist staff.
• Strongly developed organisational and analytical skills.
• Able to think strategically, planning and implementing developments in clinical nuclear medicine and agreed changes to work practices
• Working familiarity with NHS financial systems and practices.
• Committed to participating fully in the delivery of a professional, high-quality clinical service and to the pursuit of research and development within the field of nuclear medicine, and complementary specialisations.
• Significant personal drive and direction, focus and resilience.
• The ability to work with considerable autonomy and a minimum of supervision and oversight.

Desirable

• Experience of line management, formal management training and/or a relevant qualification in management; as relevant to the work of the NHS
• Experience of NHS financial management, training and/or a relevant qualification in financial management; relevant to the NHS

Person Specification Knowledge, Training and Experience Essential

• Bachelor's-level degree and higher (Master's-level) degree in Physics or other relevant subject, or equivalent. Doctoral degree (PhD), or equivalent relevant knowledge and experience.
• Formal Medical Physics training, including substantial content of Nuclear Medicine, delivered through a recognised training scheme e.g. IPEM. UK State Registration as a Clinical Scientist (Medical Physicist) through the Health Care Professions Council.
• Chartered Membership or Fellowship of the IPEM (Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine), or exceptionally of another equivalent professional body e.g. IoP (Institute of Physics).
• A thorough knowledge of (and as a guide, at least ten to twelve year's experience of) the principles and practice of nuclear medicine physics in a clinical context, or equivalent, to include a full understanding of : -The range of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures; including current professional best practice guidelines and standards and important new clinical and methodological developments.
• -The operation of the full range of current nuclear medicine, SPECT, PET and hybrid imaging equipment using both CT and MR, and image processing workstations.
• -A working knowledge of CT, MR new developments, and of UK and EU medical devices regulation, risk management and safety standards.
• -The performance assessment, acceptance testing, commissioning, quality assurance and calibration of the above equipment; sufficient to ensure compliance with recognised quality systems and standards.
• -Management of capital projects requiring tendering, procurement, installation, commissioning, and acceptance testing of major items of nuclear medicine and PET equipment.
• -The principles and practice of internal radiation dosimetry, sufficient to perform estimates of the patient tumour and critical normal organ doses arising from nonstandard procedures.
• -Current methodologies for the processing and analysis of nuclear medicine, SPECT, PET and CT image data, including application-specific processing techniques and those for image fusion, registration and the correction of inherent artefacts (physiological motion, scatter, attenuation, partial volume). Statistical methods for analysis of clinical and scientific data derived from such systems
• -Windows/Linux/MacOs operating systems and PC applications software including MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, web browsers, mail tools - for regular, proficient use for scientific and management tasks.
• -Programming, e.g. one or more of - Visual Basic, C/C++, Python, scripting languages.
• -Basic knowledge of website development and relational databases, systems and networking including TCP/IP infrastructures
• -Working familiarity with functionality of current PACS and RIS systems. -
• Ability to manage a range of scientific and technical problems as typically arise in delivery of a clinical nuclear medicine service, investigating and resolving these under clinical, operational and safety pressures.
• Knowledge and experience as above, and especially with regard to radiation dosimetry, sufficient to act as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) as defined by the Ionising Radiation Regulations (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017; noting also the 2013 EU Basic Safety Standards.
• Highly specialist knowledge of and experience with the principles and practice of radiation safety applied to unsealed radioactive sources, the practice of clinical nuclear medicine and the control of occupational and medical exposures - and the interpretation of the regulatory framework governing these activities within the UK; at least equivalent to that of a UK accredited Radiation Protection Advisor in the field of Nuclear Medicine.
• Experience of, and a demonstrated commitment to, clinical research and development. The presentation of scientific findings at conferences and seminars, and their publication in peer-reviewed literature.
• Full knowledge and considerable relevant experience of the requirements and role of clinical governance and audit, quality standards, risk management frameworks, and NHS strategy.
• Ability to deliver highly specialised advice and guidance to senior clinicians and managers, and where this is often of a complex nature and requiring the need for sound professional and scientific judgement.

Desirable

• Experience in other relevant areas of Medical Physics
• Good understanding of the physics of CT and its dosimetry
• A good understanding of, and working familiarity with techniques for : -Tracer kinetic modelling, -Monte Carlo modelling, -Reconstruction of tomographic data (SPET/PET)
• UK accreditation as a Radiation Protection Advisor in Nuclear Medicine
• Good track record of presentation and publication

Communication Essential

• Able to communicate clearly, effectively and with authority with colleagues across all disciplines and levels of responsibility; both verbally and in writing, offering and receiving guidance, opinions, and advice in a professional manner at all times and able to communicate with staff and patients under often stressful conditions.
• The ability to generate clear and concise reports, summarising the findings of investigations, audits, surveys or the critical assessment of processes and procedures.

Physical Skills (e.g. keyboard skills, hand-eye coordination) Essential

• Able to operate keyboard, mouse, and trackball. Able to operate clinical image workstations where the fine control of screen icons is required to manipulate image data precisely - e.g. through cursor-based drawing tools, slider bars, complex point-and-click operations.
• Able to distinguish subtle changes in the quality and features of clinical images.
• Able to dispense liquid radioactive materials safely and to prepare precise, small volume sealed sources from these into a range of forms, accurately and reproducibly.

Managerial Essential

• Able to manage, lead and train scientist and technologist staff.
• Strongly developed organisational and analytical skills.
• Able to think strategically, planning and implementing developments in clinical nuclear medicine and agreed changes to work practices
• Working familiarity with NHS financial systems and practices.
• Committed to participating fully in the delivery of a professional, high-quality clinical service and to the pursuit of research and development within the field of nuclear medicine, and complementary specialisations.
• Significant personal drive and direction, focus and resilience.
• The ability to work with considerable autonomy and a minimum of supervision and oversight.

Desirable

• Experience of line management, formal management training and/or a relevant qualification in management; as relevant to the work of the NHS
• Experience of NHS financial management, training and/or a relevant qualification in financial management; relevant to the NHS

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).

Additional information 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).

Employer details Employer name

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

UCLH

235 Euston Road

London

NW1 2BU

Employer's website

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

UCLH

235 Euston Road

London

NW1 2BU

Employer's website

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)