Principal Clinical Scientist

Leeds Teaching Hospitals; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is expanding its Radiological Physics and Radiation Protection Service (RPRPS) and seeks two experienced Principal Clinical Scientists to lead MPE/RPA activity for defined areas. The roles offer flexibility with home working weekly and a clear path towards further qualification within Diagnostic Radiology.

The post holders will supervise a growing team, provide expert regulatory guidance, lead QA and dose assessment programs, and collaborate with external

Qualifications

• Lead MPE/RPA for specified areas and provide expert advice on compliance with Ionising Radiations Regulations and IR(ME)R.
• Training and support available for those working towards MPE/RPA status.
• Flexible working policy with opportunity to work from home weekly.

Responsibilities

• Act as lead RPA/MPE for specified areas and provide expert advice to the Trust/clients on compliance with regulations.
• Provide radiation safety and shielding advice in planning new or modified facilities and assess engineering controls.
• Advise on equipment specification and installation design of diagnostic x-ray facilities for dose optimisation.
• Lead dose monitoring programs including personal and environmental monitoring and analysis for regulatory compliance.
• Design and implement QA programs for diagnostic x-ray equipment including acceptance testing.
• Assist in investigation of accidental or unintended x-ray exposures and liaise with enforcement authorities as needed.
• Participate in training of operators and staff in radiation protection and IR(ME)R compliance.
• Assess submissions for ethical approval of research studies and determine relevant radiation dose parameters.

Skills

Lead MPE/RPA

Radiation protection

Diagnostic radiology

Quality assurance

Regulatory compliance

Staff training

Education

MPE/RPA status (aspirational)

Job description

As part of the expansion of the Radiological Physics and Radiation Protection Service (RPRPS) based in newly refurbished accommodation at Leeds General Infirmary, we are looking for two additional experienced and enthusiastic Principal Clinical Scientists.

Main duties of the job

The post holders will act as a lead MPE/RPA for specified customers/areas of work as well as being involved in all other aspects of the sections work supporting the Trust and external customers. Candidates with less experience who are working towards gaining MPE/RPA status in Diagnostic Radiology are encouraged to apply as training and support will be available (subject to an amended job description and salary band). We operate a flexible working policy with the opportunity to work from home on a weekly basis.

About us

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time.Our vision is to provide the highest quality specialist and integrated care.We will do this through delivery of our multi-year goals and strategic priorities, which you can read about on this page.Central to it all is The Leeds Way our values and behaviours that are at the heart of everything we do.

Job responsibilities

For questions about this job, contact:

Name: Alexis Moore

Position: Head of Radiological Physics and Radiation Protection

Phone number: 0113 3922836

Shortlisting Date: 02/12/2026

Interview Date: 11/12/2026

Job Summary

By the end of the year, it is expected that RPRPS will have approximately 28 staff. The section is part of the Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Department at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the largest hospital trusts in the country. We provide scientific, technical and radiation protection advice and measurement services for ionising and non-ionising radiation across West & North Yorkshire.

Why you should join our Team

The Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Department is part of the Oncology CSU with approximately 250 staff. It is an established training centre for clinical scientists being accredited and having trained for all of the National School for Health Care Science Scientific Training Programme specialisms in Medical Physics. We also have accreditation to train imaging scientists under the Higher Scientific Specialist Training scheme and have a number of “route 2” trainees within our section. We believe in developing our staff across all bands, mentoring them towards certification and ensuring any specialist qualifications are maintained. We also have links with Leeds University.

With a large equipment base across our internal and external customers there is a lot of opportunity for standardisation and optimisation as well as acquiring experience in equipment from different manufacturers. We hold BSI ISO9001 accreditation and have the Ideagen Quality Management system to aid maintaining this. Dose audit is undertaken using Qaelum DOSE which captures all the radiology and cardiology exposure information and aids the dose and risk calculations of radiation incidents.

What you will bring to the role

• Act as the lead RPA/MPE for specified areas/customers as agreed by the Head of Section/Lead Clinical Scientist and provide expert advice to the Trust/clients on compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations and with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations.
• Provide expert radiation safety and radiation shielding advice to the planning of new or modified radiation facilities and assess the adequacy of engineering controls and ionising radiation safety arrangements prior to a facility’s introduction into clinical service.
• Provide expert advice on equipment specification and the installation design of new diagnostic x-ray facilities and equipment including playing a significant role in the optimisation of the radiation protection of patients and other individuals subject to exposures including the application and use of diagnostic reference levels.
• Provide specialist advice on and assist with radiation risk assessments, local rules and cooperation between employers documentation for a variety of complex situations.
• Assess the levels of ionising radiation using suitable instrumentation and use expert knowledge to be able to interpret the measurements in relation to the appropriate regulations. This would include the instigation and review of the results from programmes of both personal and environmental monitoring to provide appropriate advice to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Provide expert advice and lead on the design and implementation of quality assurance programs for diagnostic x-ray equipment including acceptance testing.
• Assist in the investigation of accidental or unintended x-ray exposures to patients and advise the Trust and its customers on the requirements for the notification of incidents to the enforcement authorities and liaise with these authorities on behalf of the Trust and its customers.
• Participate in the training of operators, practitioners and other staff in relevant aspects of radiation protection and IR(ME)R compliance.
• Perform the necessary assessment of submissions for ethical approval of research studies both nationally and internally.
• Assess patient doses in a variety of complex situations. Use expert knowledge to determine relevant parameters, derive effective radiation doses and advise on radiation risks and appropriate courses of action and optimisation.

Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.

About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

The Leeds Way is working together to support each other and deliver the best possible care to patients.

We are….

Responsible Open and Honest One Team Kind

Our Trust priorities

Our purpose: Excellent, safe and sustainable care for every patient every time

Our priorities:

People Improvement and Innovation Partnerships Outcomes

To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.

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.

Head of Radiological Physics and Radiation Protect