Radiation Protection Officer

Bangor University; Bangor; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Wales seeks a Radiation Protection Officer to ensure compliance with legislation concerning radioactive materials. The role includes liaising with regulatory bodies, overseeing safety protocols, and contributing to the governance of laboratory operations. Candidates should possess either an undergraduate degree or a PhD in a relevant field, with strong analytical and interpersonal skills.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Radiation Protection Supervisor required.
• Knowledge of Environmental Permitting Regulations (2016) and Ionising Radiations Regulations (2017).
• Experience writing radiological risk assessments and handling radioactive materials.

Responsibilities

• Act as point of contact for Radiation Protection Advisor and regulators.
• Monitor compliance against legislative permit conditions.
• Oversee radiation surveys and quality assurance tests.

Skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal and written communication

Computer skills

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject

PhD in a relevant subject (or close to completion)

Tools

MS Office

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

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Job Number

BU03803

School/Department

School of Computer Science & Engineering

Grade

7

Contract Duration

Permanent

Responsible to

Head of School

Overview

Bangor University is in a region of outstanding natural beauty between the mountains, lakes and forests of Eryri (Snowdonia National Park) and the dramatic North Wales coastline. Ynys Môn (the Isle of Anglesey) is nearby and is where our dedicated science park - M-Sparc is located.

The School is also home to the Nuclear Futures Institute. With nuclear decommissioning and nuclear new-build projects on its doorstep, and an increasing number of businesses from the nuclear supply chain becoming active in the area, the University is focussing on existing and emerging nuclear power generation technologies including novel fuel systems for pressurised water reactors (PWRs), Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), micro-reactor technology and fusion systems, for power production, de-carbonisation and nuclear medicine.

Purpose of the Job

The Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) will, with the support of the Radiation Protection Advisor (RPA) & Radioactive Waste Advisor (RWA), put systems in place to ensure work undertaken with radioactive material within the School is compliant with all relevant legislation. The RPO will provide guidance and support to an existing team of Radiation Protection Supervisors and liaise with regulators as required. In addition to this primary role, the RPO will play a critical role in the governance structure within the university, ensuring the safe operation of the laboratories, both in terms of research with radioactive materials, and work with other materials in laboratories that use radioactive materials. Research areas include: matters related to the nuclear fuel cycle (conversion, fuel manufacture, wasteform development) and nuclear medicine.

The primary place of work will be the main campus in Bangor with some working at facilities outside of Bangor e.g. Bangor University's science park - M-SParc on Anglesey.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Acting as the point of contact within the School for the external Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) and Radioactive Waste Advisor (RWA).

Acting as the point of contact within the School for Regulators relevant to ionising radiations compliance i.e. Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Managing Permits including:

Oversight of applications for new or variations to existing Permits, working with the RPA/RWA.

Manage the collation of waste records and make Pollution Inventory Returns to NRW on behalf of the School.

Liaise with the RPA/RWA on the use of Exemptions under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 and routes of radioactive waste disposal.

Monitoring the school’s activity against Permit conditions; including:

Expert inspection and auditing of storage and disposal facilities.

Auditing holdings and usage records.

Auditing waste accumulation and disposal.

Performing measurements to check radiation doses, dose rates and activity.

Provide advice on procedures for disposal of radioactive waste via authorised contractors.

Overseeing the security of radioactive sources according to current national requirements and carry out periodic security audits.

Managing facility or site decommissioning.

Applying and managing maintenance of a Best Practicable Means (BPM) / use of the Best Available Technique (BAT) culture in management and operations including:

Advising on design standards for laboratories and designation of areas.

Providing site specific information to the RPA.

Contributing to the production of local rules and any local radiation safety policy.

Promoting the importance of ensuring risks are managed to levels that are As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) in all operations.

To oversee the work of the School’s Radiation Protection Supervisors.

To provide guidance on the radiation protection and risk implications of grant applications prepared by researchers within the School. Ensuring that all relevant regulations and licence conditions, including radiation safety procedures, are upheld.

Assisting in the preparation and amendment of radiation safety procedures.

Ensuring that radiation surveys and quality assurance tests are carried out, such as regular testing and calibration of monitoring equipment and regular operational checks of safety and warning systems.

Reporting to the School management, the Radiation Protection Advisor and to the relevant external organisations any incident that could give rise to a radiation hazard.

Undertaking dose investigations as required.

Ensuring that suitable emergency procedures are in place and regularly tested.

ONR specific responsibilities include:

Liaise with academic staff to provide annual reports to ONR regarding the Additional Protocol.

Maintain an accurate and compliant mass balance accounting system in accordance with the requirements of the ONR, including provision of timely annual reports.

Ensure that import and export of active material complies with relevant regulations.

Ensure that all transport of active material within the UK complies with relevant legislation.

Be an active member of relevant committees e.g:

University Health and Safety and Environment Committee

College Health and Safety Committee

University Radiation Subcommittee

Other local committees as appropriate and directed by the Line Manager

Other Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be required to pass any relevant national security clearances, e.g. BPSS, in order to undertake the role fully.

The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.

The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.

The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.

The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

Either

An Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject and appropriate proven experience in a similar role

or

A PhD in a relevant subject, or be close to the completion, with relevant knowledge.

Desirable

Safety qualification, e.g. NEBOSH General Certificate.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

Current or recent previous appointment as a Radiation Protection Supervisor or similar experience working with radioactive materials.

Knowledge of and experience of working under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (2016) and Ionising Radiations Regulations (2017).

Experience of working within a laboratory handling uranium powders.

Experience of writing radiological risk assessments and calculating radiation doses.

Experience of maintaining databases of radioactive stocks and wastes.

Desirable

Experience of liaising with regulators.

Experience of using complex analytical equipment.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

Demonstrate good verbal and written skills.

Demonstrate good analytical skills, ability to analyse numerical data and present results accurately and appropriately.

Demonstrate the ability to prioritise workload and work to deadlines.

Demonstrate good computer skills, including MS Office, PowerPoint, Excel.

Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to persuade and influence.

Desirable

Demonstrate proven project management skills.

Demonstrate ability to work as part of a team.

The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role. If applicants are not able to speak / write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.

General

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

Disclosure & Barring Service

This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.
As Bangor University meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions. DBS checks will be updated every 3 years.