Radiation Protection Officer

Applications are invited for a permanent, full-time Radiation Protection Officer in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at Bangor University. 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 that 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.

The successful candidate will be required to pass any relevant national security clearances e.g. BPSS. Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant subject, or an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject coupled with appropriate proven experience in a similar role, i.e. current or recent experience as a Radiation Protection Supervisor or similar working with radioactive materials. They will have excellent working knowledge of regulations relevant to working with radioactive material in a research environment.

This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check and any relevant national security clearances. This role will be located on campus at Bangor and M-SParc on Anglesey. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Closing date for applications: 04 July 2025. Informal enquiries can be made by contacting: Prof. Will Heath, Head of School, w.heath@bangor.ac.uk tel. +44 (0)1248 388540.

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.
• 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.

Person Specification:

• 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.
• Safety qualification, e.g. NEBOSH General Certificate.
• 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.
• Experience of liaising with regulators.
• Experience of using complex analytical equipment.
• 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 excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to persuade and influence.
• 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.

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.