Science and Technology Facilities Council 
Salary: £64,463 per annum | Open Ended | Full Time | 5th February 2026
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society. 

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity. 

A vacancy exists for a qualified Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) to support STFC’s science programmes, or for an exceptional candidate who is within 12 months of submitting their first RPA portfolio. 

You will be supporting an organisation with a strong safety culture to achieve and maintain the highest radiation safety and environmental standards. As part of a small team of Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste Advisers, you will provide practical advice and support to enable the performance of world-class science within UKRI’s cutting-edge facilities. You will work closely with engineers, scientists, designers and safety professionals, striving to optimise radiation exposures within an established but continually developing science campus. You will be involved in the development and implementation of radiation protection control measures that are seamlessly integrated into STFC work practices and procedures.

Duties

As an appointed RPA (and RWA as relevant) under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17) and the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR), you will provide operational radiation protection advice and support to STFC management, divisions, departments and staff at all levels on the requirements of all relevant radiation safety and environmental legislation, established best practice, and the organisation’s documented radiation management systems. Specific duties will include:

• Provide leadership for radiological safety and related matters across site, ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are in place for radiation protection and maintaining the STFC suite of radiation safety codes. Creatively driving continuous improvement in all activities related to radiological safety management and protection, including consideration of UKRI Net Zero targets. 
• As a primary contact with the UK regulatory authorities (such as the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency and the Office for Nuclear Regulation), lead regulatory inspections on behalf of the organisation and communicate directly with the regulator on radiological protection matters, making statutory reports and responding to inspection feedback or enforcement action.
• Undertaking visits/audits/reviews to assess the level of compliance with the requirements of legislation and STFC radiation management systems, providing written reports and recommendations on remedial actions and providing assistance to improve radiation protection arrangements.
• Interpret relevant radiation protection data (including radiation and contamination monitoring results, dosimetry records and the outputs of computer modelling codes, eg. Fluka/MCNP) during the assessment and control of workplace risks through the performance and maintenance of documented radiation risk assessments, and advise accordingly on the implementation of effective health and safety control measures.
• Provide advice and recommendations during the planning, design, construction, commissioning and testing (including critical examination) of new or modified radiation facilities, with responsibility, and design approval, for all radiation shielding and protection systems.
• Review, advise and act on the results of personal dosimetry and environmental radiation monitoring. Provide advice on the selection, use, maintenance and testing of radiation monitoring equipment.
• Review and investigate (as appropriate) notified radiation safety incidents, advising on remedial or preventative actions, and communicating learning across the organisation.
• Develop and deliver radiation training programmes.
• Attend and provide quarterly RPA/RWA reports to relevant SHE committees.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to STFC and SHE Group staff on radiation safety matters where appropriate.
• Coordinate with other UKRI Research Councils on radiation protection and issues of shared compliance. Where appointed, provide RPA/RWA advice to science facilities across the wider UKRI estate, and deputise for and/or support other STFC RPA/RWAs as required.

Essential shortlisting criteria

• Qualified to degree level in a relevant scientific or numerate discipline. Exceptional candidates without a degree who have equivalent qualifications or extensive RPA experience will be considered. Where equivalence is chosen, candidates applying as a developing RPA must be able to demonstrate the basic underpinning knowledge required under the RPA 2000 certification scheme at the very least.
• RPA Certificate of Competence issued by RPA 2000, or evidence sufficient for submission of a first portfolio within 12 months. 
• Thorough understanding and extensive practical application of applying IRR17, EPR and other ionising radiation-related regulations to a variety of workplaces, including the academic or high-technology sectors. 
• Practical experience of selection and use of radiation monitoring equipment, detectors, dosimetry and dose control.
• Able to work unsupervised, and as part of a small RP team, managing own workload efficiently and reliably.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to work and influence staff at all levels.
• Excellent IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office programme suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.) and databases. 

Other requirements

• Available to work and travel in the UK when required, and occasionally abroad.
• Available to work flexibly e.g. occasionally outside of normal working hours/weekend working. However, the role does not require on-call working.

STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, a workplace nursery, generous pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there is always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.

If you would like to apply, please submit your CV and covering letter, outlining your motivation for joining STFC and the interest in the role, and detailing how you fulfil the criteria specified.

Please note: if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you (and any dependants travelling with you) will be required to pay costs directly to the UK Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee, and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact [email protected].

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.