Job summary
- Main area
- Radiotherapy Physics
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 180-B-264156
- Employer
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Addenbrookes Hospital-Division B
- Town
- Cambridge
- Salary
- £57,528 - £64,750 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 05/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Radiotherapy Physicist
Band 8a
Job overview
Radiotherapy Physics (which is part of the Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering) provides a comprehensive Physics service to Addenbrooke’s Oncology Centre, ensuring the safe and accurate use of high-dose ionising radiation to treat patients with cancer whilst maintaining a safe environment for other patients, visitors and staff.
Our physicists, technicians and radiographers work closely with Oncology staff to provide a wide range of scientific and technical advice and support for all radiotherapy treatments. Routine clinical work includes radiotherapy treatment planning and related dosimetry, the provision of brachytherapy, and the manufacture of immobilisation and shielding equipment for patients. Extensive support is provided to radiotherapy equipment. This incorporates the design of facilities, the management of computer systems, the design and management of software, and the commissioning, servicing and quality control of Linear Accelerators, Orthovoltage units, Brachytherapy units and CT-simulators. All work and related dosimetry are monitored and assured to nationally and internationally agreed specifications and legal requirements.
We are also responsible for providing radiotherapy physics advice and support to two University Departments (Veterinary Medicine and Pathology).
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will be responsible for ensuring on going co-ordination of the physics aspects of clinical trials and will act as line manager to research physicists.
The post-holder will provide support to development, innovation and research in the radiotherapy physics section, including the evaluation and implementation of new techniques and equipment.
The post-holder will lead on specific projects which may require additional resources beyond those of the relevant sub-section.
The post-holder will provide physics support to the Stereotactic Radiosurgery service.
The post holder will act as a deputy to the Head of Development, Innovation, and Research.
Working for our organisation
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 5th July 2026
Interviews are due to be held on 5th August 2026
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject.
- MSc in radiation Physics [or equivalent].
- IPEM Certificate of completion of Post-qualification Higher Training or equivalent.
- HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist.
Desirable criteria
- Relevant PhD
- MPE certification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of the physics of ionising radiation with specific application to radiotherapy treatment planning.
- Specialist with extensive knowledge of the techniques employed to produce and check radiotherapy treatment plans and measure radiation doses.
- Specialist with extensive knowledge of pre-treatment imaging, including clinical techniques, machine function, QA requirements, and radiation doses.
- Knowledge and experience at a level required to act as a Medical Physics Expert under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulation 2017 within the field of radiotherapy.
- Understanding of the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017.
- Knowledge of Radiation Protection legislation. Substantial experience in applying this knowledge to complex situations in radiotherapy and the implications of pre-treatment and on-treatment incidence.
- Specialist experience in the use of specialist software for the planning of very complex, patient-critical radiotherapy.
- High level of understanding of the beneficial and detrimental effects of radiation on patients.
- Advanced knowledge of the theory and practical aspects of ionising radiation applied to cancer treatments.
- High level of understanding in interpreting cross-sectional images of patients used in treatment planning.
- Broad level of understanding of the roles of radiotherapy radiographers and clinicians.
- Ability to occasionally cope with and understand the potentially emotional and distressed state of Oncology patients and carers.
- Knowledge of employment procedures and practices.
- Ability to take the lead, give safety advice and deal with ionising radiation incidents.
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within treatment planning.
- Able to undertake training and assess the competency of junior staff in treatment planning.
- Understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines [eg IRR17, IR(ME)R, ISO 9001, IPEM codes of practice, IPEM report 81 etc.
- Extensive knowledge of aspects of computerised radiotherapy treatment equipment including treatment units, treatment planning software, and radiotherapy management systems.
- Routine, and regularly advanced, knowledge of Excel, Word, Access etc to set up and manipulate documents and spreadsheets and to adapt, extract and present information.
- Able to set up and manage the acquisition and structure of information.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Manual dexterity: ability to make accurate measurements using sophisticated testing equipment.
- Able to concentrate frequently when subject to unpredictable working patterns.
- Able to concentrate on complex multi-factorial problems for prolonged periods.
- Able to make judgements, which will have a direct impact upon patients’ radiotherapy treatments and the operation of treatment machines, based upon occasionally highly complex and conflicting sets of facts.
- Able to deal with occasional distressing circumstances.
- Able to communicate complex information [e.g. postgraduate level physics material to other professional groups].
- Able to present scientific papers at national and conferences.
- Able to train groups of other professional staff.
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent
- Understand hazards posed by, and precautions needed to deal with: Ionising radiation, Electrical hazards, COSSH, Manual Handling.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- David O'Doherty
- Job title
- Head of Development, Innovation, and Research
- Email address
- [email protected]
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