About this role
Job summary
The Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC) has created a new Head of Treatment Planning 8C role and is looking for a highly experienced registered radiotherapy Medical Physics Expert to fill it.
NCCC runs services at both Freeman Hospital, Newcastle and Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle and provides a highly specialised clinical service for the treatment of cancer patients. The successful candidate will be based primarily at the Freeman Hospital but would be required to work occasionally in the Carlisle site.
Interview Date Tuesday 23 June 2026 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for the scientific management, leadership and development of the radiotherapy treatment planning processes and systems at NCCC including management of physicists and a large team of planning technologists. You must have proven significant experience of leading a service and be able to set clinical and organisational strategy and policies to maintain our strong treatment planning profile. You will be expected to already have a significant personal profile at a national and ideally international level.
The NCCC is one of the leading radiotherapy centres in the UK. We are the first to use MR-only planning for radiotherapy and are one of the few radiotherapy centres with a dedicated MR scanner. Our range of advanced treatment methods on our state of the art fleet of Varian units includes SRS, SABR, VMAT, IMRT, TBI, TSEI and SGRT. We have recently introduced HyperSight imaging on our newest linacs and are developing our on-line adaptive radiotherapy processes across a range of treatments. We have a strong and developing brachytherapy service and our growing computing group is leading major automation projects.
The NCCC is a reference site for advanced SRS practices with Brainlab Elements and we have an excellent culture of clinical trials involvement. We have a strong teaching pedigree linked with Newcastle University, delivering the national STP academic MSc course, oncologist FRCR teaching and local STP and Route-2 physicist training.
About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:
Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) Freeman Hospital Newcastle Dental Hospital Cramlington Manor Walks Urgent treatment centres Newcastle Fertility Centre Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria Northern Genetics Service These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description Job responsibilities
You will provide scientific and technical leadership in external beam planning and ensure resilience in the planning service. You will manage and lead the planning section, comprising 20 clinical technologists across both Newcastle and Carlisle sites and a group of clinical physicists. You will ensure that treatment planning is safe and accurate and meets current and developing national and international standards. You will liaise directly with senior clinical oncologists to develop and update clinical protocols. You will liaise with the clinical trials coordinator and Primary Investigators and ensure that trials QC and MPE input is appropriate and contribute to the design of trials led by NCCC. You will liaise with other Operational Delivery Network leads as appropriate to ensure high quality radiotherapy planning across the network. You will work with national teams to ensure that NCCCs treatment planning meets the national standard of care. You will lead on radiation incidents where there is a planning element, to investigate, identify and implement lessons and ensure that audits demonstrate reduced likelihood of recurrence. You will lead on training and coaching for a range of needs, including MSc, STP, FRCR and in-house professional development for the main professional groups in radiotherapy. You will develop and monitor strategies, procedures and practices, to ensure that quality of external beam treatment planning is maintained and information is stored and communicated appropriately. You will develop and deliver research activities across a range of specialist areas, supervising a range of scientific and technical staff as appropriate. You will line manage and mentor individuals and contribute to the management, development and training of other staff. You will be responsible for approving expenditure on planning related software and training.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education Essential
Degree in an appropriate physical science Appropriate post-graduate degree at master's level, or equivalent level of specialist knowledge Advanced theoretical knowledge to Doctorate level or equivalent experience The post holder must be a registered Medical Physics Expert specialising in radiotherapy physics
Desirable
Fellowship of a professional body e.g. Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) PhD in relevant subject ILM Level 3 in Leadership and Management or equivalent experience
Knowledge & Experience Essential
In-depth knowledge of all aspects of radiotherapy physics and treatment planning enabling the post holder to advise and collaborate fully and effectively with oncologists and others In-depth knowledge and understanding of current legislation and regulations pertinent to working area and the protection of staff, patients, and members of the public In-depth knowledge of human anatomy and physiology Experience of staff management, including managing recruitment, performance monitoring, appraisal, induction and mentoring Experience of leading change management processes Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
Budget management experience
Skills & Abilities Essential
Able to work autonomously with minimum direction Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills Good IT and report writing and presentation skills, including the production of scientific papers, reports, and conference presentations
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Freeman Hospital
317 01 Freeman Hospital
NE7 7DN
Employer's website https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)