Head of Medical Physicists

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the commencement of its African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) project in Abuja, Nigeria. It will provide world-class care to both low and high-income patient groups across the continent. The AMCE in Partnership with King's College Hospital London will be located in Abuja, which is a hub for travel in Nigeria and West Africa, enabling it to attract patients across the region.

The African Medical Centre of Excellence will be implemented in four phases over a six-year period, starting with a 170-bed specialist hospital before expanding to a 500-bed facility. The centre will have the potential to provide services to over 200,000 patients in Nigeria and a further 150,000 patients from neighbouring West African countries within its first five years of operation.

The clinical areas the centre will specialise in are Cardiology, Haematology and Oncology. A range of businesses providing relevant health support will support this facility and provide commercial services to its patients and staff, thus creating a healthcare ecosystem sustainably designed to deliver long-term value to its community and region.

This is an outstanding initiative and creates a unique opportunity to be involved in the opening chapter of this exciting project that is set to make a decisive impact on non-communicable disease care across Nigeria and West Africa. The AMCE will benefit millions of people in Abuja and over the wider regions of West Africa. The institution will act as a beacon of healthcare in Africa and will be the employer and healthcare provider of choice across the region. What makes this facility even more special is its very close partnership with King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Job Summary

The Head of Medical Physics at our tertiary hospital will play a pivotal role in overseeing and managing the medical physics services across various departments, including Diagnostic Radiology, Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine, and the Cyclotron facility. This position requires a strong focus on oncology, hematology, and cardiovascular services, with additional responsibilities in radiation safety, dosimetry services, regulatory compliance, and quality certification of radiation equipment in collaboration with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority.

The Head of Medical Physicist in the Diagnostics Services department is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the application of physics in medical diagnostics, ensuring the highest standards of patient care, safety, and regulatory compliance. This role involves managing a team of medical physicists, clinical scientists, and technologists, and collaborating with various departments to support diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy services. The Head of Medical Physicist will be instrumental in developing and implementing policies, managing departmental budgets, and leading research initiatives to advance diagnostic technologies and methodologies.

As the Head of Medical Physicist, you will provide expert advice on the safe and effective use of radiation and diagnostic equipment, ensuring compliance with national and international standards. You will be responsible for the strategic planning and operational management of the medical physics department, including quality assurance, risk management, and the development of training programs for staff. The role requires a deep understanding of medical physics principles, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to communicate complex information to a diverse audience.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Management: Lead and manage the medical physics department, ensuring the delivery of high-quality diagnostic services. Develop and implement strategic plans, policies, and procedures to enhance departmental performance and patient care.

Quality Assurance: Oversee the quality assurance programs for diagnostic imaging equipment, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and optimizing image quality and patient safety.

Radiation Safety: Develop and implement radiation safety protocols and procedures, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and minimizing radiation exposure to patients and staff.

Staff Development: Manage the recruitment, training, and professional development of medical physicists, clinical scientists, and technologists. Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the department.

Research and Development: Lead and support research initiatives to develop new diagnostic technologies and methodologies. Collaborate with academic institutions and industry partners to advance the field of medical physics.

Budget Management: Manage the departmental budget, including resource allocation, cost control, and financial planning. Ensure efficient use of resources and adherence to budgetary constraints.

Collaboration: Work closely with other departments, including radiology, oncology, and surgery, to support diagnostic and therapeutic services. Provide expert advice on the selection, installation, and use of diagnostic equipment.

Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with national and international regulations and standards related to medical physics and diagnostic imaging. Prepare and submit required reports to regulatory bodies.

Patient Care: Ensure the highest standards of patient care by optimizing diagnostic imaging techniques and protocols. Address patient concerns and provide clear communication regarding diagnostic procedures and radiation safety.

Innovation: Stay abreast of the latest developments in medical physics and diagnostic technologies. Implement innovative solutions to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency.

Main Responsibilities

Supervise and lead the medical physics team across Diagnostic Radiology, Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine, and the Cyclotron facility.

Provide expertise and guidance in the areas of oncology, haematology, and cardiovascular services to ensure optimal patient care.

Serve as the Radiation Safety Adviser, overseeing radiation safety protocols and practices within the hospital.

Collaborate with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and guidelines.

Conduct dosimetry services to optimize radiation treatment plans and ensure accurate delivery of radiation therapy.

Manage quality assurance programs for radiation equipment, including maintenance, calibration, and certification processes.

Develop and implement departmental policies and procedures.

Ensure compliance with radiation safety regulations.

Manage the recruitment, training, and development of staff.

Lead research initiatives to advance diagnostic technologies.

Manage the departmental budget and resources.

Collaborate with other departments to support diagnostic services.

Provide expert advice on the use of diagnostic equipment.

Ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

Optimize diagnostic imaging techniques for patient care.

Address patient concerns and provide clear communication.

Implement innovative solutions in medical physics.

Prepare and submit reports to regulatory bodies.

Foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Develop training programs for staff.

Manage risk and ensure patient safety.

Support the installation and maintenance of diagnostic equipment.

Lead departmental meetings and communicate new information.

Handle complaints and implement preventative actions.

Ensure the safe use of Radiation emitting equipment.

Qualifications

Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Medical Physics or a related field.

Completion of a Medical Physics Residency with award of Membership of the Institute of Medical Physics and Engineering in Medicineor its equivalent

Certification by a recognized professional body with

Registration with Nigerian medical physics certification board or Eligibility to be so registered.

Experience

Minimum of 10 years of experience in medical physics, in a center that has Nuclear medicine equipment with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

Extensive knowledge of diagnostic imaging technologies and radiation safety.

Strong leadership and management skills.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Proven track record of research and development in medical physics

This Job Description and Person Specification may be subject to change depending on the needs of the service, in consultation with the post holder.

Salary: competitive