Supervisor Operational Support - 35091

Supervisor Operational Support - 35091
1
South West
Exeter
DEFRA GRP EXETER STARCROSS, EX6 8PE
Staff Grade 4
Fixed Term
Science
Full Time
£34,320 Pro-rata

22/05/2026, 23:55 hours

TSS04 Technical & Scientific Services, Grade 4

Basic Check

We really do value a diverse workforce. We want to be an organisation that represents modern Britain and all the communities we serve. We want everybody to feel included, fairly treated and duly recognised for the contribution they make.

We have an opportunity for a Grade 4 supervisor in the Operational Support team at Monitoring Laboratories’ Starcross Site.

You will be working in a diverse team, taking the lead in helping to motivate and develop staff to provide an excellent support service to the analytical laboratory at Starcross, and internal and external customers. The post draws upon a range of transferrable skills, and you will be expected to deliver a wide-ranging workload to required standards and timescales.

You will apply your knowledge of quality management systems to deliver continuous improvements to the services.

You will use your expertise and problem-solving skills to identify root causes and rectify issues.

You will be working with senior team members to deliver team priorities and environmental objectives and provide support for the supervision of team members.

You will be required to communicate effectively in the team. Working to tight deadlines. 

You will encourage and develop a positive health, safety & wellbeing culture within the team, ensuring the provision of safe working practices in line with EA guidance and promote inclusion by respecting differences in our workforce to build a supportive & engaging workplace.

Operational Support provides support to the Monitoring Laboratory at Starcross, enabling it to conduct analysis efficiently, effectively, and in compliance with Health & Safety and quality standards. The team, of twenty-one staff, fulfil several functions including sample registration, bottle dispatch, general administration, facilities and building management and laboratory support.

Ideally, you understand working in a laboratory setting and enjoy work in a busy team environment, often under pressure.

Through experience, you will ideally be able to demonstrate the following:

  • Excellent communication and time management skills
  • Ability to work to tight deadlines and prioritise individual and team workloads.
  • Experience supervising, training, and developing the ongoing competency of team members.
  • Working within quality standard ISO/IEC 17025 or within a UKAS accredited laboratory.
  • Understanding of analytic support functions to a busy working laboratory.
  • Self-motivated with close attention to detail and ability to follow procedures to achieve results.
  • A team player who enjoys helping and supporting others.
  • Maintain a positive relationship with internal and external customers.
  • Ability to problem-solve, influence, and make considered and efficient decisions.
  • Strong sense of initiative and a positive, proactive nature.
  • Maintain a positive health and safety culture.

Everyone that joins us will undertake training and participate in incident response duties when the need arises. Responding to incidents is an essential part of working for the Environment Agency.  Full training will be available to support you.

 The non-hybrid role is based at Starcross Laboratory and occasional travel for meetings and training maybe required.

We use a competency-based recruitment process based around your experiences, and the STAR (Situation, Target, Action, and Result) model for structuring answers. Please refer to the candidate pack for more information.

The interviews will be face to face at Starcross.

Interviews scheduled for week beginning 25th May 2026

The working pattern is Tuesday to Saturday 6am start everyday.

Please contact andrew.welham@environment-agency.gov.uk

Up to 6 Months
Delivers Results Through Others
Please can you tell us a time you have delivered a piece of work or project though a team.
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Please provide an example of when you have had to solve a complex problem and how you achieved a result.
Communicates Effectively
Please provide an example of how you have dealt with conflict within a team and how did you dealt with it.
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the  Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

This Vacancy is closed to applications.