Senior Assistant Scientist (Quality) - 28603

The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment. Everyone starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support needed. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all the equipment required for your role. It is based at Starcross Laboratory, Starcross, Near Exeter. We’re looking for an enthusiastic, motivated individual to join us as a Quality Senior Assistant Scientist based within National Monitoring - Monitoring Laboratory. You will be required to support the Quality Technical Specialist and Quality Scientist with managing and maintaining compliance with all aspects of the Monitoring Laboratories Quality Management system. This will include auditing, document control, training, routine quality control and continual improvement of methodologies and procedures. Significant aspects of the role include administration of the laboratory’s participation in external proficiency testing schemes and processing complex sets of laboratory data using statistical tools.

Finally, responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident.

You will be part of the Monitoring Laboratories that provides analytical services to the Environment Agency (EA), supporting the Starcross Laboratory Quality Technical Specialist and Quality Scientist in maintaining a comprehensive Quality Management System to ensure compliance with ISO17025. Your day-to-day activities will include working closely with the management team and with staff from all sections of the laboratory. You will also be required to liaise with the Quality teams at other Monitoring Lab laboratories.

Ideally you will be educated to degree level, have relevant scientific qualifications or relevant experience of working within an ISO17025 accredited laboratory. You will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of quality assurance and quality control techniques used within a laboratory environment and have excellent interpersonal skills. You'll be expected to use effective planning to deliver outcomes to schedule. You'll also demonstrate good influencing skills upon others. You'll demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and have excellent written and verbal communication skills. Experience in the use of Excel spread sheets and dealing with large data sets would be beneficial. Some knowledge of basic statistics and the ability to apply this in a laboratory environment would be beneficial, although full training will be provided.

The role is 37 per week Monday to Friday though flexible working patterns will be considered. It is based at Starcross Laboratory, Starcross, Near Exeter. If you are interested in this role but have questions prior to applying, please contact John Harkin on 02030250043 or by email john.harkin@environment-agency.gov.uk. A reserve list will apply.

Can you describe a process where you look at a large amount of data and how you could improve that process?

Can you explain the importance of analytical results in the laboratory that are produced following the application of the of ISO/IEC 17025?

Can you give an example where you have influenced a team to carry out a new process or procedure? Was there any push back from the team?