Scientist - 32684

Scientist - 32684
1
Yorkshire and the Humber
Leeds
DEFRA GRP EA OLYMPIA HOUSE LABORATORY, LS12 6DD
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Analytical, Science
Full Time
£34,320

11/02/2026, 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.

The Environment Agency’s Monitoring Laboratories are accredited to ISO/IEC17025 and include 3 sites across the country – Leeds, Brampton and Starcross. This role is based at our Leeds site, which analyses a variety of environmental samples from fresh water to contaminated land samples. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person with the relevant experience to join the team based at the Leeds laboratory. You will be directly contributing to the Environment Agency’s core responsibilities whilst working in a small team carrying out analysis.

Your main duties will include:
• Working within and supporting a team in delivering a high-quality analytical service to defined time, cost and quality targets.
• Improving existing methods and develop new ones when required.
• Analysing samples using a variety of extraction techniques and state of the art instrumentation.
• Identifying root causes and rectifying technical issues using your knowledge and problem-solving skills.
• Ensuring Health and Safety procedures are adhered to at all times.
• Training, supporting and developing less experienced members of the team.
• Ensuring all work meets the high-quality standards expected of an ISO17025 accredited laboratory.

This role will be on a Monday to Friday work pattern. All EA employees are expected to participate in incident response and will receive relevant training and support to identify an appropriate role which suits their personal circumstances.

You’ll be working within a small team alongside approximately 50 other Analytical staff and 8 Customer Services colleagues. We provide analytical services to the Environment Agency and external customers which includes the analysis of sediments, soils, biota and waters from across England and around the coastline, as well as offering a bespoke Forensic Waste Service. If you’d like to know a bit more about our work, please look at our website.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency/about

Essential:

  • Experience of working in an analytical laboratory, focussed on Organic chemistry with a good knowledge of analytical techniques.
  • Experience and a good understanding of GC-MS and LC-MS.
  • Good communication skills are essential to allow you to work closely with your team and other teams on site.
  • Able to work to tight deadlines and have an ability to prioritise workload, while adhering to strict quality criteria.
  • Problem solving skills, preferably in a lab environment.
  • Experience of working within a quality standard or within a UKAS accredited chemistry laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 or equivalent.

    Desirable:
  • Experience of training others.
  • Educated to at least degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject.

You will need to demonstrate the key capabilities as defined in the job profile. We encourage you to refer to the EA Capability dictionary to assist you with your application.

The role will be based at the laboratory in Leeds, it is a non-hybrid role and there will be no travel requirements.

You’ll be welcomed into the team and given the training and support you need to succeed in your role. All EA employees are expected to participate in incident response and will receive relevant training. We support flexible working hours and practices to help strike a good balance between work and personal life. You’ll have access to a Local Government Pension scheme as well as a host of other benefits.

For further information, please download the candidate pack. Please note, we will aim to hold interviews on site within 4 weeks of the advert closing date.
If you have any questions contact peter.maddison@environment-agency.gov.uk

Manages Self
A key requirement for a Scientist is the ability to communicate clearly with the Team Leader, whilst helping develop more junior member of the team as well as maintaining personal development. Explain how you would manage to do this whilst ensuring routine work is planned and prioritised effectively?
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
As part of your role, you will be required to use your experience and knowledge of working in an Organic chemistry laboratory to carry out routine and non-routine tasks. Please can you describe a time when you have dealt with a complex instrument problem that required some innovative thinking. Describe how you used your analytical knowledge and experience and the steps you took to identify the root cause and solve the problem.
Coaches Others
As part of your role you will be required to assist the Team leader in developing the knowledge and skills of the wider Organics team. Please describe a time where you have coached someone, describe the methods you used to develop their skills and knowledge and how you knew your coaching was effective.
Scientific Knowledge
Providing accurate and accredited results is a key requirement for national monitoring laboratories, we are also constantly looking for new trends and techniques that can improve these methods. Describe a time when you have used new techniques to improve or develop a new method of analysis, what other factors did you need to account for?
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.