Research Scientist G4 - 24229

3
National
All
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share
Science
£28,785
At the Environment Agency, there’s so much more to our work than building flood risk management schemes or regulating industry. We have a number of roles available within our Research Teams in the Chief Scientist’s Group (both permanent and fixed term). Our Research Teams deliver research across a wide range of scientific disciplines to support our business and to deliver on behalf of the Environment Agency, Defra and wider government.

The scale of the challenges facing the environment make this an exciting time to use your scientific skills to protect the environment now and in the future. We need to help build resilience to climate and environmental change and to understand how the Environment Agency and those we regulate need to adapt. As the country heads towards Net Zero our environment will change and we are at the forefront of thinking about what is needed to manage this transition. We need to better understand the links between the environment and human health exemplified in the concepts of “One Health” and we are undertaking ground breaking research to explore potential environmental surveillance systems.
As part of a high performing, collaborative team, you’ll be involved in applying your scientific knowledge, working closely across internal departments, the wider Defra group, statutory bodies, external consultants, businesses and communities, leaving a valuable legacy for the future. Take this challenge on, and your opportunities to be a part of an inclusive and creative organisation, putting people and wildlife at the heart of what we do, will be a life enhancing experience.
In these roles you will be using your technical and scientific skills in conducting analyses, interpreting data and preparing or contributing to reports and, on occasions, representing the organisation externally. You will provide advice on technical and scientific issues, guiding colleagues and customers in the understanding of technical or scientific data so that decisions are made on sound technical grounds. More detailed descriptions of the required skills are provided in our candidate pack.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We are striving to make our workforce as diverse as the communities we serve, and hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Working from home is possible, although you will be expected to occasionally travel to an office (in England) or for meetings. You will need to be confident in your ability to work remotely and collaborate effectively across the business and with stakeholders.

For further information or an informal discussion, please contact Dave Allsop dave.allsop@environment-agency.gov.uk or Harriet Orr harriet.orr@environment-agency.gov.uk

Interviews are expected to be held via MS Teams in November

16/10/2022, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
Scientific Knowledge
Please note that your answers to the capability questions will be used for shortlisting purposes. You may find researching the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) useful when answering the questions.

Q. How have you used your scientific knowledge to understand an environmental problem?
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Please note that your answers to the capability questions will be used for shortlisting purposes. You may find researching the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) useful when answering the questions.

Q. Please tell us about a time when you have had to co-ordinate scientific information from a variety of sources, in order to solve a difficult technical problem.
Achieves Results
Please note that your answers to the capability questions will be used for shortlisting purposes. You may find researching the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) useful when answering the questions.

Q. Please describe how you overcame a problem or a set-back in delivering a piece of scientific work.
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.

This Vacancy is closed to applications.