Senior Assistant Scientist - 24364

2
Yorkshire and the Humber
Leeds
LEEDS NLS Olympia House, Gelderd Road, Leeds, LS12 6DD
Staff Grade 3
Permanent
Full Time
Analytical
£24,213
If you have experience of analytical chemistry within a laboratory setting and a passion for the natural environment this is an exciting opportunity for you. We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated people with relevant experience and skills to come and join us in our Monitoring Laboratory, in Leeds. You will be directly contributing to the Environment Agency’s response to climate change by supporting a small team carrying out the analysis of solid and liquid environmental samples.
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.
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
• Working alongside our scientists to improve 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
• Pollution incident rota opportunities
You’ll be working within a small team alongside approximately 35 other Analytical staff and 12 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 take a look at our websites
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency/about
You will ideally be able to demonstrate the following skills:
• Working in an analytical laboratory with knowledge of analytical techniques and instrumentation
• Good communication skills are essential
• Working to tight deadlines and an ability to prioritise workloads
• Working within and supporting a team
• Problem solving skills
• Experience of planning and prioritisation to meet deadlines
• Experience of working within a quality standard or within a UKAS accredited laboratory is desirable
• Ideally you will be educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject and have some experience of working in a Chemistry laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025
You’ll be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support you need to succeed in your new role.
We support flexible working hours and practices to help you strike a good balance between your work and personal life. You’ll have access to a Local Government Pension scheme as well as a host of other employee benefits.
Our Leeds laboratory is off the M621 and well served by public transport links, we have secure bike pods and free staff parking on site as well as a brand new staff canteen.
For further information on this role, employee benefits and work of the Environment Agency, please download the candidate pack.
If you have any questions please contact the hiring manager: Andrew Green at andrew.green@environmnet-agency.gov.uk

09/10/2022, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
Achieves Results
Please note your answers will be used for shortlisting purposes. Your examples do not necessarily have to be work-related, so please use the best examples from any area of your life. You may find researching the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) useful when answering these questions.
The Environment Agency Capability Dictionary is available to download online.

Give us an example of when you have had to deliver a piece of work to a specific deadline and how did you plan and prioritise.
Works in Teams
Please give an example of where you have built and sustained relationships within your team and/ or with other teams at work, and how you did this.
Focuses on Efficiency, Innovation and Quality
Tell us of a time when you have improved a process without compromising the quality.
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Tell us of a time when you have solved a complicated problem and the steps you took to identify a root cause.
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.