Job responsibilities
Responsibilities section:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Contribute to and take responsibility for development and validation of mass spectrometry techniques for the measurement of toxicants (environmental, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, industrial), in biological/environmental samples.
- Design, execute and undertake quantitative and qualitative analyses of chemical toxicants in biological/environmental samples to support a programme of human biomonitoring.
- Design, execute and undertake quantitative and qualitative analyses of chemical toxicants in biological/environmental samples to support UKHSA response to chemical incidents.
- Contribute to the management of research projects/programmes including planning, experimental design, and data analysis.
- Collaborate with internal and external scientists in the development of proposals for funding and the development of programmes for experimental work.
- Produce sound scientific papers for external peer reviewed publication and give presentations at levels including international conferences.
- Assist in the supervision of junior staff, both internal and from collaborating organisations (e.g., M.Sc. students).
- Undertake specific housekeeping tasks for the Programme Leader (e.g., Health and Safety responsibilities, writing standard operating procedures, risk assessments/COSHH).
- Contribute to the long-term planning and development of the Analytical Toxicology research programme.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Please See full duties and responsibilities attached
Essential Criteria:
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential
- Good honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate science subject (e.g. Analytical chemistry)
- Relevant practical MSc in an appropriate science subject (e.g. Toxicology, Biochemistry, Chemistry) or equivalent experience of working at a similar level in a relevant area
- Practical experience of mass spectrometry techniques e.g. LC-MS, GC-MS)
- Experience of analytical techniques including method development and validation
Desirable
- Relevant practically based PhD or equivalent experience
- Experience of writing scientific papers for peer reviewed journals
- Experience of presenting research findings at national/international conferences
- Experience of sample preparation techniques including solid phase extraction (SPE) and SP microextraction.
Selection process details
STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential and desirable criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet these.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 INTERVIEW
This competition will involve a face-to-face interview.
As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Candidates will also be asked to prepare and deliver a 10-minute presentation to the panel. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be designed to assess each candidates experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.
Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential and desirable criteria (outlined in the person specification section).
You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.
The Competency based framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following topics will be used at the interview:
- Technical skills
- Knowledge
- Experience
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 9th November 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Shortlist: 20th November 2023
Interviews: w/c 27th November 2023
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)
Nationality requirements
Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Security clearance level requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Please Note
This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.
Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
Complaint process:
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email:Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.
