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Job Description
We value a diverse workforce. We want to be an organisation that represents modern Britain and the communities we serve. We want everybody to feel included, fairly treated and recognised for their contribution.
Job Description
We value a diverse workforce. We want to be an organisation that represents modern Britain and the communities we serve. We want everybody to feel included, fairly treated and recognised for their contribution.
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're looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person with relevant experience and skills to come and join us in our Leeds laboratory. You'll 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. This is an exciting time to join the team as we expand the range of analysis we undertake, to deliver the Defra Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme.
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
* The opportunity to take part in a pollution incident rota
* Ensure all your 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.
The team
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 take a look at our websites
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency/about
Experience/skills Required
Essential:
* 2 + years’ experience of working in an Inorganics analytical laboratory with a good knowledge of analytical techniques and instrumentation.
* 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.
Contact and additional information
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.
Our laboratory is off the M621 and well served by public transport links, we have secure bike pods and free onsite parking. Occasional travel may be required for training/courses.
For further information please download the candidate pack. Interviews will be at our Leeds laboratory in late June. If you have any questions, contact: andrew.green@environment-agency.gov.uk or jill.hutton@environment-agency.gov.uk
Competence 1
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description
Your response to these competency questions will be used to blind sift your application for interview. Please consider use of the STAR technique to structure your response using examples.
Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.
As part of your role, you may come across problems and issues with the method you are carrying out. You may be expected to investigate and rectify these issues enabling the analysis to be completed. Please use the word count to answer the following question:
Please tell us of a time when you have discovered a technical problem with an inorganic instrument/method at work and describe the steps you took to find a root cause and how you rectified the issues.
Competence 2
Achieves Results
Description
Your response to these competency questions will be used to blind sift your application for interview. Please consider use of the STAR technique to structure your response using examples.
Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results
As part of your role, you may be required to be flexible in your approach to your work. You may have to work in a different way and re-prioritise and plan tasks. Please use the word count to answer the following question:
Please tell us of a time when you had to be flexible in the way you work in the laboratory at work when a situation changed. Describe what you did, how you changed your priorities and how you planned to deliver the tasks you were asked to complete.
Competence 3
Works in Teams
Description
Your response to these competency questions will be used to blind sift your application for interview. Please consider use of the STAR technique to structure your response using examples.
Description: Works co-operatively as part of a team to achieve common goals.
As part of your role you will be working with your own team, other teams in the laboratory at Leeds and you may also be asked to work with teams in the other monitoring laboratories.
Please give an example of how you have built and sustained relationships within your team and/ or with other teams at 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.
Seniority level
* Seniority level
Associate
Employment type
* Employment type
Full-time
Job function
* Job function
Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
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